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What do you want to be remembered for? It’s a question we rarely ask ourselves while we’re busy building our careers. In Part 2 of my conversation with Iwan Roberts-Mok, we move beyond professional success and explore something even more meaningful—legacy. One statement from Iwan stayed with me throughout our conversation: “I’d like to be remembered for making things better.” Not for a title.Not for a position.Not for leading a transformation. Simply… Making things better—for

What comes after success? For years, many of us chase the next promotion, the next title, the next opportunity. But eventually, a different question emerges: How do we use our experience, influence, and success to create impact beyond ourselves? In this episode of Identity & Impact, Iwan reflects on his journey from corporate leadership to a life focused not only on achievement, but also on service, community, and giving back. One line stood out: “Success now is about how I s

Today, I’m taking a short break from discussing the Identity & Impact philosophy and the ALEX Principles themselves. Instead, I want to briefly reflect on the Shared Services and Outsourcing Week conference that I attended and spoke at last week in Lisbon, Portugal. The conference theme was: “The Future of GBS is on the Line: Challenge Value from the Outside In.” And honestly, I think that theme perfectly captures the challenge many Global Business Services organizations are

In the previous ALEX Principles reflections, I shared why growth begins with aspiration, why leadership is more than title or authority, and why empowerment helps people and organizations multiply impact. But eventually, aspirations, leadership, and empowerment need to create something tangible. Progress. Execution. Improvement. Meaningful outcomes. Because without execution, even the most inspiring vision remains only an idea. That is why the final ALEX Principle is: eXcel.

In the first two ALEX Principles reflections, I shared why aspiration is where growth begins and why leadership is more than title, presence, or authority. But leadership alone is still not enough. Because eventually, leadership must translate into something deeper: Empowerment. And over the years, I’ve come to realize that empowerment is one of the biggest differentiators between leaders and organizations that create temporary success versus those that create lasting impact.

In the first ALEX Principles reflection, I shared why aspiration is where growth begins. But aspiration alone is not enough. At some point, vision requires leadership. And over the years, I’ve come to realize that leadership is one of the most misunderstood concepts in organizations today. Many people still associate leadership primarily with title, hierarchy, authority, charisma, polished communication or executive image. But some of the most impactful leaders I’ve encounter

Over the past few weeks, I’ve shared reflections about leadership, identity, burnout, executive presence, sustainable excellence, and the hidden pressure many professionals quietly carry. Many people then started asking me: “What exactly are the ALEX Principles?” To be honest, when I first thought about calling it the “ALEX Principles,” part of me worried it sounded overly self-focused or even narcissistic. But over time, I realized it was not really about me. It became

Many high performers are silently exhausted. Over the years, one thing I’ve consistently observed is that many ambitious professionals quietly carry invisible pressure. Pressure to constantly prove themselves, remain relevant, maintain high standards, adapt continuously and sustain excellence at all times. Earlier in my career, I thrived in a highly demanding and high-performing environment. I was young, ambitious, and deeply driven to deliver results, innovation, operati

Growing up, I experienced what it felt like when society quietly expected less from you. As a child, because of my effeminate voice and mannerisms, I was sometimes called “Aperde” — a local term from my home province in the Philippines which loosely means “wasted.” Coupled with coming from a poor family, there were moments when people assumed I should simply be content with limited ambitions and limited possibilities. Over time, I realized something important: Other people’s

Earlier in my career, I thought leadership was mostly about: execution, operational excellence, accountability, delivery, and results. And while those things absolutely matter, my understanding of leadership evolved significantly over time. I was fortunate to have mentors and leaders who challenged me to think beyond limitations. To name a few: Dot Velasco, the Country HR leader when I joined Accenture, consistently advocated for Filipino talent and inspired me to believe tha