One Woman’s Mission to Reinvigorate the GBF

Grace Colet, the new executive director, lays out a solid plan to push Gokongwei Brothers Foundation’s goals.

The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) has followed a focused vision since it started. For 25 years, it has been striving to make a lasting impact on education in the Philippines. GBF began by building an industry-standard technical training facility for the youth. Then through partnerships with top academic institutions, the organization empowered deserving scholars. It also collaborated with companies that shared the same advocacy. With JG Summit business units and strategic partners, the foundation reached more people. Grace Colet, the GBF’s dedicated executive director, furthers these milestones to greatness. Guided by its principles, she intends to steer the Foundation to shape the country’s future through education.

Pursuit of excellence

As the former general manager of Jobstreet.com, she has gained many skills and principles in business that can apply to foundation work. Despite the challenges in today’s society and business sectors, Grace is keen to hit goals that aim for a good cause. She also lends support to the Foundation’s board of trustees. Focusing on GBF’s program development, staff management, and community partner initiatives, she leads a dedicated team who share the same vision. In pursuit of excellence, the Foundation has strengthened existing programs and day-to-day operations.

“We welcome back Grace to our organization and look forward to her bringing in her expertise and solid leadership in general management, business and program development, and strategy formulation that will take GBF to the next level as we carry on with our continuing commitment to education and help fulfill the responsibility to lead Filipinos to an even better life,” said Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, GBF’s general manager.

Emphasis on education

Appointed in January 2017, Grace is optimistic about the road ahead for GBF. By improving its strategies and ways of working, projects for education are in full swing. Grace looks forward to the day when the local framework for the learning culture is strong and solid.

“Among its long-term plans are expanding its scholarship program, improving selection quality, enhancing the scholars’ engagement with various JG Summit companies’ business units, and incorporating the conglomerate’s corporate values into the program,” she said.

Under her leadership, GBF recalibrates and sharpens its focus on its core thrust of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and Technical-Vocational education. The Foundation continues to introduce programs for scholars to help them become industry-ready. Moreover, GBF will explore new initiatives that will advance STEM in basic education. She may have the work cut out for her but Grace aims to renew GBF’s backbone by a modern approach one goal at a time.

Originally published on May 31, 2018 in the JG Summit Holdings, Inc. website