Ayala Corp, Angkas receive Steward Leadership Excellence Award in Singapore

Two Philippine companies, Ayala Corporation, and Angkas were named as part of the Steward Leadership 25 (SL25), the inaugural annual listing of 25 organizational initiatives across Asia Pacific that showcased notable efforts to create a collective better future for stakeholders, society, future generations and the environment. Ayala Corporation has been recognized for its efforts in steering a collective  Covid-19 response, while Angkas was commended for improving the livelihoods of motorcycle taxis.

The 25 initiatives were honored at the Steward Leadership Summit, which was held at Shangri-La Singapore. The inaugural event was organized by Stewardship Asia Centre (SAC), INSEAD Hoffmann  Global Institute for Business and Society, WTW, and The Straits Times to highlight the importance of steward leadership across the Asia Pacific. Mr. Chan Chun Sing,  Minister for Education, Singapore, graced the event as a guest of honor and delivered the keynote address.

Steward leadership excellence demands genuine desire and persistence to pursue a  corporate agenda beyond profit-making. The 25 were selected from 95 submissions across the Asia-Pacific region. They were from diverse industries, including financial services, transportation, agribusiness, and real estate. These initiatives were chosen for their steward leadership strategy and actions in creating sustainable economic value, and all 25 hold equal merit.

“A rapidly changing world reinforces the principle of taking ownership to do the right thing and a mindset shift that is critical to driving all of us to work together towards enduring value creation for the benefit of stakeholders, society, the environment and our future generations. These organizations’ initiatives have made a difference, and I  hope they will inspire others to act,” said Mr. Lim Boon Heng, Chairman of Temasek

Holdings, who unveiled the inaugural list at the Steward Leadership Summit.

“It is really heartening to see the efforts and persistence of so many organizations striving to create lasting positive change in the environment and community. In honoring these 25 inspirational initiatives, our eventual goal is for steward leadership excellence to be the norm instead of the exception, where every firm is committed to establishing a win-win-win outcome for employees, shareholders, and society at large,”  said Mr. Rajeev Peshawaria, CEO of SAC.

“I hope the SL25 list will encourage other companies to look beyond their shareholders, including their employees, customers, suppliers, and the larger communities they operate within, and be effective stewards for all. By intentionally delivering profit with purpose, responsible business leaders can prioritize the needs of current and future generations and our planet. As the recent discussions at COP 27  have highlighted, the problems that we need to solve require the combined and urgent stewardship efforts of all of us,” said Dr. Vinika D. Rao, Executive Director of INSEAD  Emerging Markets Institute, Gender Initiative and Africa Initiative, and Asia Director of the Hoffmann Global Institute for Business & Society.

“Progressive companies have moved past the moral imperative and are realizing the tangible business benefits. WTW is proud to be associated with this list of SL25 so that we can help shine the spotlight on progressive companies, across various sectors and sizes and company types, that are role models for balancing purpose, profits,  people, and the planet,” said Mr. Shai Ganu, Managing Director and Global Leader of the Executive Compensation & Board Advisory at WTW.

“At The Straits Times, we have been covering developments in Singapore, Asia, and the world since 1845, helping our readers understand events around them. Especially at this time of significant economic, environmental, and geopolitical uncertainty, it is heartening to learn of and support the efforts of companies that aim to do good for all their stakeholders,” said Mr. Jaime Ho, Editor of The Straits Times, SPH Media  Trust. 

Mr. Frank E. Mars, Board Chair and Advisor, Strategic Programs, Mars, Incorporated,  joined the summit virtually. He highlighted the role of corporate organizations in solving  today’s existential challenges, based on his discussion theme with Mr. Peshawaria “Successful Stewardship Requires More Than a Purpose.” 

Mr. Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, Head of Business Development and Digital  Innovation, Ayala Corporation, explained how the Philippine conglomerate balanced profit and purpose. 

Ms. Erika Cheung, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Ethics in Entrepreneurship,  and a former Theranos employee, talked about her courage to speak out and highlighted the importance of corporate ethics.

Ms. Aw Kah Peng, Chairman of Shell Companies in Singapore, Mr. Bey Soo Khiang,  Vice-Chairman at RGE and Chairman of APRIL Group, and Mr. Edward Booty,  reach52’s CEO, tackled the issue of whether “Can Addressing Existential Challenges  Be Profitable?” Mr. Munib Madni, Founding Panvestor and CEO, Panarchy Partners moderated the panel discussion.

In the second panel, Professor Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign  Affairs, Singapore, Dr. Vinika D. Rao, Mr. Jamie Ho, and Tan Sri Dr. Rebecca Fatima  Sta Maria, Executive Director, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat,  Singapore, shared the key highlights from the SL25 initiatives. Mr. Shai Ganu was the moderator.

The SL25 initiatives and their companies (in alphabetical order) are: