Onboarding at Coca-Cola Version 2.0: My first 100 days at BIG

Jake Bustos, our Employer Brand Manager, told me I should be writing my own “Life at Coke” series… I guess it all started with wanting to celebrate that great onboarding experience at Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines (CCBPI) two years back, writing a sequel article a year after that, then publishing an article one after another, 2-3 weeks apart, out of sheer inspiration. And before I knew it, this one ushers the 10th and counting.

Writing has always been a beautiful therapy. It lets me paint and capture my reflections with the stroke of my pen/keyboard. My mantra has always been to freely express what I feel and try to refresh and inspire the world with insights universal enough to speak with a larger audience. When it’s easier to keep it inside, I continue to find myself choosing generosity and connectedness. Not about the hype, not about the noise, but an inside-out “building the brand from within” experience.

This unprecedented time tells us even more to live our lives to the fullest and to celebrate our “wins” the best way we know how. To appreciate the beauty of simple things and to focus on the things that matter. To this day, I still feel thankful for that message I got from Eric Marquez of Coca-Cola TA team then, inviting me to apply for a Labor Relations Manager post at CCBPI. For this gate he has opened, allowed for so many great experiences that has enriched me both professionally and personally. And when I look back, I am not the same person as when I joined Coca-Cola 2 years back.

What it means to be “trusted”

Coca-Cola leaders provided me a great candidate experience then. I was in a bit of a hiatus before I decided to actively explore career opportunities way back. I was quite amazed that instead of taking the lens of scrutinizing hiring managers, they focused on what you can possibly bring to the table given your relevant experiences. Coming from single-union companies to a multi-union company, they banked on your core competencies and the knowledge that your heart is in the right place. And from my end, I optimized this chance given to me as an opportunity to elevate my experience in LR and am still thankful for all the learnings and experiences I had during my country stint.

Two months shy from two years in the Coca-Cola system, I was privileged to be given the opportunity to take on a global role for its Bottling Investment Group (BIG). This role is responsible for providing thought leadership in labor relations, health, and future workplace, closely interfacing with a network of LR/ER leaders across 15 countries in BIG. The role truly excited me for the impact it brings to the organization. For the second time, I was trusted to handle another important role in the system. The more I felt empowered and engaged, bringing with me my conviction to continue being a positive influencer at the labor and employee relations forefront.

 “Throbbing” teamwork: Working with the “A-Players”  

There was a time I got hooked reading about Steve Jobs’ biography and all rave reviews about his management and leadership style. I remember always coming across the fact that Steve only wants to work with the “A-Players”. He was even quoted saying that we hire employees not to tell them what to do but for them to tell us what to do. Hence, he puts premium in selecting only the best for Apple.

Modesty aside, 100 days in this global role allowed me to see a lot of “A-Players” in BIG, starting with my very own team who’s a diverse bunch of people doing their bit at what they excelled in best. The youngest in the team is such a “rock-star”. There’s nothing that she can’t do. Very talented and well-read, she has the mind of someone a decade older than her. She aces in everything she does and even confidently presented to no other than Lisa Chang who is the Global Chief People Officer for TCCC.

In this throbbing teamwork, I also had the pleasure working with another certified “A-Player”. She brought with her rich global experiences in her craft and is a one-woman team in handling critical employee relations processes. What I like most about her is her cool and composed demeanor. We hit it off right from the start. Her maturity and wide lenses on things are what drew me to her. I always enjoyed sound-boarding with her my ideas and thoughts. Always on the level-playing field and on the same page.

 “Writing your own Check”         

In my first few interactions with my new line manager in the Group Office, this is what she will always remind me. We each write our own “checks”. We define our own roles and the value that we give. Hence, we are ultimately responsible to drive our own agenda on what we believe are “work that matters most” and how we bring this agenda closer to our stakeholders. To “just do it” and apologize later. This is something that has helped me in moments of un-decisiveness. I am trusted to do my job well and therefore I reciprocate this trust and make the best out of what’s within my sphere of control.

Connect, Engage, and Inspire: BIG Labor and Employee Relations COE Network

One of the highlights of my onboarding in BIG, also the most memorable for me, is my “Country LR/ER Meet and Greet” during my first 2 weeks in the corporate role. This was my first 1-1 with the Country LR/ER Leads, just to get to know them and for them to know a bit about me too. I was quite mindful on first impressions but decided to just bring myself as I usually does, wearing my heart on my sleeves and enthusiastically engaging with each of them, onboarding myself and “checking-in”. Each session was engaging, felt their passion on the job and flare for excellence. Authenticity works!

Another chance to meet them, this time with the other functional COEs is the COE Network Launch for Labor and Employee Relations, Health and Future of Work, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Internal Communications last August 16-17, 2021. Our network community has just been forged, everyone was just excited to virtually meet one another, invested time and efforts in their respective country introduction videos, and interacted with the global leaders. We launched and ignited our network and committed to sustain this momentum in the next months to come.

One Truly Global Network at The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC)

Then, there is still the larger community, The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) itself. From time to time, I am invited to sit down in some of the global calls with our Atlanta folks on labor relations, future of work, among others. I am also thrilled to be tapped as one of the PMOs and subsequently supporting the planning team for our TCCC People Global Summit this end-September 2021. So many new things to learn and so many new people to meet and interact with. Amazing to see how the culture is woven into the fabric of the organization, there is a “one feel” and “one-connectedness” amidst the differences in culture and ways of working. Worth mentioning is the pleasure to work with the great Myanmar leadership team lead by Victor Wong, Aye Thida, and Khairul. I am forever glad to have been given the chance to help them tell their story to the world. Amazing people and amazing culture in Coca-Cola.

Epilogue

At the very least in the Philippines’ context, the first “100 days” of the incumbent President marks a first State of the Nation Address where the country’s key leader cites the accomplishments of this administration at the onset of his reign.

Personally for me, the first 100 days is a “glimpse of the future” that is happening now. It has been so during my first onboarding at CCBPI, and now a version 2.0 on this global role. Different role, different challenges, but still same Coca-Cola organization, and that gives me so much assurance talking from my Coca-Cola experience.

And these new experiences thus far truly broaden my horizons, lets me know more about the world too, from having a myopic view. Happy and blessed for the opportunity to make an impact and a difference. With new experiences also comes meeting new leaders who imbibe this networked leadership and truly invested in the future of the organization. I admire and respect them and looking forward to work more with them.

First 100 days remind me as well to stay grounded and never lose the connection with people. It’s the “tie” that binds and reminds us on the reason we do things.

As early as now, I have the “gut-feel” in me that this whole experience will truly transform me as a professional and as a person as I continue to sail on. Two years in the system, and counting…