Employees, colleagues share stories about SM's Henry Sy Sr.

SEVERAL employees and colleagues reminisce their times with Shoemart (SM) founder Henry Sy Sr., which has impacted the ways they flourish in their career today.

Ma. Cecilia Abreu, then assistant vice president for Store Operations, recalled the businessman's consistency in understanding his customers. He always thought about what was affordable to customers.

Along with former SM Makati Branch Manager Chelo Monasterio, she told a story of a customer who would always look for Sy. Monasterio said it reflected how Sy believed SM is for everyone.

Monasterio said: "[Sy] mentored me on selling operations. He would help me in the morning and talk to me about merchandising, about shoes. He would talk about how to handle people, including suppliers, that you have to be kind and that you have to honor your commitments to them because that will dictate your reputation."

A medical technologist, Rose Siaco, wanted to try something new. In order to challenge her, Sy tasked her to be an acting warehouse manager. This inspired her to take management courses.

As a mentor, Monasterio said Sy was very direct to the point, seldom using flowery words. Siaco described Sy as a disciplinarian akin to a strict teacher.

Sy showed his care through his vision, storytelling and words of gratitude. Now, his employees and colleagues from the small stores of Quiapo and Makati continued to tell his stories and helped the company realize his vision.