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EDEN Tesoro has clocked in nearly three decades — 28 years to be exact — of experience in the nonlife insurance industry. She describes her stint as «very challenging» in the field that she has chosen.

«It was totally different from what I expected when I first started,» Tesoro, now senior vice president of Malayan Insurance Co., admitted.

«Over the years, from the time I started working professionally, I'm fortunate to recognize that there's a couple of accomplishments that I can say I'm proud of.

»These were all accomplished, every one of them, with the support and guidance of colleagues and mentors alike. First would be when I graduated from the Management Training Program of what was then known as FGU now BPI/MS (Bank of the Philippine Islands/Mitsui Sumitomo) Insurance.

«That program with FGU was solid training. Much of the knowledge and skills that continue to guide me in my professional and technical decisions have roots in the lessons I learned from that program.

»Another one would be being designated as Head of Underwriting for Malayan, the nation's largest nonlife insurer, a proven and consistent leader in the nonlife industry. Well respected by foreign and domestic market leaders alike. Malayan has been the country's top nonlife company for the last 53 of its 93 years of existence. That is certainly no accident, but rather the fruit of its excellent leadership and keen knowledge of the industry.

«I also count having been elected as the Chairperson of the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA) as an achievement, though I think it is more of a huge responsibility and a true honor, as the Association represents the industry to the public and to the regulator.»

In 1998, Tesoro was offered the position of executive assistant to the Philippine Head of the International Labor Organization.

«That job meant writing speeches, traveling all over the country and abroad, and living out of a suitcase,» Tesoro explained.

«Then I discovered that I was pregnant with my third child (the first two were twins). So, I couldn't really exchange my regular insurance job for something that required me to be mobile all the time.

»The term 'remote work' in those days