Savemore prexy recalls being at right place, right time

Genevieve Manalad —Contributed photo     

It took a lost parking ticket and a stroke of serendipity.

This is how Genevieve Manalad recounts how she was at the right place at the right time when an opportunity presented itself in the least expected place.

It was during her third year in college when Manalad, now the president of Savemore, found herself at a cashier in SM Fairview. She vividly remembers how she and her sister lost their parking ticket, revealing how they even went through the bins to check. Little did she know that it was the beginning of a 24-year career as the leader of the fastest-growing format at SM’s food retail brand portfolio.

While she was at the cashier, she witnessed how the other staff were assisting customers with such enthusiasm. It was their infectious energy that got into her. Right then and there, she knew that she wanted to be a part of that team. It made such a lasting impression that she had one goal in mind: to work in a company as dynamic as this.

“I saw the supervisors; I can still remember them,” she recalls. “They were walking to the customer service and they were so busy! At the time, SM Fairview was the No. 1 store with super high traffic. I told my sister that when I graduate, I want to work here.”

What appealed to her most was the fast-paced environment, similar to what she saw on that fateful day at SM Fairview. “It’s always a lot of people going in and out of the supermarket,” she says. “You know, making sure it operates well—I like that kind of job.”

‘The University’

But it was no easy feat. She recalls that the application process itself had a three-hour interview with the managing director. Yet, she soldiered on and was hired on the spot. After her initial stint as a management trainee, she rose through the ranks and eventually became the head of the operations department. Manalad closely worked with then-president Jojo Tagbo before taking the helm at Savemore.

“If you want to know a person who is homegrown, then that’s me, because I never worked with another company except for SM,” she adds.

Her first branch assignment was at SM Makati—a rite of passage of sort, since all those who climbed the corporate ladder had been assigned to SM Makati at some point in their careers. This branch even earned the moniker, “The University” for aspiring leaders in the company.

Manalad recalls having top executives as visitors at SM Makati such as Henry Sy Sr., founder of SM group, as well as Herbert Sy, chair of Super Value Inc., the company’s line of business that directly operates all SM Supermarkets.

Management style

Asked what was her main takeaway from The University, Manalad says that it is crucial to always keep an open communication with the top management.

Her managerial experience led her to refine her skills and develop a deep love for her profession. She became motivated to accomplish loftier objectives and work tirelessly to accomplish them. Manalad made it a point to face every hurdle with her innate charm and expertise.

This was even true when she found herself in an unusual circumstance leading up to the announcement of her appointment as president that caused her to miss the actual announcement event.

Even though she missed it, it doesn’t change the fact that she made history as the first female leader of Savemore. She epitomized the words of Herbert Sy, “The position of leadership in SM Markets is not only for men, but also for women.”

Manalad shares that a manager should always remember that above all, focus is key.

“While it’s possible to delegate, there are certain crucial areas that require my strategic attention,” she says. Taking a hands-on approach is essential to effectively manage the day-to-day operations of Savemore’s vast network of over 200 stores. “It’s all about being on top of everything and anything that’s going on across all stores,” she adds.

Twenty four years later, Manalad is still driven by the same energy and dynamism that attracted her to be a part of the SM team. This core memory propels her to strive to help Savemore maintain its lead as the biggest supermarket chain in the country. INQ