The recent Globe Business webinar gathered entrepreneurs, HR leaders, and business mentors to discuss one of the most crucial transitions every business owner faces evolving from founder to leader. Through insightful talks by top industry experts, participants learned how to build stronger teams, streamline operations, and leverage digital tools to grow their businesses sustainably.

Speaker 1: Ms. Lydia “Lily” Quintans

“Big leaders build other leaders, not just employees,” she emphasized.

Ms. Quintans highlighted three major shifts for business owners:

• From doing to building – Create systems and empower people.

• From control to trust – Learn to delegate effectively.

• From me to we – Develop a shared vision across the team.

  
  

She also encouraged entrepreneurs to embrace automation for repetitive tasks like timekeeping, payroll, and performance tracking — freeing up time for more strategic decisions.

Speaker 2: Mr. Eric Cai

Mr. Cai drew a brilliant analogy between entrepreneurship and sports  starting as a “single-player” game but eventually becoming a team sport. As businesses expand, owners must shift from doing everything alone to forming well-structured teams.

He shared stories of two entrepreneurs Pedro and Maria  to show the difference between running a business informally and building one on a strong foundation of proper hiring, fair pay, and legal compliance.

“Ang negosyo po natin ay hindi sweepstakes — may puso tayo, pero may objective din tayo,” he said.

Mr. Cai reminded SMEs to:

• Identify the right roles and qualifications before hiring.

• Implement clear job descriptions and employee handbooks.

• Register properly with BIR, DOLE, and local offices to protect both employer and employee rights.

His advice underscored the importance of HR structure and legal compliance as essential ingredients for long-term growth.

 Speaker 3: Mr. Karl Marx Rubia

To close the webinar, Mr. Rubia emphasized how technology and connectivity can empower SMEs to streamline processes and stay competitive.

He discussed common challenges like unreliable internet, cybersecurity threats, and paperwork overload all of which can hinder business growth. His solution? Digital transformation through HRIS (Human Resource Information Systems) and cloud-based tools that automate payroll, timekeeping, and employee engagement.

“Investing in connectivity is like investing in success,” Mr. Rubia stated.

He highlighted that by adopting digital tools, entrepreneurs can:

• Improve collaboration and remote work flexibility.

• Ensure accurate payroll and time tracking.

• Retain talent through engagement and reward systems.

Ultimately, he encouraged SMEs to embrace technology not as a trend, but as a strategic foundation for future-ready operations.

The Globe Business “Breakthrough for SMEs” webinar delivered more than just practical business tips it offered a roadmap for sustainable growth. From Ms. Quintans’ leadership insights, to Mr. Cai’s HR fundamentals, to Mr. Rubia’s digital strategies, one clear message stood out:

To build a thriving business, founders must lead with vision, structure, and technology.

By combining passion with process and digital innovation, Filipino entrepreneurs can transform their small ventures into empowered, scalable organizations ready for the future.