Ateneo CORD Launches Newest Book, Filipino Leadership: Stories and Science
Filipino Leadership: Stories and Science comes at the most opportune time as the pandemic puts the spotlight on our Filipino leaders who have the cardinal task of seeing us through this crucial moment in history.
The Ateneo Center for Organization Research and Development (CORD) launched its newest book entitled Filipino Leadership: Stories and Science through a Facebook live stream on April 2021. The book presents a collection of essays that explores in-depth research on leadership strategies, highlights what leadership looks like in the Filipino context, and contains reflections on leadership from varying perspectives.
The virtual launch was led by the book’s editors: Mendiola Teng-Calleja, Ma. Regina M. Hechanova, Edna P. Franco, and Emerald Jay D. Ilac. A panel discussion was also held during the book launch, which featured some of the book’s noteworthy contributors who are all leaders in their respective fields: former Ateneo de Manila University President Fr. Bienvenido F. Nebres, SJ; former Chair to the Commission on Higher Education and former President of Miriam College Patricia B. Licuanan; and Cluster Head of the North Luzon Hospitals of Mount Grace Hospital Incorporated Noel Cortez.
During her opening remarks, Teng-Calleja talked about how she and her co-editors had started to seriously think about producing the book back in 2018. “In our conversations, we noted that there are already numerous studies, writings, and musings on leadership from around the world. But, there seems to be limited resources on Filipino leadership,” she said. This inspired them to create Filipino Leadership: Stories and Science as a response to that lack of content about leadership within the Philippine culture and context. “As you read this book, you will find local research on Filipino leadership and organizations as well as learn about the experiences of leaders that connect the science to actual stories,” she adds.
The first part of Filipino Leadership: Stories and Science, entitled “Science of Leadership,” tackles the science of leadership and presents studies on topics like change, diversity, integrity, innovation, execution and team effectiveness, worker engagement and motivation, as well as leadership development and wellness. The second part of the book is entitled “Leadership in Context” and narrates the stories and science of leadership in various sectors and organizations. Special focus was given to women leaders, leadership in education, family businesses, social enterprises, as well as leading in times of crises and for sustainability. The last section of the book, “Reflections on Leadership,” features personal stories of leaders and their reflections on their leadership practice.
The book also includes a foreword from Vice President Leni Robredo, who poses questions to the readers: “What kind of leaders will help us overcome what is perhaps the greatest challenge that humanity faces in the modern era? How do we ensure that the people we choose to lead will help us create not just a new normal, but a better normal—a fairer and more equitable world for everyone?”
The editors and authors of Filipino Leadership: Stories and Science hope that the book will help readers in becoming better-equipped leaders in the country. “We hope that our current leaders, as well as those who aspire to be leaders, will find inspiration in the stories and science of this book,” says Hechanova.
Filipino Leadership: Stories and Science is available for purchase in paperback through the Ateneo Press Website, Lazada, and Shopee, or as e-books through Ateneo Press and Lazada.
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