We all have our story and all the time, it’s inspiring. For Industrial Engr. Grace Bondad Nicolas who keeps on breaking the glass ceiling for her various activities not just for her business but also as a civic leader, it’s not easy but with consistency, you’ll achieve all.
“One of
the organizations I’m with is Kiwanis International under Philippines Luzon
District, one of my business mentors, Hotelier, Dr. Elton See Tan of The E
Hotels & Resorts recruited me to be part of the Makati club and I joined
because of my trust to him. Also, for me, it’s human nature to give, I grew up
in a loving and giving family, being with the organization will only amplify
the things I can do to help the indigent children.” - Grace Bondad Nicolas
As a
business leader especially of the newest and most distributed business and
leadership magazine right now in National Bookstores, Rising Tigers, Engr.
Grace is the founder who conceptualized the concept of the magazine together
and with the help of the CEO of Tag Media Group, the publisher of the magazine
and also her husband, Andrew Troy Nicolas. When she’s little, she loves to
write and contribute, at one time, her write up was published in her
high-school publication in Canossa College, San Pablo City in Laguna. So having
the magazine is a dream come true and more.
Brian Poe
Llamanzares, a serial entrepreneur and the CEO of Pantheon Holdings is now the co-owner
of Rising Tigers, according to him, “the team is very confident that it will
top the market with its innovations and quality of content. The magazine has
already perfected its marketing strategy even-though it’s still new and will
celebrate its first anniversary this March 2023. A lot of big names in the
business industry have already confirmed and committed their support. While I’m
looking forward to helping the company grow.”
“Imagine
that when everything is going digital, we’re printing hardcopies. Everything is
a challenge but with the support of my family and partners, we achieved it.
While others are stopping, we’re starting. Now, Rising Tigers is the go-to
magazine if you like to be inspired by the stories of these industry leaders,
we’re making sure that it will make an impact and we did. We’re overwhelmed.”- Grace Bondad Nicolas
Grace is the
COO of their company, Tag Media Group, the umbrella holding company of AAA
Cosmetics, AG Builders, Rising Tigers Trading and Tag Media and Public
Relations. As the Chief Operations Officers, she’s the one communicating with
everyone, from the suppliers, clients, the organizing team and partners.
Her eldest
daughter is now the Chief Marketing Officer, Andria Terese Nicolas overseeing
the emerging & featured leaders for the magazine and handling a portion of
suppliers to make sure that the branding is handled well. According to Grace,
Andria is more feisty, direct and she knows what’s best for the younger
generation in terms of campaigns for the magazine and Tag Media and Public
Relations.
As being the
first woman and Filipina president of American Association of the Philippines
after 73 years, Grace is overwhelmed. The organization is composed of
Americans, Filipino Americans and Filipino leaders who likes to improve and
help everyone though the mandate is to focus on Americans in the Philippines
after the war, the organization widens its mandate to help everyone within its
capacity. Grace left the organization already, but Andria is a member and
curving her own path.
“Being
elected is already a success, as a woman, it gives me more confidence. They
trusted me. Being the first Filipina President made me feel that I can do bigger
things, we’re not just the one assisting, we’re leading and that inspires me to
mentor more emerging leaders to contour what’s standard.”- Grace Bondad Nicolas
Grace is the
president of Los Baños Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 2023 to 2025 and
spearheading the business leaders in the area to promote the special city and
to entice investors in Laguna. Her popularity as the woman who can do made her
the head of the organization with the first project of a business forum last
year with the two grandsons of the former Philippine presidents as speakers;
Paco Magsaysay and Robert Laurel Yupangco who both came all the way from Manila
to Laguna to share their business expertise.
During
Pandemic, she establishes two companies and according to her, grew the company
for 300%. For her, taking risk is part of the challenge to success. Her late
father who was an entrepreneur trained her and made sure that she can do what
her heart desires by supporting her in all means possible. For Grace, there
must be no stopping, the recent pandemic will only prove who are the real
leaders who can adapt and can pivot.
“My
parents asked me to help them in the hardware store that supplies construction
materials in Laguna when I was in Grade 6, I counted the concrete hollow
blocks, weigh common wire nails and counted cements, I loved it, I told myself
that I’m helping them in my capacity, little did I know that they were already
training me for what’s to come. As for my father, he told me that school will
only train us about problem solving but the real deal is after the graduation.
I envied my parents business acumen, they keep on winning, there’s challenges
as part of life but still, comparing with my age right now, haven’t achieve yet
what they had. Everything I have now is from the discipline and hard work, as
much as I wanted to work 24/7, I can’t but putting my best every-time as if
it’s the end of the world.” Grace Bondad Nicolas
For Grace,
she’s not yet done but just starting. She believes that all the things she’s
doing is just a speck of what’s needs to be done. It’s about building legacy
according to her, making a difference in the lives of many and for the next
generation to be emulated. For her, it’s always about the future, but to
achieve that, that’s saying “No” also to many.
“We’re
not here to please everyone, if that’s your goal, you’re not gonna be happy and
at peace to yourself. It’s about integrity, true to your values and saying no
is first thing to achieve success. There might be detractors but its usual, you
just need to focus on a higher goal and that’s to do great things to many not
just for the selected few who don’t believes in you. There’s always challenges,
it’s part of life and if you overcome those, that’s real success.”- Grace Bondad Nicolas
Right now, Grace is busy as the Queen of Events, as tagged by the media in promoting the Philippines as the premier business hub in Asia and destination through her multiple activities nationwide. She’s the Vice President of Makati Tourism Foundation where she met tourism and industry leaders and learned so much from them.
For Grace,
it’s all about consistency, she grew up doing what she’s doing and now,
harvesting what her parents instilled to her. To do great things from the
hardest work she can put her hands into. For her, if there’s option, always
choose the one that’s hard to fulfill, if overcome, that’s the start of your
own story to tell.
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