FEATURE
(FIRST OF 2 PARTS)
When Shemberg group founder Benson Dakay passed away on January 2012, many thought the company will not survive.
His four children, sons Pierre Collin and Benson Ernst; and daughters Marie Cecille (Rere) and Mary Ann Rose (Meme), were in their twenties and were deemed to be unprepared to take on the mantle of leadership of their father’s company.
Dakay was at the forefront of fighting for recognition of Philippine carrageenan in the United States and in Europe. It took years for his efforts to gain fruition, but he never gave up. After all seaweed was his first passion.
He also faced his biggest challenge during the Asian financial crisis that occurred in the late 1990s, he faced the biggest challenge in his life since his lifelong dream was at stake. He was about to lose his company to the financial institutions, but he stood his ground.
In August 2010, nine years after Shemberg sought rehabilitation and restructuring of its loan, the Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s decision approving the proposed rehabilitation. Less than two years, Dakay succumbed to an illness, leaving behind a company still facing dire straits.
Taking over
However, Dakay’s sons and daughters were made of sterner stuff. Just like their dad, they refused to give up. His eldest son Pierre was already with the company. He had joined the company two years before their father passed away.
Five days after her father was laid to rest, Meme, his youngest daughter, decided to work for the company, although she was still deeply grieving. But she dealt with her grief by honoring her father’s life work, by fulfilling her promise to him.
“I was asked to make a choice — go back to school or join the company. If I go to school I would get a diploma. But the one who would benefit is just me. I would rather serve the company. I made a commitment with my Dad that we will continue his legacy. Shemberg was at stake,” says Meme who had taken up chemical engineering upon her dad’s suggestion.
When she joined the company, they were facing difficult times ahead. She and her siblings were determined to do all they could to help the company survive the critical phase it was in. In fact, they had to pay off the debts using their father’s insurance.
The day she went onboard, the company was on its third retrenchment. But Meme put a stop to it, calling it unfair.
“These are the greatest assets of the company — the heart of the company. The people make the company. It’s not the machine. It’s not the brand. It’s not the logo. It’s the people,” Meme explained.
She said that the company was having problems at the time.
“When my dad got sick, I don’t really want to say bad things but things got out of control. (There was) pilferage, personal interest and the directions were not clear,” she said.
Transformation
Meme took on the position of managing director and creative director, with a starting salary of P15,000. When she first started with the company, she had to redo her image.
“It was funny I did dress up older. I came in (wearing) corporate, in blazers to scare people off,” Meme tells Cebu Daily News. “I have closets full of blazers.”
Now, she dresses as she likes.
A veritable optimist, she was confident they could accomplish much during the first six months. But in the first year, she admits they made bad decisions.
”I think we have to go through those. To experience success we have to experience also not the most beautiful things in life,” she said.
Also, she did not have the right team when she first joined the company.
“Now I have the right team.”
She and the rest of her siblings also had to make adjustments individually. Meme learned to wake up early so that she could go to the office earlier.
“I’m at the office at 8 o’clock and leave the office at 6 p.m.” (To be concluded)