One of Cagayan de Oro’s ICT Pioneers has been selected as one of the two Filipino delegates to the Eisenhower Fellowship in the United States.
Stephanie Picardal Caragos, President and CEO of Syntactics, Inc., set up the trailblazing BPO firm in 2000 and is also one of the founders of the Cagayan de Oro ICT Council, of which she is a former chair and now president.
Stephanie P. Caragos
“I want to learn and find ways how to further improve our IT workforce and know what are the requirements in quality and skill and processes in our industry,” Ms. Caragos said. “On my part, I want to learn more from the field of IT, IT training and education, leadership and management.”
A passionate advocate for the tech sector as a transformative economic tool, Ms. Caragos uses IT mentoring and business development to deliver a higher standard of living to college graduates from low income Mindanao families. Her efforts have helped make Mindanao a tech center, increase the pool of IT talent, and enhance prosperity and quality of life.
Stephanie C. Caragos with LetITHelp Staff and students
Ms. Caragos set up her own start up with Elite Business Systems (EBS) Accounting Software Solutions which later evolved into a new corporation as Syntactics, Inc in 2006. She later founded LetIThelp.org, a social enterprise that pairs local tech college graduates with Syntactics career mentors.
While on her fellowship, she will explore mentoring and business models that can help expand the LetITHelp program to other regions. Through her visits to innovation centers and IT training institutes in the U.S., Ms. Caragos would research how teaching IT skills increases economic opportunity, and study software trends that could positively impact the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) culture in the Philippines.
Eisenhower Fellowships (EF) identifies, empowers and connects innovative leaders through a transformative fellowship experience and lifelong engagement in a global network of dynamic change agents committed to creating a more peaceful, prosperous and just world.
According to a news release from Gypsy Guillén Kaiser, Director of Communications for the EF, 23 professionals representing every region of the world and a broad range of sectors have been selected as the 2016 Eisenhower International Fellows. These ascendant leaders will embark on a seven-week journey throughout the United States to engage in a transformative exchange of knowledge and ideas with the leading minds in their fields.
“From cyber security to education, cancer research to social entrepreneurship and land policy to arts management, these Fellows are at the vanguard of their fields and strive to serve their societies,” said General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret), EF chair. “We are proud of these global leaders and excited to propel them on a journey that will open new paths to fulfill their vision and better our world.”
The other Filipino delegate to EF’s 2016 International Fellows is Edwin To, Founder and CEO of Budgetwise Supermarket in Zamboanga City.
Edwin To
According to his EF profile, Mr. To’s entrepreneurial vision has improved access to food and provided employment opportunities for citizens in Mindanao. His supermarket performed a crucial role during the infamous Zamboanga Siege, supplying food and hygienic items for internally displaced people.
He also supports a variety of programs for the business community, including investment summits; peace and security briefings; and capacity-building programs for micro, small and medium enterprises.
Edwin To, Budgetwise Supermarket Pres. & CEO
Currently Mr. To is contributing to a 20-year economic development plan for the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. He aims to use his fellowship to identify successful, transferable models of public-private partnership programs for workforce development, agricultural productivity, entrepreneurship and trade and investment in this plan.
The 2016 International Fellows are exceptional leaders in their countries, representing a diverse mix of private, public and non-governmental fields. Each Fellow will travel independently across the U.S. on individualized itineraries to serve their goals, typically visiting 8 to10 cities and meeting with 60-80 of the top people in their fields.
The 2016 program begins on April 4, with a leadership development seminar in Philadelphia. During their travels, Fellows identify specific projects they will undertake upon returning home.
“Outstanding, innovative leaders in all fields are essential for successful societies,” said Governor Christine Todd Whitman, chair, Board of Trustees’ Executive Committee at EF. “We welcome this group of dynamic leaders to Eisenhower Fellowships’ influential global network to build on their achievements and reach for even greater impact.”
Successful candidates for EF programs are exceptional leaders eager to advance their personal and professional growth, who can articulate how the fellowship will serve them to produce impactful change and who commit to lifelong engagement with the organization and its nearly 1,500 active Fellows around the world.
“This compelling group of leaders will explore the U.S. and bring their own expertise to create a rich exchange of knowledge that is a signature component of the Eisenhower Fellowships journey,” said George de Lama, president of EF.
Fellows apply what they learn from their peers and in their meetings with experts in their respective fields to maximize their potential and produce sustained impact through a transformative fellowship experience and collaboration within the EF global network.
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