Laurice “Auie” Macapaz
Award-winning Talent Management Professional, Consultant and Coach
Auie always knew, even from childhood, that she wanted to be in a profession that helps and uplifts others. The eldest granddaughter on the maternal side of her family, she grew up in a tough environment and saw the toll it took on her younger cousins. Many of them could not finish their studies and wound up having children very early, giving up on their dreams. So she made it her personal mission to stop this cycle for her nieces and nephews by exposing them to experiences in order to inspire them to do better, stay school and aspire for more. And as years passed, she thought—if I can do this for my own family, what if I could also impact other young people in the country and help them prepare for the future?
With a background of over 20 years in Human Resources, specifically in Talent Management, Competency Development, Training and Organization Development, it was a natural progression that led her to pursue a path in coaching. She needed to roll out a coaching program and was sent to a brief training in Singapore, but she felt it was to condensed to fully embrace what coaching is. Upon searching for a more complete coach training, she came across Benchmark Consulting and eventually set out to become a professional coach. “I knew I was on the right path because every time I came home after a training session with Benchmark, I was so excited and even tried practicing all the new skills I learned on my husband!”, she laughs.
Her favorite part about coaching is the little milestones in the course of the conversation, and of course, the A-ha moment. “I love it when my coachees have a lightbulb realization and verbally tell me that they wouldn’t have thought of it if I hadn’t asked the question. That makes me feel so fulfilled as a coach.”
It was a bit of an adjustment, however, to go from being a trainer, where you teach and give answers, to instead draw out answers from people. And being a natural relator who values deep relationships, it’s sometimes difficult not to get affected by her coachees’ issues as well. “But then I realized, it is so much more empowering to help people find their voice instead of imposing your voice on them. My advice to new coaches is to just start asking questions, even without coaching in mind. And listen well for the answers. Think about what is the good that you want to do with this new skill of coaching and know that you can help so many.”
So what’s next for Coach Auie? She’s developing a mentoring and coaching program specifically directed towards the youth. “They are, after all, our future managers, future lawmakers, future leaders. I feel like my calling is in making an impact on their lives early, help them find their voice and realize the good they can offer to the world.” This project is even more meaningful for her now that she has 3 Gen Z children of her own—a 21 year old, a 19 year old and a 15 year old.
