July 2026 Newsletter

Editor’s Letter

This month’s theme—Self-Awareness and Blind Spots—invites us to look inward. Blind spots are not always our weaknesses. Often, they are the strengths and habits that have served us so well that we stop questioning them. What once helped us succeed may, over time, begin to limit our growth.

As you read this issue, may you find yourself asking not only, “What am I doing well?” but also, “What am I no longer seeing?” Sometimes that one question opens the door to our next season of leadership.

— Coach Lynne Reyes, PCC, A.npn
Editor, The Leadership Companion

The Blind Spot of “Success Is Proof”

by Julius Ordonez, MCC, ACTC

One of the most subtle leadership blind spots is believing that yesterday’s success holds the blueprint for tomorrow’s success.

The thinking is simple:
“This approach has worked for me. Why should I change it?”

Throughout our careers, we are rewarded for behaviors that produce results. We become known for being dependable, decisive, resilient, and able to perform under pressure. Over time, these strengths become part of our identity.

But leadership changes the rules.

The capabilities that helped us succeed in one season may not be the ones needed in the next. As our responsibilities grow, our role shifts—from producing results ourselves to creating the conditions for others to succeed.

“The capabilities that helped us succeed in one season may not be the ones needed in the next.”

Success validates behavior, but it does not always validate wisdom.

Past success proves something worked. It does not guarantee it is still the best approach. Many leaders unknowingly overuse their greatest strengths. Decisiveness becomes impatience. High standards become perfectionism. Responsiveness becomes an inability to let go.

Leadership growth is not only about learning new skills. It is also about recognizing which habits, beliefs, and assumptions no longer serve us. That requires the humility to unlearn.

As you reflect on your own leadership, ask yourself:
Which strengths have I stopped examining?
What assumptions remain unchallenged simply because they once worked?
What might I need to unlearn to become the leader this next season requires?

“Sometimes our greatest obstacle is not failure. It is the success that quietly convinces us we no longer need to change.”

Sometimes our greatest obstacle is not failure.
It is the success that quietly convinces us we no longer need to change.

Becoming the Light: A Meaningful and Enlightening Conversation with Nestle’s Mea Gabunada

Pressure is a privilege, but leadership is about making others shine.

Meet Mea Gabunada, VP for Consumer Marketplace Insights & Head of Analytics at Nestlé Philippines. In this issue’s feature, Mea shares powerful, raw lessons on avoiding the victim mindset, knowing when to slow down to move faster, and why true leadership is about serving a purpose far bigger than ourselves.

This is Mea’s story.

I have been fortunate to work across industries—from telecommunications to pharmaceuticals, nutrition, and now food and beverage. Looking back, I realize how much the leaders I worked with shaped me. I learned something from each of them, and those lessons became part of the leader I am today.

That is probably why developing people has become the most meaningful part of leadership for me.

I find joy in discovering the potential in young leaders and helping them see where their personal aspirations intersect with the organization’s goals. When people find meaning in what they do, they no longer work simply to complete a checklist. They become genuinely motivated because their own purpose finds a place in a bigger purpose.

After all, “hindi naman tayo Darna every day.”

“Hindi naman tayo Darna every day.”

(Editor’s note: For readers outside the Philippines: Darna is a legendary Filipino superhero whose courage, strength and resilience have inspired generations. Mea’s phrase, “hindi naman tayo Darna every day” which translates to “we are not or we cannot be like Darna every day”, reminds us that even leaders are not expected to be invincible every single day.)

People are not at their best every single day. As leaders, we must create the conditions where they can still grow, contribute, and flourish.

Whenever work becomes difficult, I always return to purpose.

Whether it was connecting overseas Filipino workers with their families, helping patients live better lives, nurturing generations of Filipino children, or serving consumers through the brands I now lead, every role has reminded me that leadership becomes meaningful only when it serves something bigger than ourselves.

Another belief that has guided me is refusing to live with a victim mindset.

Life will always present situations beyond our control. It is okay to feel disappointed or frustrated for a while. But eventually I ask myself, what can I control today? Once I know the answer, I focus my energy there. The future unfolds one day at a time.

I remember telling my son this when he was discouraged after two difficult exams: “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” We cannot change yesterday, but we can always choose our next step.

One of the biggest lessons I had to learn, however, was about myself.

I started my career in telecommunications, where everything moved at incredible speed. I loved that environment. I have always believed that pressure is a privilege. It means people trust you with responsibilities that matter. I enjoyed the challenge and the energy that came with it.

But somewhere along the journey, I realized I was running too fast.

I had become so focused on moving, solving, and delivering that I was no longer giving myself enough space to reflect.

That realization changed my leadership.

I learned that sometimes we must decelerate to accelerate.

“…sometimes we must decelerate to accelerate.”

Today, I intentionally pause to think, rethink, and reframe before making important decisions. I consult mentors I have trusted throughout my career because different perspectives strengthen my own thinking. Reflection is no longer a luxury. It has become part of how I lead.

I have also learned that every person brings something valuable.

Whether they belong to an older generation with years of discipline, rigor, and experience, or a younger generation filled with fresh ideas, digital fluency, and passion for causes larger than themselves, every individual has a gift waiting to be nurtured. Leadership is not about focusing on differences. It is about bringing those strengths together so people—and teams—become better than they could ever be alone.

“Every individual has a gift waiting to be nurtured.”

Perhaps the experience that shaped me most, however, happened outside the workplace.

More than ten years ago, I lost my younger brother to leukemia.

There were many things we could not control. Every day brought uncertainty. Every test result carried hope and fear at the same time.

Yet in the middle of that season, I discovered there was still something I could choose.

I could bring light.

I could be a source of courage for my brother, my parents, and my family, even while carrying my own grief.

Looking back, I believe that experience shaped me more than any promotion or achievement ever could.

It taught me that leadership is not simply about celebrating victories.

I always tell my team, “Don’t just be a source of light during winning moments. It’s different when you become a source of light even in dark times.”

That is the kind of leader I aspire to be.

“Don’t just be a source of light during winning moments. It’s different when you become a source of light even in dark times.”

People often describe me as calm and compassionate. I would rather help people find clarity, focus on what can be controlled, and move forward one step at a time.

Above all, I want people to shine.

Nothing fulfills me more than seeing people claim their own stage, realize their own potential, and achieve their dreams. Leadership is not about occupying the spotlight. It is about making sure others have their own shining moments.

One of the greatest gifts I received along this journey was coaching.

“One of the greatest gifts I received along this journey was coaching. It helped me discover “that I can be a good leader”.”

When I was asked what coaching helped me discover about myself, my answer came naturally.

“That I can be a good leader.”

Looking back on my journey, I realize that leadership has never been about having all the answers. It is about remaining open enough to keep learning, humble enough to keep unlearning, and courageous enough to help others become the very best versions of themselves.

Mea’s story is a quiet reminder that our greatest legacy is not what we accomplish ourselves, but the light we leave in others. Perhaps the true measure of leadership is not the stage we stand on, but the lives we help illuminate.

(Mea Gabunada, Nestle Philippines’ Vice President for Consumer Marketplace Insights and is Head of Analytics recently gave birth to their fourth child, a pretty daughter. The Leadership Companion congratulates her and husband Kakam for this big, new blessing! We thank Mea for a morning of meaningful conversation and wish her the very best in her continuing leadership journey.)

We are proud to celebrate members of our community who continue to lead forward.

In this special feature, we recognize graduates of our coaching programs who are creating impact across industries, teams and communities.

Their titles may differ, but they share one trait: the commitment to keep learning and growing.

We asked them to share their leadership lessons and insights based on their own personal experiences and reflections. We invite you to read the lessons they have shared, lessons that continue to shape their leadership journey today.

“Lead by lifting others up or simply put, Servant Leadership. Instead of commanding, a leader prioritizes what the team needs to succeed, empowers people to grow, and builds genuine trust. The focus is on support, listening, and long-term development. In practice, it’s about lifting others up, so the whole team succeeds together as one.”

“One of my biggest leadership breakthroughs was realizing I don’t have all the answers. The best solutions often come from the people closest to the work. By asking the right questions and empowering the team to solve challenges, you achieve better outcomes, foster growth, and reduce the pressure of having to know everything.”

“The most important lesson that has shaped my leadership is that a leader’s role is to equip and enable people to perform at their best. The greatest impact of a leader is not measured by what they accomplish alone, but by how well they help others grow, thrive, and become the best version of themselves. When people thrive, organizations do too.”

“Leadership is not about being liked—it’s about being entrusted. Every day is a choice to show up and give your best. When the path gets difficult, be brave and lead with your strengths. In the end, leadership is ultimately about leaving the organization better than you found it.”

With these insights, we are reminded that growth does not end with a title, a promotion, a milestone or a program graduation. It continues in every conversation, challenge and opportunity to lead with greater awareness and intention.

We thank these leaders for sharing their personal insights with us.

“Success itself can become a blind spot.”

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Moments of learning, collaboration, and leadership across organizations.

This is this month’s invitation—to pause long enough to notice what success may have hidden, to remain open to feedback and coaching, and to continue learning, unlearning, and growing.

It is in knowing ourselves more deeply that lasting transformation happens.

What is one thing that resonated strongly with you? Let us know below!