Woman CEO cited for excellence
LausGroup of Companies and Global Cars Philippines Inc. chairman and CEO Lisset Laus-Velasco was named Woman Entrepreneur of the Year last Monday, November 2Q, at the Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2022, an annual search for the country’s finest entrepreneurs.
The Woman Entrepreneur of the Year is awarded to an individual who has shown exemplary management excellence over time, making her a trailblazer in her particular field of business. In Laus-Velasco’s case, it is the male-dominated automotive industry.
Ernst and Young and SGV Foundation — the organizers of the world-renowned annual search — awarded Laus-Velasco, a Kapampangan, the much-coveted accolade at the Hyatt Manila on Monday.
She is one of the two Pampanga-natives who also received the top plums of the night.
The other one was Dennis Anthony H. Uy, CEO and co-founder of Converge ICT Solutions Inc. (Converge), who was named the Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 and the Master Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2022.
Another Pampanga-born entrepreneur in the list of nominees included Robert Lo, CEO of RDF Feed, Livestock and Food Inc.
As the chairman and CEO of Global Cars Philippines Inc., Laus-Velasco helms the company that is mainly responsible for the growth of the automotive industry in Northern and Central Luzon, as well as the many other affiliate companies operating in hospitality and tourism, media, real estate, and nonlife insurance.
“I am honored to be named Woman Entrepreneur of the Year tonight. This not only represents the grit, determination, and hard work required in this fiercely competitive industry, but I truly hope it inspires the next generation of women in businesses to dream bigger than ever before,” Laus-Velasco said.
“My greatest inspiration is my dad Levy, who was a man of integrity and hard work. He has inspired me endlessly in the work that we do. This recognition, however, would not have been possible without the unwavering love and support of my family and the whole LausGroup of Companies. For that, I am deeply grateful.”
She joined the family’s dealership founded by the late Levy P. Laus in Q995 as a sales consultant. In the early 2000s, she took on a more active leadership role as chief financial officer after the acquisition of Ford Libis dealership.