VISITS TO HIS DAD’S BUSINESS INSPIRED HIM
While there are skills that can be acquired over time, there are also those that are formed from within and become part of one's identity. For Eugene Erik Lim, the entrepreneurial spirit in him was awakened at an early age.
“I remember visiting my dad's company as a kid and I was always fascinated by the work that he was doing,” he fondly recalls. That was just the start of his ambitions.
After having graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration at the University of San Carlos, he joined his family's business full time. He was 20 years old then. At 26, he became chief operating officer of their manufacturing company. Now he is the vice president and chief operating officer of Island Central Mactan.
He attributes the success of the newest lifestyle mall on the island to the collective strength of their team which his father and uncle play major roles in. Since its soft opening, ICM has been home to Bo's Coffee, Robinsons Supermarket, Watsons, Ace Hardware, an NBI satellite office, and restaurants and food stalls, among others. As the grand opening is this summer, one can expect to see more establishments open their doors to customers.
“Also, we're in the final development stages of the Mactan Wharf, and will have trips from Mactan to Cebu very soon, as well as the SkyBar on the fourth floor, which is geared to be one of the biggest bars in the country with breathtaking views of the bridge, seas and mountains,” he adds.
So how is Erik as a boss?
“I am strict but compassionate, a mix of authoritative and participative management. I want my team to be independent problem solvers, who take initiative and think outside the box. I am a very supportive boss, but am also very direct with the team's daily/ monthly goals,” he says.
Erik also owns several other businesses including a travel agency and commercial establishments yet he still finds time to pursue his other passions. He loves traveling, playing golf, and reading. “The topics are mostly about how to make more efficient systems, expanding organizations and problem solving books that require critical thinking. That is how I exercise my mind,” he reveals.
I remember visiting my dad’s company as a kid and I was always fascinated by the work that he was doing. EUGENE ERIK LIM Entrepreneur