Company: Nu Skin Enterprises, Provo, UT USA
Company Description: Nu Skin Enterprises demonstrates its tradition of innovation through its comprehensive anti-aging product portfolio, independent business opportunity and corporate social responsibility initiatives. Nu Skin’s scientific leadership in both skin care and nutrition has established Nu Skin as a premier anti-aging company, evidenced in its patent-pending ageLOC science, addressing aging at its source.
Nomination Category: Individual Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Asian Executive
Nomination Title: Melisa Tantoco-Quijano, President of the Southeast Asia Region
Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated executive during the eligibility period (up to 500 words):
As President of the Southeast Asia Region of the direct selling powerhouse, Nu
Skin Enterprises, Melisa Tantoco-Quijano has played an integral part in
transforming this region into the company’s fastest growing region. Overseeing six
countries, more than 300 employees and nearly 4,000 executive distributors is
some of the many responsibilities Melisa has. Despite her busy schedule, she
has also dedicated her time and efforts to community and charity initiatives and
always finds time for family and those important in her life. But her balancing
acts
and skills are what make her unique and excellent, truly inspirational.
Record-breaking Results
Melisa, as she is simply known, took over the position she is currently handling in
2006, a year when the world was experiencing a challenging economic situation.
At that time, the six countries in Nu Skin Southeast Asia region including
Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia all faced
environmental challenges, causing business to slow significantly. Regardless of
the challenging atmosphere, Melisa became the driving force that turned Nu Skin
Southeast Asia to where it is now, the fastest growing region among all the global
regions of Nu Skin.
Under Melisa’s leadership, Nu Skin has been able to not only weather the storm,
but surge ahead with impressive results. In 2009, Nu Skin Southeast Asia region
reported the following:
• Generated $109 million in revenue, a 17.2 percent improvement over
the prior year based on the comparison made in local currency;
• Increased independent executive distributor count by 16 percent
• Spearheaded the “Go Double” Campaign, the banner by which all
markets of Nu Skin across the region emulate. In 2009, the region finished a
strong year, growing by 17.2% in revenue. This year, the region is estimated to
post a 35% year-over-year growth which will double 2009’s number. This Go
Double Campaign has been so successful that other regions of Nu Skin have
adapted it as part of their business plan.
• The fastest growing region in Nu Skin global markets. It has been
growing for 10 quarters consecutively since Q1 2008 and reported YOY growth for
continuous 28 months.
• Built a commendable program for Nu Skin corporate social
responsibility in Southeast Asia that now generates enough funds to provide
cardiac surgery for one child every day of the year.
In a recent conference call with Nu Skin shareholders, Truman Hunt, CEO and
President of Nu Skin Enterprises praised Southeast Asia’s continued growth.
“We are pleased with the growth we are seeing in Southeast Asia which has really
become the jewel of the Nu Skin Empire right now, growing at a faster rate than
almost anywhere. We expect very strong growth to continue in this region
throughout the remainder of the year. It is particularly gratifying to see that
growth
is really emanating from virtually every country in the region.” –Truman Hunt, Q2
2010 Nu Skin Earnings Conference Call
Community/Charity Involvement
Besides her robust business acumen, Melisa has the heart for her company’s
mission, and that is to be a “Force for Good.” She is so committed in this
endeavor that in 1997, she initiated the Southeast Asia Childrens’ Heart Fund
(SEA-CHF) in Thailand. The goal of SEA-CHF is to help under privileged children
with cardiovascular ailments to get proper treatment, and in so doing, make these
children have a better chance in life. Now, the SEA-CHF has deepened its roots
and helps fund operations of many children through its partners, the non-profit
organizations in Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. One of the
fruits of
her dedication to be a “Force for Good” took place in 2009, when Melisa was
invited to become a Board Member for the partner-organization in the Philippines,
the Child Health In Life and Development (CHILD) Foundation. She is the first and
still the only corporate executive who has become a Board Member of the
organization.
Leader in the Direct Selling Industry
The industry of direct selling calls for strong relationships with its independent
business partners. This is another aspect where Melisa shows admirable, yet
humble, quality. Going the extra mile, she is all about people, overseeing that
through Nu Skin, these independent business partners would become better
people because of the values of the company. She has helped hundreds of other
women entrepreneurs build a successful business.
Family life
Another facet of Melisa not known to many is her ability to balance her career and
family. Very much dedicated to family life, she and her husband raised their
children to become independent. And despite the demands of her job, she makes
herself available to her family whenever needed. She also makes time to fulfill her
personal needs, intellectual or emotional, as she believes that these are essential
for every person. Staying connected with her family as well as herself gives her
the
energy to do and give more.
Conclusion
Indeed, Melisa plays a lot of roles and wears different hats for each occasion. But
what she does is no circus act. It is really a matter of knowing her priorities
in life,
of finding passion and significance in what she does. Beyond the
accomplishments and qualities already mentioned, what makes Melisa one of a
kind is that she exemplifies the modern Asian businesswoman: At the end of the
day, it is not really about having everything or earning so much money, it is about
building and nurturing relationships, doing the greater good, having a purpose and
along the way making her mark and demonstrating her difference for others to
follow.
List the URLs (web addresses) of any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that you would like the judges to see that support your entry. IMPORTANT: List each URL on a separate line, begin each URL with http://, and enclose each URL in square brackets. For example, [http://www.yourcompany.com/pressrelease.html]:
Media Title: Entrepreneur Magazine
Article Title: “Innovation with a Heart”
http://www.nuskin.com/ns/ph/images/netx/MTQ[at%20entrepreneur%20magazine.jpg]
Media Title: The Daily Tribune Newspaper, Life Section
Article Title: “Making a Difference”
http://www.nuskin.com/ns/ph/images/netx/MTQ[at%20the%20daily%20tribune.jpg]
Media Title: Town & Country Magazine
Article Title: “Pride of Distinction”
http://www.nuskin.com/ns/ph/images/netx/MTQ-in-Town-&-Country.jpg
Media Title: BFM Radio Station in Malaysia (In-Conversation)
This segment features interviews with famous and successful personalities who
have shaped this nation.
http://bfm.my/assets/files/InConversation/2010-04-01_InConversation_MelisaTantocoQuijano.mp3
Date of Interview: 8 April 2009
http://www.bfm.my/641.html?searched=melisa+quijano&advsearch=exactphrase&highlight=ajax
Search_highlight+ajaxSearch_highlight1
Provide a brief biography of the nominated executive (up to 100 words):
Melisa Quijano serves as the president of the Southeast Asia region, bringing
nearly 30 years of sales and marketing experience to the role. Previously, Quijano
was the vice president of market services for the company's global Distributor
Success Organization based in the U.S. She also served as regional director for
Southeast Asia, general manager for Nu Skin Malaysia and Nu Skin Thailand and
regional marketing director for the Southeast Asia region. Melisa serves as an
honorary board member of the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Foundation of Thailand, a
board member of the CHILD Foundation in the Philippines and board member of
the Southeast Asia Children's Heart Fund. Prior to joining Nu Skin Enterprises,
Quijano had management positions for the Asian operations of Tupperware, Sara
Lee Direct Selling Asia, S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. and Warner Lambert Inc.
Quijano earned a bachelor's degree in business management from Ateneo de
Manila University in the Philippines where she was a University Scholar.
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