Struggles to Success: My Journey to Becoming a COO in the Outsourcing Industry

My name is Fiona Lideza and I am the chief operating officer of STAFFVIRTUAL, one of the best outsourcing companies in the Philippines.

Overcoming a Difficult Childhood

I grew up under very difficult circumstances – I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I didn’t come from a privileged family, and so everything that I had my parents really had to work hard to provide for us. At a very early age, I was already aware of the harsh realities of what it’s like to not have anything.

When I was around eight or nine years old, my father’s business went bankrupt, and during that time we had to move to a different part of the country. Unfortunately for us and unbeknownst to us as little kids, this is a very dangerous part where there were rebels and terrorists hiding out in that area. We didn’t know it back then but those were one of the hardest times of my life.

Even at the age of around 12 years old, I would go through scrap metals and sell them at the junkyard for a little bit of money. These experiences, deprivations and privations allowed me to really appreciate all the opportunities that came my way. 

The Greatest Gift: Knowledge

With that, my mom gifted me with the best gift of all and that is the gift of knowledge. Even with the little money that we had, my mom would always find ways to scrape through enough money just to buy me used books. With these books, I was able to read and understand the world better. 

Breaking into the Outsourcing Industry

So at the age of 18, I decided to work for one of the largest call centers in the country and I was hired as a customer support representative for Amazon. This is where I learned my foundational skills to becoming a professional. This is also where I learned the value of excellent customer service, and a lot of the things that I carried with me throughout my career started when I worked for this company.

Just a few years later, I was hired as a sales executive for a business process outsourcing company. I had absolutely no experience in sales, and I was the only sales representative for that company. In a matter of just a year, I was able to sell 150 seats in that call center. A year later, I became a keynote speaker where hundreds of entrepreneurs attended and I was able to talk and share about the benefits of remote work and hiring talent in the Philippines. 

You Are Stronger Than Your Struggles

Now I can confidently say that who I am today is a result of all the things that I experienced, be it the good or the bad. 

So for all of you out there who are struggling, I say to you:

1. Don’t compare your struggles to anyone else’s.
2. Don’t be discouraged by the success of others. 
3. Don’t compare your journey with other people’s journey. 

Always remember to not allow your circumstances to define your future. You are only limited by your imagination, so dream big and achieve big.