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Interview photo

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I am Gianfranco Balbuena Mallillin. I am 24 years old. I studied most of my life abroad, in Kuwait. I moved back to the Philippines for college which I ended up taking at Ateneo de Manila University. I graduated last 2018 at 19 with a bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies in the Management and Communication track.

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Tell us something about the company/organization?

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Tell us something about the company/organization?

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"The company's name is Magna. It is a subsidiary of IPG Media Brands. It is the trading and investment arm of the conglomerate. We manage and further the relationships between our media buying companies and media vendors."

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What is your position in the company/organization? What are the roles/duties you have to fulfill in this leadership position?

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What is your position in the company/organization? What are the roles/duties you have to fulfill in this leadership position?

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"I am a digital trading manager. I work with the Analytics team to collect relevant information on past performance. I then use this data to work with cross-functional stakeholders to guide and influence future focus & commercial opportunities. I collaborate with multiple functions of the Buying and Planning teams on media availability and opportunities. I meet with industry representatives to gain insight to all phases and points of contact of media partners. Ultimately, I keep up to date on all communications with the planning team including buy authorizations, tracking reports, buy changes, creative specifications, etc."

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How would you describe your leadership style?

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How would you describe your leadership style?

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"Results-oriented. I do not mind grey areas, it doesn't matter to me how long a task takes, as long as it is delivered within the agreed upon time."

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What are the most difficult challenges you have had to face as a leader?

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What are the most difficult challenges you have had to face as a leader?

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"My most difficult challenge is convincing a client that my team knew the best way to solve their problem; that our solution was the more value efficient route. "

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Discuss a leadership challenge you have faced and what you did to overcome it?

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Discuss a leadership challenge you have faced and what you did to overcome it?

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"I had a client before that demanded a lot of resources from the company. Unfortunately, the resource they needed, developers, was a shared resource. It got to a point where I was escalated to upper management because I had all the developers on my campaigns. This necessitated a conversation between me, campaign lead (my direct manager), PH Operating Manager, my Customer success manager and the COO. The conversation was centered around me informing them of the volume and details of the campaigns. They reprimanded me for not letting them know of the sheer volume of the tasks that had to be done with the truncated time table, I should've let them know and asked for help. After that, I did ask for help and the PM team, the team I was in, got access to the dev tracker so we can all see who is working on which and who needs to start managing their client better. "

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What values are most important to you as a leader?

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What values are most important to you as a leader?

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"My most important values for being a leader are respect, vision, and accountability. I believe that each feed into one another. My subordinates should understand where they fit into the total outlook of the team/company. "

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How did you learn how to be a good leader?

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How did you learn how to be a good leader?

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"My previous leads were my role models. I have had six direct leads and many more bosses above the reporting line. I took on the characteristics that I like from them."

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"No one in particular. I like being in control, to stay in control people have to believe in your leadership."

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How do you handle disagreements on your team?

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How do you handle disagreements on your team?

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"I haven't had the displeasure of encountering this situation. Small misunderstandings have happened but never a full-blown argument."

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What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?

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What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?

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"Practice. I am blessed to be in leadership roles at a young age. I should steadily be gaining experience on this skill for as long as I work."

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What advice or tips would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?

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What advice or tips would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?

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"Complacency is death. In any profession, losing the will to refine your craft will only lead to poor results."

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Christine FRANCOIS from France

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Introduce Yourself (What is your job, do you manage a team, if yes how many people ?)

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Introduce Yourself (What is your job, do you manage a team, if yes how many people ?)

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"My name is Christine FRANCOIS, I spent 14 years in the general electrical group. It's one of the biggest conglomerates in the world, they come from America. I had a team of security and technical staff (accountants, support service that helps the business).  At general electrical I managed a team of 9 people, then I joined Ikea and I was with a team of 15 people. Now I work with the arcelor mittal group. It's a company that manages everything that is metal construction.

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For you, what is the definition of a good leader?  

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For you, what is the definition of a good leader?  

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"At first sight, being a leader is not something you acquire overnight. It is something you discover about yourself over time. For example, when I finished my studies, I didn't know that I would be a leader one day. A leader is someone who likes to work with others, not a loner. He needs to engage others with him. He needs to have confidence in others and in his team. Instill a desire to work with him, be convincing. He has to make sure that he does not make others into what he is. A good leader must have values and share them. Accepting difference, listening, respecting others and being simple."

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What are the most difficult challenges you’ve had to face as a leader?  Who inspired you to be a good leader?  How did you learn to be a good leader?  

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What are the most difficult challenges you’ve had to face as a leader?  Who inspired you to be a good leader?  How did you learn to be a good leader?  

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"When I started, it was not intuitive. I got through it thanks to communication with my managers at the time. They provided me with their knowledge and insight which allowed me to grow and learn from my mistakes. Acknowledge your mistakes to your colleagues and listen to their suggestions. My managers at the time were very inspiring and helpful. They taught me how to be a good leader."

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What advice would you give to a beginning manager?  

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What advice would you give to a beginning manager?  

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"Be yourself, don't try to be something you are not! If you don't feel like being a manager it's okay. It must be inborn if you like people. If you feel that it's not your thing, you're going to face big difficulties. People won't feel confident. You have to interact with people a lot and create a working dynamic."

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How do you handle disagreement in your team? 

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How do you handle disagreement in your team? 

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"It's difficult when people are resistant to change so I take them aside in a meeting to understand the problem and find a solution"

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For us, a good manager is organized. Do you agree with that ?

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For us, a good manager is organized. Do you agree with that ?

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"I am very organised. I need to be because my team is a reflection of the rest of the staff. I use one note to make my to-do list to avoid forgetting. I don't print anything out anymore !"

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Part III. Similarities and Differences of the Two Leaders

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Part III. Similarities and Differences of the Two Leaders

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Mr. Mallillin and Ms. Francois are who they are today thanks to the efforts of their respective leaders. The two respective leaders were shaped by their respective leaders' leadership styles. Besides that, both leaders believe that a good leader must be convincing in order to maintain control and assert leadership. Furthermore, both leaders mentioned accountability as an important aspect of leadership in different ways. Mr. Mallillin mentioned accountability as one of his core leadership values. While Ms. Francois demonstrated accountability by acknowledging her mistake and listening to the suggestions of her colleagues.

It should be noted that Mr. Mallillin lacks experience and thus is unable to answer the other questions fully. Furthermore, the two leaders have very different leadership styles. Although, it is not stated explicitly, the two leaders have varying definition of good leadership. Their leadership styles are mirrored in a way that conforms to their definition of a good leader. Mr. Mallillin is not as hands-on as the Ms. Francois, who is constantly communicating. Mr. Mallillin is more concerned with the task's completion. Ms. Francois can be seen micromanaging members, which can aid in the development of other subordinates under the second leader.

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Part IV. Main Insight of the Group Members

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Part IV. Main Insight of the Group Members

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There are many kinds of leaders in our world and not all of them are the same when it comes to their leadership styles or way of dealing with conflict. Whether you are new or already experienced with leadership positions, you still have a lot to learn to become better as a leader. Furthermore, creating a harmonious work environment can aid in the development of future leaders and have a long-term impact on not only the company but also on each individual. With this, each individual can be inspired in ways that create a positive domino effect in the workplace. A leader must also demonstrate leadership qualities in order to gain the respect of his or her subordinates. Moreover, treating subordinates as equal adults can help gain respect and recognize who is in charge. Finally, there is no concrete leadership style that can identify a good leader. We must recognize that different styles work in different situations, and it is our responsibility to interpret the situation and produce an effective outcome.