| | FEBRUARY 20254for growth, and as an entrepreneur, building the right team and learning from experience are crucial. With these lessons in mind, Angelo is leading Orange Seed Lending with a vision to transform the financial landscape, balancing professional success with personal growth. Let's dive into this one on one interaction to know more.How have your experiences contributed to bringing strategic insights and governance expertise to Orange Seed Lending?The values that have shaped my career, namely Risk-Taking, Sacrifice, Resilience, Adaptability, and Humility, are also the driving forces behind Orange Seed Lending. We take a calculated approach to risk by lending to unbanked and underserved customers. Our commitment to fast, fair approvals is supported by the personal sacrifices we make to fulfill our promises. At Orange Seed Lending, we stay agile by constantly monitoring the needs of our customers and engaging in open communication to stay in tune with market shifts. While we set high standards for our team, we also offer opportunities for redemption when challenges arise, fostering resilience in the face of adversity. Additionally, we encourage a culture of knowledge-sharing, where we learn from each other, constantly inspired by the collective wisdom of the team.What approach have you established for the company, and how does it set you apart from traditional banks and lenders?I've learned over the years, especially as a business owner, that at the heart of every business are people, including customers, employees, and partners. For me, business success is built on Empathy, which goes beyond just using the word. It means truly imagining myself in the shoes of others to understand their needs, hopes, motivations, and goals. This Empathy is achieved by two means, namely Listening and Communication.Listening to customers is crucial. People enjoy sharing what works for them, but large companies often fail by imposing what they think is best for customers, or worse, what works best for them, rather than hearing what the customers actually need. By truly listening, customers will reveal their needs, and from there, we can align our goals with theirs.On top of that, open communication with my team ensures everyone is working towards immediate objectives while staying focused on our long-term mission of serving our customers. I see companies rely on buzzwords like 'AI Technology' or 'Customer First' to boast about their tech capabilities or large resources, yet they fall short on their core competencies that are critical, especially in a developing economy. Unlike them, we at Orange Seed Lending focus on the basics, listening to our customers' concerns and offering the right loans to fit their specific business needs.What pain points have you noticed among small business owners when seeking financial support from banks and lenders, and how have you made your company more reliable to them?In the Philippines, the credit scoring system is inadequate, causing lenders to be overly cautious.This often results in long and unnecessarily complicated underwriting processes, along with loans that are smaller than what small businesses actually need. Small businesses require timely access to the right amount of capital.At Orange Seed Lending, we focus on practicality and quick approvals. Many of our borrowers are turned away by other lenders due to missing documentation that may not even be essential, or they face frustrating delays. By truly listening to our customers and maintaining constant communication within our team, we stay aligned to understand their challenges and provide the support they need efficiently.As a leader, how do you ensure that you maintain and bring out the best in your partnerships with reputable firms both within and outside the Philippines?The principles of Listening and Communication are just as important when it comes to our partnerships. When I worked in investment banking in New York, my firm had a policy of responding to clients within 24 hours. The response didn't need to resolve the issue immediately, but simply acknowledging that we were working on it showed respect for their time and efforts.From the perspective of receiving service, we hope our partners do the same for us. Just like with our customers, we value partners who listen and communicate clearly about how they can support us, and we aim to do the same in return. This creates a foundation of timely, courteous assistance that benefits everyone involved.How do you encourage the company to add value to society?Our company's mission is to provide access to services for those who are often overlooked by other lenders. We pursue · Hobbies: Angelo unwinds after a long, stressful day by listening to Hilary Hahn's violin concertos by Beethoven, Brahms, or Mozart, paired with a glass of scotch whiskey. He also enjoys playing tennis whenever possible, and attending rock concerts by 1980s American hair bands.· Favorite Book: His favorite books include Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy and Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.· Favorite Travel Destination: Angelo has traveled to over 65 countries and 100+ cities. His favorite destination is Prague, Czech Republic, due to its rich history dating back to the Holy Roman Empire and its striking blend of Renaissance, Gothic, and Baroque architecture.
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