Profile of Guest Speaker Ms. Anna Meloto-Wilk

Work Experience

President, Gandang Kalikasan, Inc. November 2008-present

News Bureau Head, Gawad Kalinga January 2005 - July 2007

Customer Relationship Marketing Specialist, Nestle Philippines June 2004 - January 2005

CRM Account Executive, Ogilvy & Mather Philippines June 2001 - June 2004

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp - Synergy Group June 2000 - June 2001

Intern, J.Walter Thompson Philippines April 1999-May 1999

Recognition

Beauty Industry Award – Woman of the Year, 2017 given by Cosmetics Design Asia

21 Society Fellow, 2016

Raising the Bar, Empowered Women of the Philippines awarded by the Philippine Senate 2015

2013 Manila Devex 40 under 40

Schwab Foundation Fellow and Constituent at the World Economic Forum 2013 in Davos, Switzerland

Global Social Entrepreneur 2012, Schwab Foundation

Social Entrepreneur of the Year - Philippines, 2011, awarded by Ernst & Young

PLDT SME Nation Bossing Awardee for 2011

Outstanding Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2010, awarded by GoNegosyo

Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2010, awarded by PLDT SMENation

Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2009, awarded by GoNegosyo

Professional Affiliations

Institute of Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA), Board of Directors

Chamber of Cosmetic Industries in the Philippines (CCIP), Member

Education

Ateneo de Manila University, AB Communications 2000

St. Theresa's College QC - Grade School & High School

My sister Camille, my husband Dylan and I started a social enterprise called Gandang Kalikasan, Inc. in response to the growing need for all natural, organic and Philippine made personal and home care products at prices that can be affordable to a lot of Filipinos. Previously organic and natural products were only available to the wealthy because most of them were very expensive and most often imported. Realizing that the Philippines is so rich in natural healing plants and herbs and drawing on our experience as Gawad Kalinga volunteers, we set out to start a business that could open up a market for high value, natural personal care products that use locally sourced raw materials and help uplift the quality of life of the poor -- urban dwellers considered “unemployable” by most companies, and rural farmers who are do not earn enough from low value cash crops. We also wanted to see how sustainable and eco-friendly business practices, fair trade and pro-poor policies can be applied in our country where corruption is prevalent and acquiring cheap labor is a standard business practice.

In the 11 years since we started, we have sold over 18 million products, employ over 640+ people and we have a network of about 40,000 dealers nationwide. Almost half of our work force is residents from Gawad Kalinga communities who receive 70% more than the minimum wage and full benefits such as private health insurance. We buy organic raw materials at fair trade prices from farming cooperatives over the Philippines. As of January 2020, Human Nature has 34 branches in the Philippines, 640+ employees, as well as distribution in the USA, Canada, Malaysia and Singapore.

We are encouraged with these developments because we see how a social enterprise that is founded on Christian principles of justice, integrity, compassion and stewardship can also be commercially viable. In this business model, everyone from the business owners, the employees, suppliers, distributors, end consumers and even the environment benefit from quality products, quality of life brought about by fair wages and working conditions, and ecologically sustainably business practices.

Born: October 27, 1979

Civil Status: Married to Dylan Wilk, co-founder and Chairman of Human Nature. They have three daughters Ariel, Chloe and Violet & three sons Wolfgang, Daniel and David.