Rtn. John Emyl G. Eugenio: A business-oriented family man with a purpose

Rtn. John Emyl G. Eugenio grew up in the family-owned book business, C&E Publishing. The company, which was founded in 1993, provides globally competitive educational resources and solutions for the Philippine academic and professional markets. Exposed to the publishing industry at a young age, it’s no surprise books are in his DNA. Rtn. Emyl now serves as the company’s Chief Operating Officer, spearheading the company’s journey from the traditional to an innovative, modern player in the publishing industry.

Managing a family-owned and -run business is both challenging and rewarding. The level of commitment and dedication to deliver and do well is second to none. Guided by his family values and the company’s vision, Rtn. Emyl is passionate to make the business win and be instrumental in driving the Philippine education to greater heights. Here, he shares some benefits of running a family business and paints a picture of the Philippine publishing landscape.

Get to know more about this young, successful business leader with our Q&A.

Rhea Vitto Tabora (RVT): How does it feel/what are the benefits of working in a family-run company?

John Emyl G. Eugenio (JGE): I feel proud to continue the legacy that comes with a family-run company. The opportunity presents unique challenges to continually do well and do better, which fuels a drive within me to deliver. Given that the company has been in business since 1993, I am in the perfect position as its current Chief Operating Officer to look at its growth and lead its expansion. I feel responsible for spearheading its shift from traditional to modern ways of doing things. This comes into play for many aspects that need to be looked into, including, succession planning and ultimately, transforming a traditional setup into a more modernized organization with developed technologies, structures, and operations. Being in this position has its benefits for reinforcing authority and command to make things correct and right. At the end of the day, the work that I do and how I lead the organization represents a more profound purpose: strengthening the company’s legacy and being part of a tradition that places great value and benefit in education.

RVT: How competitive is the publishing industry in the Philippines?

JGE: Highly-competitive, the Philippine publishing industry spans a wide range of sectors – from basic education to higher education, to libraries, and even EdTech or Educational Technologies. Each business segment carries its own competition, strategies, and operations. Understanding this through the lens of Porter’s Five Forces, the barriers to entry are indeed high as it is investment-heavy in terms of content development and maintenance of technologies. It is also very skills-centric, wherein your authors should be highly competitive, knowledgeable, and able to keep up with the global markets. This is just the tip of the iceberg; all of these relate to only the product side. The side of pricing is another matter altogether. Pricing-wise, you also have new competitors offering products at a lower cost. On the one hand, we cannot lower our margins as we have to sustain a big organization and to maintain a set standard of high-quality content for the educational products we put out; but on the other hand, our institutional partners and clients rewardingly recognize our efforts to prioritize quality content. Often, sales are driven by how good the quality is. Through this, we are able to uphold the company’s position at the forefront of the industry.

RVT: With the pandemic going on, what are the publishing challenges and opportunities?

JGE: The ongoing pandemic hurled the publishing industry into a sudden transformation. The campus shutdowns were followed by various challenges, including lower enrollment rates, increased price sensitivity of customers, and schools moving to the use of modules instead of textbooks. These challenges initially made it difficult to move amidst a pandemic-hit market. However, the focus and expertise of C&E ALS specifically rely upon delivering adaptive learning solutions. Now, more than ever, our institutional partners need technology for distance learning. It has been a significant opportunity for us to fulfill a gap by addressing their specific needs while thriving to provide learning solutions together with the necessary tech support and premium content we offer.

RVT: What accomplishments are you most proud of?

JGE: Working alongside others in the organization, I believe that we all have our own contributions to the company’s success. Marking nearly three decades in the industry, the company has surpassed numerous changes and challenges throughout Philippine education’s history. Aside from the current pandemic, C&E ALS has also previously faced a series of hurdles, with the most notable ones being the low enrollment rates for Nursing around ten years ago, the transition to the K-12 Education System, and the continuous need to be adaptive to the ever-changing market trends, economic conditions, and government policies. Withstanding these challenges and turning them into opportunities for success are accomplishments I have been most proud of. At C&E ALS, we come prepared knowing that things are bound to happen in the future. Whatever circumstance there is, we remain to be adaptive, resilient, and innovative in our approach. Instilling these values in the company and cultivating a culture of adaptability and forward-thinking are things I take pride in as the company’s COO.

RVT: If you are to choose a character in a book who is most similar to you, who would you choose and why?

JGE: As an entrepreneur, I relate to the professional characteristics portrayed by Michael Corleone in Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel, The Godfather. His character as a business-driven visionary resonates with me as a businessperson. Similarly, we both share a strong sense of responsibility to continue the family business while showing high regard and loyalty for the family. Very intelligent and ruthless, we are both guided by exceptional skills and strategies in business and leadership. Finally, similar to how he successfully steered the Corleone family business to growth and expansion, as the company’s Chief Operating Officer, I also reflect that level of motivation to get ahead as I spearhead the company’s progress and drive the business forward.

RVT: What’s one positive thing you’ve learned during this pandemic?

JGE: Professionally, the pandemic taught me lessons on getting our organization in shape and running amidst a crisis. Through lockdowns and strict health measures, spearheading operations is a big task, especially with the looming uncertainty clouding the business sector. Fortunately, through the support and efforts of our people, enforced by the motivation to survive, we were able to transition and adapt successfully. On a more personal note, in hindsight, the pandemic has strengthened my sense of gratitude. Like most of us going through this shared experience, I have found a deeper appreciation for all blessings bestowed upon me. While I have always been a family man, the pandemic and the past lockdown have emphasized the great value in connecting and appreciating our family and loved ones, together with the gifts of health, work and safety.

RVT: What inspired you to join the Rotary Club of Manila? How did the experience change your outlook in life?

JGE: In the true Rotary spirit, Service Above Self has been one of the driving forces behind my affiliation with the Rotary Club of Manila. As a member, I find great fulfillment in helping communities and touching base with other services, such as healthcare, to further extend our assistance. More than a motto, Service Above Self has changed my outlook by allowing me to look into a deeper purpose – to contribute to a larger community while sharing my expertise as we reach a common goal. Being one of the Rotary Club’s youngest members, I was privileged to learn from and exchange ideas with my more experienced colleagues. Eventually, translating learning into action has significantly contributed to my personal and professional development.

RVT: What’s the last book you read that you couldn’t put down?

JGE: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

RVT: What are your interests and hobbies? What do you do when you are not at work?

JGE: Outside work, I enjoy spending time with my family, pursuing active and fulfilling hobbies such as physical fitness and working out, and also mixing music through my interest in DJing. I find that these hobbies help me cope as they serve as great outlets to maintain mental stability – something truly essential when handling a very strenuous and taxing job.

RVT: If you are to introduce yourself and the only communication you could have is a single paragraph, what would you write?

JGE: I am a business-oriented family man with a purpose. Driven with a vision and goal, I seek both professional and personal development. Guided by integrity, I am highly competitive and purpose-driven.