Smart Solutions To Transform Lives

Passion is often at the core of what we do. Many of the community’s changemakers have succeeded at leading change in their own fields because they are guided by their beliefs and passion. They do not waver from their purpose, and are constantly on the search for new and better ways they can create impact in their communities.?

In this edition of The Success Catalyst, we speak with Gay Santos, the Regional Director for Southeast Asia at Water.org, on her passion for financial inclusion, and her commitment to empower communities.?

FERVANT: The road of advocacy is challenging at times. Please share with us about your journey in advocating for financial inclusion, and the actions you took to impact the community.

Gay: Through my journey, I’ve learnt that we need to recognize that we are all a work in progress. What’s important is to keep your feet on the ground, and as long as you have the heart for what you want to do, you will never go wrong. That is one piece of advice for those who are seeking to create change in their community.

FERVANT: You have certainly established yourself as a leader and strong advocate for financial inclusion. How did it all begin??

Gay: I spent most of my career in Washington, DC with the World Bank group, and my role there was largely internal looking. It was only when I moved back to the Philippines that I had the opportunity to do work that’s more on the ground and closer to the community.?

My new role focused on championing the efforts to improve the credit infrastructure and financial inclusion for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines. I was renewed with inspiration and motivation by this purpose as I was able to be a source of support for SMEs that struggled to have access to financial services.

As part of my work, I got the chance to talk to many SMEs on the ground, which allowed me to connect with the community. One thing that really stood out to me was something this vendor at the public market said. He told me that, in the morning he would sell raw meat, and if the raw meat is not sold by the afternoon, he will cook it and sell it as cooked meat. I was struck by how people will really find ways to sustain their family, and sometimes this includes borrowing from loan sharks.

Therefore, we sought ways to increase the confidence of financial institutions to lend more to SMEs, so they do not have to resort to borrowing from loan sharks or other undesirable means. One such initiative was the passing of the Personal Property Security Act in Congress, which we were able to do in an efficient manner due to collaboration between various stakeholders. It shows the power of people coming together to work towards a common good.

After the passing of the law, I took the leap of faith to move on and retire. I didn’t have any plans, but I had the gut feeling that there’s still so much more I can do to empower the community.

The opportunity to do more came when entities working with USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, approached me with the chance to work on financial inclusion for the conditional cash transfer beneficiaries of the Philippines. These beneficiaries are from the poorer segment of the country, and they rely on assistance from the government. My role included designing a financial literacy program for them. With digitalization, financial literacy is not only about savings or budgeting anymore. It’s also about digital literacy. Thus, I added that into the program, to provide these people with the skills necessary to improve their livelihoods.?

FERVANT: How did joining Water.org as the Regional Director in Southeast Asia allow you to advance your advocacy for financial inclusion?

Gay: I first met Water.org’s co-founders at a small, private gathering where I was invited as a financial inclusion advocate. It was at that gathering that I became fans of both of the co-founders, because of their passion to bring water and sanitation to the world.

The opportunity to work with Water.org came to me three times. Third time I decided to move forward. The first two times I hadn’t yet truly appreciated how their work links to financial inclusion. It was only when I started reading and talking to people in the process of working with Water.org that I had an “Aha!” moment.?

The organization connects the community, especially those who earn $3 to $6 a day, to its network of financial institutions, allowing the community to tap into loans for the first time, to build their pipes and gain a sustainable access to water and sanitation. It helps those close to the base of the pyramid to possess a credit footprint, which is in the true spirit of financial inclusion.?

In fact, most of the borrowers are women. It is not surprising, because globally, women and children are usually delegated to fetch water. The work that Water.org is doing thus enables women to improve their families’ livelihoods through access to safe water and sanitation. I find that extremely inspiring, and I am proud to be part of this mission.

FERVANT: Empowering and shaping communities comes with its unique set of challenges. What is one challenge you, and Water.org, are looking to overcome in the coming years?

Gay: One challenge would be in terms of public awareness. While there have been success stories in the community, more work needs to be done, especially for CEOs and influencers, to prioritize investing in water and sanitation.?

This situation has become a global crisis. While we view water as a basic need, there are many out there who do not have the luxury of accessing safe water and sanitation. There are people whose wish in life is not to see their kids through college or starting a business, but simply to have their own water line and electricity. It became clear to me that we need to put in more effort to make basic needs like safe and clean water a reality for everyone.?

Public awareness is thus crucial as we need to reach out to those who can support our efforts. And for such awareness to take flight, there needs to be more collaboration between the public and private sector to impact the communities that need our help the most.

FERVANT: It is heartening to hear the passion you have for your work. When you were growing up, were there any role models whose drive and passion inspired you?

Gay: Growing up, my biggest role model was my grandfather, a private law practitioner who lives in the northern part of the Philippines. I spent a lot of time with him as a child, up until my teenage years. In fact, on the last day of school before summer begins, he will actually ‘kidnap’ me from my parents and bring me to his house. And I would stay with him until classes started again.

As a private lawyer, he would usually meet his clients in his home office to practise what they are going to deliver in the courtroom. Most of his clients were the indigenous people of that region, and he did not charge them much for his services. His clients would bring coins in a bag, or even some animals or fruits, just to pay him. However, he rejected the fees.

It wasn’t about the money to him. He was simply passionate about his work, in terms of advocating for the law and helping his clients. Seeing his passion and how he devoted time to helping others, it moved me greatly. The vision of him with his clients is really one of my best memories growing up, and needless to say, he inspired me.

FERVANT: Could you share with us how your grandfather influenced your choices in life?

Gay: I went to law school, with the hope of becoming a lawyer like him. However, two and a half years into law school, I realized that it was so much harder to find the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, as opposed to establishing a career. With that in mind, I didn’t finish law school, unfortunately. Even when I moved to the US and joined the World Bank group, this kept hounding me in my mind: I didn’t finish law school, I’m a failure.

But, it is really interesting how life can turn things around. Law re-entered my life when I was at the World Bank, as I was given the role of advocating for the law. I had the opportunity to walk through the halls of the Senate and talk to both the public and private sector to build my case. It was ironic how I regretted not being a lawyer, and yet here I was advocating for the law.

The whole journey was amazing, and I was able to apply the passion, perseverance and heart I saw in my grandfather when I was young. It was his passion to really do something good that stuck with me throughout my life, and I believe the passion for what I do today is something that I got from him.?

FERVANT: You mentioned the importance of a public and private sector collaboration when it comes to spreading awareness. How do you envision that happening in the near future?

Gay: In the near future, I am hoping collaboration will be like second nature. The community, especially those who have the ability to influence a community, will have to prioritize this issue and really put in the effort to champion for safe water and sanitation. It should not only be a one-time effort on World Water Day, but all year around. It should be second nature, woven into their vision and mission of their respective organizations.

I am hopeful that, coming out of the pandemic, there will be more people who will support and be the champions of our cause as people are realizing that we cannot just fend for ourselves. We need to concern ourselves with the sustainability of the whole world. Our mission can only be achieved if the whole community comes together as one.

Content prepared by FERVANT for Gloria Soo's Community. If you enjoyed reading The Success Catalyst, take a moment to share it with someone you know will benefit from the newsletter too!

Business coach, entrepreneur and author - Gloria has helped over 3,000 entrepreneurs build their businesses from the ground up. Gloria believes that sales is all about establishing rapport and nurturing valuable business relationships towards win-win outcomes.

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The Success Catalyst shines the spotlight on inspiring individuals who are action takers. Centered on topics such as coaching, training, leadership, entrepreneurship, and certifications, it is a community newsletter that aims to add value to your life and business.

FERVANT helps communities amplify their voice, one story at a time. We work to foster connections, engage your audience, and grow a thriving community for you.?All editorial rights reserved. Connect with FERVANT on LinkedIn.

About today's guests on The Success Catalyst:

Find out more about Water.org here .

Or connect with today's guest: Gay Santos on LinkedIn.