This National Women’s Month, Airspeed, one of the most trusted and fastest growing logistics companies in the Philippines, supports the stance of Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) as it exults every woman and proclaims: “Babae, Pambihira ka!”
Airspeed is one with the PCW in its belief that women are extraordinary in strength, passion, wisdom, vigor, and heart. They dare to break stereotypes and confront challenges only to emerge stronger. Women, from different backgrounds and places, strive to show that this is a world for everyone.
Airspeed, an end-to-end logistics solutions and express courier company, was built from the ground up in 1985 by its Chairman and President, Rosemarie P. Rafael, a visionary with a mission to provide Filipinos and their businesses with the highest quality logistics services. Aiming to bring forth rewarding opportunities and enable growth for their clients, Mrs. Rafael is one of a handful of women who hold top positions in successful logistics companies in the country. She is also the first woman to be elected President of the Air Cargo Forwarders Association, a testament to her standing in the logistics industry.
Airspeed is a company that reflects Mrs. Rafael’s values and beliefs as a woman, a mother, and a leader. The organization treats clients like partners, making sure customers feel cared for; regards employees as members of the family; and handles each parcel or package with utmost consideration. Airspeed recognizes that striving to provide the best services that help others grow and prosper benefits everyone. Rosemarie P. Rafael believes women are naturally nurturing and she knows that when people are supported and enabled; they make things happen. At present, 80% of Airspeed’s top executives and 45% of Airspeed’s middle-tier managers, the people responsible for Airspeed’s continued success and growth, are women.
Some of the women working under the wings of Rosemarie P. Rafael are General Manager and Senior Vice President Mariz Regis who takes care of the International team and E-Commerce Pick-Up and Delivery department; Assistant General Manager (for International) Maritoni Rey; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Eliza Nieveras who heads the Finance and Administration; Chief Commercial Officer Grace Pascual who handles and trains the Corporate Sales team, Chief Information Technology Officer Liza Marquez who heads the Management Information System department; Chief Human Resources Officer Emilee Alfonso, and Chief Marketing Officer Therese Ezra Castrojas- Galang, Vice President for Seafreight Thelma Manila, and Vice President for Pick-up and Delivery Josefa Susbilla.
In a predominantly masculine business of logistics, Airspeed would not have existed without the vision and persistence of a courageous woman. It would not have achieved success and growth throughout the years without the hard work, creativity, nurture, care and leadership of its female executives, managers and employees. In the Philippines, it is rare to find a company in the logistics business that entrusts a large part of its values, perspectives, and decisions to women. Judging by the company’s evolution and accomplishments — throughout its 35 years of existence; depending on the skills of women has proven to be a good thing.