OSM MARITIME SERVICES PRESIDENT MAILYN BORILLO -- Changing Tides: Women leaders in the PH maritime industry

OSM MARITIME SERVICES PRESIDENT MAILYN BORILLO Changing Tides: Women leaders in the PH maritime industry
YASHIKA F. TORIB April 03, 2019 https://www.manilatimes.net/changing-tides-women-leaders-in-the-ph-marit...

Until about a decade ago, the maritime industry in the Philippines has always been dominated and led by men — mostly those who used to be seafarers onboard. After all, the thought has always been “who better to lead the industry than those who have experienced life at sea.” In the recent years though, the industry has seen an unprecedented rise in the number of women taking the helm of various manning agencies. One of them is the current President of OSM Maritime Services, Inc. — Mailyn Borillo

Redefining the norms

Mailyn is no stranger to beating the odds and redefining the norms. Born to a poor family in Sampaloc, Manila, she took various jobs while studying to be able to send herself to school until she finished a degree in Information Technology from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Her first job as a working student in a non government organization has been a profound source of life lessons. “Where the norm for many is to work for a living, I have learned early on from that employment that working for a cause and with a purpose is more fulfilling,” Mailyn explained. “Where the norm for many is to revel in their personal achievements, I have learned early on that it’s not about me; it’s about making a difference in the lives of other people”, she added.

From Sampaloc to Copenhagen

Mailyn started her career in the maritime industry in 1994 as Cost Controller of Maersk Filipinas Inc. In her 18 years of staying in the group, she has held key roles in Vessel Operations, Finance and Crewing. It was no surprise that her talent and hard work would lead her to an expatriation stint in 2007 at the group’s headquarters in Copenhagen — where she took a role in Finance Management reporting.

In 2009, she moved back to Philippines to head Maersk Filipinas Crewing Inc. “I love the fact that in this industry, we are able to offer gainful employment to a lot of seafarers; and that for every seafarer we employ, there are at least five other Filipino family members who will benefit”, she highlighted.

OSM MARITIME SERVICES PRESIDENT MAILYN BORILLO
Changing Tides: Women leaders in the PH maritime industry

By YASHIKA F. TORIB

April 03, 2019

home / Business / Maritime / Changing Tides: Women leaders in the PH maritime industry

Until about a decade ago, the maritime industry in the Philippines has always been dominated and led by men — mostly those who used to be seafarers onboard. After all, the thought has always been “who better to lead the industry than those who have experienced life at sea.” In the recent years though, the industry has seen an unprecedented rise in the number of women taking the helm of various manning agencies. One of them is the current President of OSM Maritime Services, Inc. — Mailyn Borillo

Redefining the norms

Mailyn is no stranger to beating the odds and redefining the norms. Born to a poor family in Sampaloc, Manila, she took various jobs while studying to be able to send herself to school until she finished a degree in Information Technology from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
Mailyn Borillo. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Her first job as a working student in a non government organization has been a profound source of life lessons. “Where the norm for many is to work for a living, I have learned early on from that employment that working for a cause and with a purpose is more fulfilling,” Mailyn explained. “Where the norm for many is to revel in their personal achievements, I have learned early on that it’s not about me; it’s about making a difference in the lives of other people”, she added.

From Sampaloc to Copenhagen

Mailyn started her career in the maritime industry in 1994 as Cost Controller of Maersk Filipinas Inc. In her 18 years of staying in the group, she has held key roles in Vessel Operations, Finance and Crewing. It was no surprise that her talent and hard work would lead her to an expatriation stint in 2007 at the group’s headquarters in Copenhagen — where she took a role in Finance Management reporting.

In 2009, she moved back to Philippines to head Maersk Filipinas Crewing Inc. “I love the fact that in this industry, we are able to offer gainful employment to a lot of seafarers; and that for every seafarer we employ, there are at least five other Filipino family members who will benefit”, she highlighted.
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In 2012, Mailyn was appointed president of TORM Shipping Philippines, where she led for four years.

Being a woman in the industry

“It was never an easy path to where I am now,” Mailyn expressed. “I once heard this saying that when a man complains he is intellectual; yet when a woman complains, she is emotional,” she candidly added.

Mailyn considers herself fortunate, though, to have worked in companies that fostered an environment where people can have the confidence to fully express what they think, and where performance on the job matters most — regardless of gender, ranks and titles.

“There is a growing appreciation of the leadership style of women in the maritime industry,” Mailyn stated. “On board and in office roles, the nurturing type of leadership, as well as the inclusive style of problem-solving and decision-making of women, has proved to be beneficial in the industry,” she furthered.

The heart of a servant-leader

“My role here in OSM is the biggest so far, considering the opportunity to make a difference in other people’s lives. I get to serve around 300 office employees and 6,000 Filipino seafarers,” Mailyn said. “And where in other in-house manning agencies the number of seafarers they can employ depends on the number of vessels their Principal owns, we in OSM can offer limitless opportunities to our seafarers by contributing to our customers’ success through our dynamic services – when our customers grow, we grow. This is an impact I commit myself to making every single day.”

Growth aside, Mailyn also values the fact that in OSM, aside from promoting personal excellence, continuous improvement, automation and innovation, the real magic is having owners, leaders and colleagues who understand that their purpose is to create more jobs — meaningful jobs that improve the quality of countless lives.

“The values OSM upholds are in line with mine. It is a company that does not treat seafarers as a mere product, but as colleagues. Their respective families are OSM’s extended family, we view our 6,300 employees and seafarers as 6,300 families”, she concluded.
When asked for 3 key life lessons she can share with other women, Mailyn has these to say:

— (I) never considered coming from a poor family as a handicap; I considered it a motivation.

— “I never thought of the corporate ladder as progressive set of titles; I have always looked at it as opportunities to serve and make a difference.”

— “And lastly, I have never considered my being a woman as a limitation; you are limitless, you can achieve whatever you set your heart and mind to.”