In 2020, the biggest disruptor businesses ever saw in this generation came in the form of a microscopic enemy. The COVID-19 virus wiped out profits across industries, forced companies to adapt new business models, and amplified existing challenges within organizations.
Some companies, however, managed not merely to stay afloat but to pivot quickly and even accelerate their growth.
As Virtual Champs Global celebrates its seventh founding anniversary, the company looked back at the past years capped by the global pandemic and organized a virtual event with the theme, “Seven and Strong: Blazing through challenges and emerging as champions”.
With its 150 employees attending the virtual celebration last July 4, 2021, at 8 in the evening, the Virtual Champs Global management team headed by Company Founder and CEO Marionne Jude Afable took the chance to reflect upon the events of the past year and extended its gratitude to its employees working from their homes across the country.
Blazing through the Challenges
In her opening talk, Chary Aparente, Chief Operations Officer of VCG, looked back at yet another successful year.
“We are now 150 strong, growing from 100 employees as of December 2020. We have also managed to establish four subsidiary companies,” Aparente said. “It was a tough year, but we blazed through the challenges and came out as champions.”
Aparente recounted the successes, failures, highs, and lows of VCG, “but the one thing we never did was accept defeat,” she adds.
A Pandemic Success Story
CEO Marionne Afable in his speech, added that while it had been a great year at Virtual Champs Global, the company is just scratching the surface.
“We’ve had a few problems this year, and I’m sure there will be more”, Afable remarked, “but we were able to find a way and decide fairly quickly to shift our operations from the office to a work-from-home setup.”
“It’s amazing to think that just seven years ago, I was the only one working from my bedroom with my then-pregnant girlfriend, now wife, and now there are 150 employees.”
Afable went on to add how this proves one thing, “once you put your mind and heart into what you do, things happen. It won’t be easy, but eventually you will win because that’s just how the world’s algorithm works.”
“We do what we say”
Afable recalled making a bold statement in 2019, saying VCG will put up two other companies. One will be an English online platform, and the other one will compete with companies like Upwork.
“Back then, we were 40-50 people,” he adds. “It was a bold statement indeed, but now we can say that we are the type of company that does what we say we’ll do. And that goes across the board. What we promise, we execute. We are not afraid to try new things, we are not afraid to build stuff, and to make bets. Now, will these companies be successful? I don’t know. But it proves one thing — we do what we say.“
Service Awardees
Afable extended his gratitude to the people of VCG, especially those who have been with the company for the past five to seven years, weathering the challenges with the company.
During the celebration, seven employees were recognized for their length of service and were accorded their respective Service Awards for their dedication and commitment. These are: Cherry Lou Barro, Jane Dela Peña, Beverly Garayanala, Jasser Ryan Go, Rhoda Jabonite, Hara Roselaini Maglangit, and Kristine Kay Pardillo.
#VCG7andStrong: A Virtual Celebration
The virtual celebration proved to be a success. Despite the challenges of organizing a virtual gathering that included attendees from the company’s headquarters in General Santos City, Philippines, to Paris, France, and Florida, the organizing team headed by Chief Financial Officer John Tano took the challenge head-on.
The event began with all employees receiving dinner delivered from a popular fast-food chain to their respective homes. This was in itself a gargantuan logistical feat that the team was able to pull off.
Surprise after surprise were announced during the course of the event—gift certificates sent to each employee’s email address, huge prizes for online games and contests, and many other exciting announcements.
As COO Chary Aparente said, “This is the day that Virtual Champs Global gives back to its champions.”
About Virtual Champs Global
Virtual Champs Global is a full-service outsourcing company based in General Santos City, Philippines. It offers various outsourcing solutions for companies in industries ranging from real estate, SaaS and technology, healthcare, legal, and more. The company prides itself in fostering relationships not just within its organization but extending to its customers, making sure that each interaction is an opportunity to learn, build relationships, and provide optimum value.
