Cebuana Lhuillier‘s remarkable success in the financial services industry in the Philippines can be attributed to various factors such as its expansion strategies, technological initiatives, corporate social responsibility policies, and integrated marketing communications campaigns. The company’s commitment to providing its clients with exceptional experiences across all channels and through every employee is a significant factor in its growth.
At the core of Cebuana Lhuillier’s progress is its set of values, including Respect, Integrity, Teamwork, Excellence, and Social Responsibility, which guide the company towards development and progress. These values are instilled in every employee to create a company culture that prioritizes its mission to become the most trusted financial partner for Filipinos.
Recognizing the impact of modern technology, globalization, and social media, the financial services company recently added Innovation to its list of core values. By embracing innovation, the company remains future-ready and adaptable to economic and social changes, securing its position as a leader in the industry for years to come.
Cebuana Lhuillier’s culture has fostered innovation for many years, even before formally adding it to their core values a few years ago. The company’s annual internal programs, such as EUREKATHON and ISIP, encourage innovation among employees and serve as platforms for exploring and developing innovative ideas. These initiatives have resulted in the creation of apps like eCebuana, which simplifies common transactions, and platforms like ProtectNow, Cebuana Lhuillier Jewelry Online, and Cebuana Xpress, all of which provide clients with easy access to services like insurance and pawning.
In addition to fostering innovation, continuous learning and skills development are also essential aspects of Cebuana Lhuillier’s culture. The company’s training initiatives, hosted by the Cebuana Lhuillier Academy, provide opportunities for employees to upgrade their skills. The introduction of the Cebuana Lhuillier Academy Online (CLAO) further supports employee advancement with its curated courses. The company also partners with renowned organizations like IVY Teams and Tom Oliver to provide executive leadership programs and learning workshops for its senior and middle managers.
“We at Cebuana Lhuillier understand that for us to serve our clients the best way possible, we need to make sure that our best assets as a company, our people, are aligned with our company’s mission and vision. We really make it a point to inculcate to them the company’s core values that guide them each day in their work, whether they’re our frontliners serving our clients, or they are from the head office doing their respective jobs. We also ensure that they are given the opportunities to upgrade their skills and knowledge as often as possible,” according to Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of PJ Lhuillier, Inc. (PJLI).
Through its commitment to innovation and continuous learning, the company demonstrates its dedication to creating a culture of progress and development, ensuring its position as a leading financial services provider in the Philippines.
This year, Cebuana Lhuillier’s culture campaign is called Intertwined. It follows some of the company’s best cultural campaigns in recent years, namely: Be the Best, Tatak Cebuana, Isang Bangka, Bolder, Better, More, and One Cebuana. Intertwined is a campaign about diversity, inclusion, and celebrating individualism and the workplace.
“Even before this year’s Intertwined Culture campaign, Cebuana Lhuillier has been about diversity, inclusion and celebrating individualism in the workplace. We treat everyone with respect knowing that our employees are the bloodline of the company and keeping them happy is key to the success of the company achieving its mission and vision,” said Jo-Ann Tacorda, First Vice-President and Chief Administrative Officer for PJLI.
Cebuana Lhuillier has taken significant measures to ensure representation within the company. With nearly 40% of its Management Committee being women, the company also boasts a gender-neutral uniform and comfort rooms, and an inclusive approach to employees from LGBTQ++ and differently-abled communities. Regardless of orientation, beliefs, or personalities, the organization prioritizes excellence, teamwork, and continuous improvement among its 9,000+ employees. The company credits its enormous growth to a culture that embodies core values, visionary leadership, and a strong workforce. From a pawnshop with four branches to one of the biggest names in the microfinance industry, Cebuana Lhuillier’s vision to provide financial services to all Filipinos anytime, anywhere is close to becoming a reality.