Agnes Gervacio, the chief executive officer of NEC Philippines. PHOTO BY RUY MARTINEZ
“I think I must’ve been a soldier in my past life.” With a hearty laugh, this was how Agnes Gervacio answered when asked to describe herself and her style. This same style guided her career path well enough through the years to become the head of one of Japan’s biggest companies, and certainly one of the world’s most recognizable brand in the field of telecommunications and Information Communication Technology (ICT). Gervacio is not only the first woman to head NEC Philippines, but also the first non-Japanese to hold this position as well.