For Romeo Chan, founder and chairman of Axelum Resources, hiring isn’t just about resumes or qualifications—it’s about finding people with the right mindset.
“When we started, we were directly involved in hiring,” Chan says. But as the company grew, he and his leadership team shifted their focus. “Ngayon, we limit ourselves to hiring and selection of managers, and then we rely on managers who already have our mindset.”
That mindset? Leadership as service. At Axelum, supervisors and managers aren’t hired to command people—they’re expected to support their teams and remove obstacles. “When you hire a supervisor, you make sure they understand that their job is to be in service, not to command people.”
For Chan, the success of a leader depends on how well their people perform. “The success of your supervisor depends on how his people are able to get everything they need from him so they can do their job well,” he explains. Instead of barking orders, supervisors are responsible for ensuring their teams have the budget, manpower, training, and tools they need.
“The higher you are, the more a servant you are,” Chan says. That philosophy starts from the top—including him. “And of course, the number one servant is me.”
This mindset shift wasn’t easy, especially in a company built from scratch. Many managers came from Manila and had to relocate to Axelum’s headquarters in Medina, a remote location. Training them to adapt to the company’s values took time.
Another key hiring lesson? Financial discipline. Chan teaches his team to think like owners. When employees request resources, he asks: “If it’s your money, gagastusin mo ba yan? If it is your own money, will you spend it?” That question alone forces managers to be more strategic and cost-conscious.
For Chan, great leadership isn’t about power—it’s about service. And by hiring managers who embrace that mindset, Axelum continues to grow without losing the values that built it.
This article includes quotes from an interview originally published by Esquire Philippines, authored by Henry Ong.
