For Mike San Diego, Certified Financial Consultant and CFO of EON Group, effective leadership today goes beyond technical skill or experience. In a world defined by constant change, the most powerful leadership quality is the ability to listen, adapt, and grow.
“Avoid being a Judger, rather be a Learner,” San Diego told Financial Adviser PH.
It’s a simple line—but one that carries deep meaning. In high-stakes environments where everyone has an opinion, San Diego believes leaders must choose humility over ego and curiosity over certainty. Being a learner means accepting that you don’t always have the answers—and that the people around you may have insights you haven’t considered yet.
In his role as CFO, San Diego works with a diverse group of stakeholders: executives, department heads, team members, and external partners. Navigating these relationships requires more than financial acumen. It demands trust-building, open communication, and the ability to adapt to new perspectives.
“In today’s workplace, it is very important to know how to manage your stakeholders—be it your boss, your colleagues, your staff, or even your customers,” he says. “Build trust. Be open and flexible and willing to adapt.”
This mindset has helped him remain effective not only as a finance leader, but also as a mentor and speaker, sharing his insights with professionals both in the Philippines and abroad. Whether teaching or managing, San Diego emphasizes that leadership is not about having all the answers—it’s about being willing to learn alongside your team.
He also believes that great leaders cultivate psychological safety—the kind of environment where team members feel safe to share ideas, raise concerns, and collaborate more effectively. That can only happen, he says, when leaders drop the instinct to judge and instead embrace continuous learning.
His advice to emerging leaders? Stay grounded. Be open. Learn from everyone. “Leadership today isn’t about authority,” he says. “It’s about adaptability—and the courage to evolve.”
