In a time when companies are competing for top talent, Romy Sia, co-founder and CEO of Healthy Options, believes the biggest edge isn’t salary — it’s company culture and purpose.
“Anybody can open a beautiful store like ours. They can copy everything,” Sia says. “But what they cannot copy is how we treat our employees, how we train them.”
That mindset has shaped Healthy Options into more than just a retailer of natural and organic products. It’s become a company known for its people — and the culture that keeps them engaged.
Sia is candid about the realities of today’s workforce, especially younger employees. “The millennials need to be entertained,” he says. “They are not government employees. The challenge of the employer is to provide stimulating jobs but also a stimulating environment.”
For Sia, building a great workplace starts with finding the right kind of talent — people who are smart, driven, and aligned with the company’s values. “My competition is really in hiring people who have the entrepreneurial spirit,” he explains. “Because I cannot do this all by myself.”
But once they’re in the door, it’s not about micromanaging — it’s about making work meaningful. “My job is to make our office fun to work in,” Sia says. That means giving employees a sense of ownership and showing them that their work isn’t just about selling products — it’s about making a difference.
“I need to let them see that what they are doing has an impact on society and the world,” he adds.
That sense of purpose, combined with an uplifting workplace, has helped Healthy Options build a loyal team in a competitive market.
The bottom line: In today’s workplace, talent isn’t just looking for a paycheck — they’re looking for meaning. And companies that invest in culture, fun, and purpose might just find that’s the real reason employees stay.
This article includes quotes from an interview originally published by Esquire Philippines, authored by Henry Ong.
