When Lindsay Felix, Certified Accounting Technician, stepped into her first accounting role as a working student, she didn’t imagine she would one day be guiding colleagues, managing general accounts, or studying leadership at UP Diliman—all before turning 25. But looking back, she realizes that the experiences that challenged her the most were the same ones that defined how she leads today.
Early in her career, she was the youngest member of her accounting team. That could have easily caused insecurity, but instead, it pushed her to build credibility the only way she knew how: through integrity. “In accounting, trust is everything. I learned early on that consistency and honesty are non-negotiable,” she says. That mindset shaped how she handled even the smallest tasks, knowing that precision and transparency build a reputation long before titles do.
As her responsibilities expanded, something else began to develop alongside her technical skills—her leadership voice. She noticed that she naturally gravitated toward helping and guiding others, especially colleagues who were just beginning to understand the company’s systems.
Her supervisors recognized it too and would often ask her to train team members who needed support. She didn’t see it as an additional task; she saw it as an opportunity. “When someone took the time to guide me, it made a huge difference. I want to do that for others,” she explains.
That perspective shows up in how she manages people today. Lindsay describes her leadership style as both firm and empathetic. Before making decisions, she takes time to understand the situation fully—whether it’s a workload issue, a misunderstanding, or simply someone adjusting to pressure. “You need to dig deeper before answering.
People appreciate leaders who understand what they’re going through,” she says. It’s a mindset rooted in her own experience of balancing classes, deadlines, and a full-time job when she was just starting out. She knows what pressure feels like—and what encouragement can do.
Her leadership philosophy is also influenced by the personal growth she experienced as a young professional navigating a demanding field. “Every challenge pushed me to become more disciplined,” she says. She learned to break complex problems into manageable steps, to make room for clarity instead of panic, and to work steadily instead of rushing toward unrealistic expectations. These habits, she believes, make her a better mentor because she can guide others with practical, real-world solutions.
But the biggest shift happened when she started handling broader responsibilities at Thick & Thin Agri-Products Inc. That’s when she realized leadership isn’t just about what you know—it’s about how you show up. She became more intentional about communication, more aware of how her decisions affect the team, and more conscious of modeling the behavior she expects from others. “People watch how you handle pressure, how you respond, how you treat others. It matters,” she says.
Her commitment to continuous learning reinforces that leadership approach. She actively attends NIAT seminars, participates in industry workshops, and is now enrolled in a Supervisory Course at UP Diliman—an opportunity fully sponsored by her company. Each program strengthens her perspective and equips her with tools to develop others, not just herself. “Growth never stops. If I grow, my team grows with me,” she says.
For Lindsay, the most fulfilling part of being an accounting professional isn’t just solving financial problems or managing accounts—it’s knowing she has the opportunity to help shape careers the way others shaped hers. She sees mentorship as part of her purpose, especially for young professionals who feel uncertain or overwhelmed.
When asked what she wants others to take away from her journey, she puts it simply: “Leadership isn’t about age or titles. It’s about integrity, empathy, and the willingness to keep learning.”
