Stephanie Anne Go | AVP, Business Development and Design​ | RLC Residences

Stephanie Go's Feminine Force in Design Leadership

Uncover Stephanie’s contributions to reshaping cityscapes, the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field. This feature celebrates her strength as a woman leader, highlighting her unique feminine force that leaves an indelible mark on the dynamic intersection of business, creativity, and sustainable design.

Who do you look up to for inspiration or mentorship?

Personally, I take inspiration from my family. I want to be the person that my husband and kids can be proud of. Also, I work hard because I want to provide them with all the opportunities that I can provide.

At work, I am always inspired by great leaders. Internationally, I have always admired Indra Nooyi, the first woman of color and first immigrant to head a Fortune 50 company (Pepsi). She was able to break gender and racial glass ceilings in the corporate world. She did this while maintaining a healthy relationship with her family. Locally, I won’t go too far and say that, even before joining the Gokongwei Group, I have always admired how Sir Lance has been a trailblazer in product innovation. The company democratized traveling and telco services in the country and that totally changed the landscape of each industry.

For mentorship, I am always grateful that I have a very supportive, strategic and patient boss—Chad. In anyone’s career, it isn’t always that you get an open and trusting relationship with your boss. Chad will always give it to me straight, good or bad, and I know that it will only be for my own growth and improvement.  

What’s the most important risk you took and why?

In my 18 years working, I have shifted industries 3 times. Shifting industries is definitely a risk I took. It was never easy because you have to start from scratch. Most, if not all, of your learnings and insight might not be relevant anymore. Not to mention, you have to shift gears in pacing because some industries are much faster than the others. But, the foundation and framework does not change wherever you go and those were things I improved on every time I shifted into a different industry. Now, I am able to combine my learnings across consumer electronics, mobile, telco and real estate to make better and more strategic decisions.
 

What excites you the most about the industry and where it’s headed?  

Not necessarily the industry, but the company. Seeing the company’s growth is always exciting. We all feel like the strategic decisions made by the company are now bearing fruit. It keeps you going and keeps you inspired to do more.

Have you experienced any challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field like real estate development and construction? How did you overcome or manage it?

In the course of my 2 years in the company, I have to say that I have worked with many talented women, from marketing managers, brokers, architects to engineers. I cannot speak for all women in the industry, but I am lucky to be in a company, organization and position where being a woman is not a barrier to my success. As mentioned earlier, the adjustment is more on the technical aspect of the industry. Since I am not an architect or engineer by profession, I had to work extra hard to learn and I am still learning. I had to be more hands-on because, for me, that is how I am able to understand the process and operations. I am never afraid to ask and learn from everyone in the organization. Despite real estate/ construction being defined as a male-dominated industry, I am happy to say that the company has never seen it or made me feel that way.

In the way that you view the marriage of business and sustainable design, does being a female give you a distinct point of view?

First of all, I believe that point of views are highly influenced by our background and experiences-- family, interactions and beliefs. Since I am a mom and a wife, I would say that impacts how I look at homes and that may lead me towards certain recommendations for the business. In the book The Innovator’s DNA by Jeff Dyer et al, authors stated that  “Innovative ideas flourish at the intersection of diverse experience, whether it be others’ or our own.”  To be an effective leader, we should always be humble enough to accept that we do not know everything.  I would like to think that I am able to fulfill my role by not only using my p.o.v but also considering everyone else’s.

If you could go back in time, what would you have done differently in your career and in your personal life? 

I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason. I know that if given a chance to do things again, I would do it. Do it exactly as it is. I know that I'm here. I'm where I am. I'm who I am because of all the things that happened in the past, bad or good decisions, all those things you know, made me who I am now. I'm a better person for it. I may not be the perfect person now, but, you know, they all happened for a reason, and I'm grateful for all of them. I wouldn't exactly change anything. 

If you were to give advice to a young woman starting in her career, what would it be?  

I think there's two things I would advise that young woman. First of all, I would always tell anyone that you know your career is not a race. You don't have to be the first to be there, but it should happen at the right time when you're ready. When you're emotionally, physically, mentally capable, ready. Don't rush into things, let it happen. Because when people, especially the management or your bosses, feel that you're ready, they will give it to you openly. There's no deadline to your career, right? So you have to go through everything, the experience, immerse in it, learn from it. And when it's time, when you're ready, you'll get there, and you'll enjoy it more.  

The second one is about having the right North Star in everything that you do. It's all about understanding what's right for the business. And sometimes it's easier said than done. It's all about integrity. It's all about being strategic on making the right decision for the job and for the business. It's not about protecting friends, protecting people but it's all about making the right decision in everything that you do. Whether you're just starting or maybe you're up to being the CEO, it's always good to have a North Star. 

Special thanks to our partners from Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc., Robinsons Hotels & Resorts, and RLC Residences for providing the ff: 

Fashion: Robinsons Department Store 
Hair & Make-up: Y.O.U. Beauty at Robinsons Department Store
Location: Westin Manila and The Residences at The Westin Manila 

Editorial and Creative Direction by: Pat Mendoza
Photographed by: Sela Gonzales
Styled by: Pat Mendoza and Sam Capulong
Interview and Write-up by: Rose Legaspi, Patricia Cardenas and Trina Mendiola
Layout and Graphics by: Sam Capulong