WAAnderWoman: Cai, the Work-Life Integration Champion

With Mother’s Day coming up, WeAreAyala honors #WAAnderWomen in the Ayala group who inspire their families and colleagues to be extraordinary too.

Meet Mharicar ‘Cai’ Castillo-Reyes, a woman of energy and passion who wears different hats in life: as an executive, a wife, and a mother.

As the President and CEO of Asticom Technology Inc., a subsidiary of Globe that provide services to multitude of industries, Cai has been instrumental in driving diversity and inclusion in the company. “As leaders, we need to see the value of embracing a diverse workforce that brings out a more dynamic working environment and allowing the organization to bring in people with different views and perspectives. It also presents a greater range in decision-making and different approaches to challenges,” she says.

Cai believes that we have a shared responsibility, not just to inspire, but also to advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. “The Ayala group’s push for diversity and inclusion continues to open more opportunities to discover new potential talents and new ways of doing things. It has the power to drive and propel us to the future. Personally, being part of the group gives me a sense of fulfillment in helping businesses and seeing people grow and improve the lives of others while discovering their own passion.”

“At Asticom, we apply the same approach when considering leaders and talents. We make sure that our workplace welcomes people of different gender, ethnicity, age, disabilities, sexual orientations, and cultural background,” Cai says.

Cai also champions a healthy work-life integration at Asticom and practices it herself. “Taking a step back from work helps me constantly redefine my priorities for work, family, and myself. In the near future, I would like to explore and travel the world again and discover new things about music and fashion,” she says.

Furthermore, Cai adds, “I try to find joy and small wins by supporting my loved ones with their own passion. My husband Paul’s passion is food, travel, and family. I’m proud to see him translate his love for food into business while enjoying our pocket travels with the family to our favorite weekend getaway destination, Tagaytay. For my daughter Marga, I am blessed to see how she continuously discovers her passion for Arts (Ballet, Artwork and Music). I do part time work as her art assistant, photographer, videographer, and sometimes costume designer.”

Recognizing how fortunate she is to consider her work not just as a job, but a passion, Cai hopes to empower fellow female leaders to have the same opportunities. “We need more women business leaders. Be confident of your strengths and don’t be afraid of standing out. You should take ownership of your skills and capabilities as it will help you go beyond the boundaries of what you think you’re capable of. Lastly, always be guided by your own vision and purpose,” Cai shares.