Yen Roxas: Sculpting Social Change through the Power of Technology

The entrepreneurial journey of high-performing individuals often begins with a long-standing ambition to create lasting impact through innovation. From their early days, they cultivate the mindset of an entrepreneur, one that focuses on long-term goals rather than immediate gratification. This forward-thinking approach not only contributes to their advancement at any work they take up but also lays the groundwork for their eventual transition into full-scale entrepreneurship.

While the corporate world is typically characterized by adherence to established processes, Yen Roxas always had an eye on the bigger picture, steering his work toward meaningful, long-term business impact. His progression through the ranks of Chevron Corporation, all the way to senior leadership in the Asia-Pacific region, can be attributed to this visionary thinking. “Upon retiring, the idea of entrepreneurship felt like a natural extension of this mindset - one that could channel my strategic leadership into the creation of technology-driven solutions with a social impact”, says Roxas, Founder of Roxas Management Consultancy. He established Roxas Management Consultancy, placing sustainability at the core of its operations, integrating environmental, social, and governance principles to drive responsible business practices.

Crafting Stability, Sparking Innovation

This leap into entrepreneurship, however, brought its own set of challenges. One key obstacle was building a personal brand and network as a solo entrepreneur after having operated within the vast structure of a multinational corporation. The task of positioning oneself from being a go-to guy at Chevron to becoming a focused, single-entity entrepreneur required a meticulous strategy. By leveraging an extensive network built over decades, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, Roxas found himself reconnected with former associates, who soon reached out for business opportunities. Beyond that, actively engaging in conferences and maintaining a robust social media presence enabled him to sustain and expand his entrepreneurial network.

Defining a niche was another hurdle that needed to be tackled early on. The consultancy focuses on two key areas - ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and AI (Artificial Intelligence), particularly through software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions. This specialization not only allows it to offer unique value propositions but also helps it manage the inherent risks and uncertainties of entrepreneurship. A diverse business portfolio, comprising short-term and long-term projects, along with partnerships that help share risk and resources, ensures that there is a balance between innovation and stability.

Impact in Motion

One of the most compelling aspects of Roxas Management Consultancy’s work is the integration of technology into social impact initiatives. The effectiveness of any such initiative is measured not only by the number of people affected but also through a combination of qualitative and quantitative indicators. Factors like sustainability, scalability, depth of impact, and behavioral change are critical in shaping a truly successful project. These broader dimensions align with the consultancy’s holistic approach to technology-driven social solutions, reflecting a belief in the need to go beyond the numbers and address the systemic issues that underpin social challenges.

Throughout his career, both in corporate leadership and entrepreneurship, Roxas has adhered to several key principles, including purpose-driven leadership, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and sustainability. These leadership values have seamlessly transitioned into his entrepreneurial ventures, where he prioritizes agility and adaptability - qualities that may not always be associated with large corporations but are vital in the fast-evolving world of technology and social impact.

“I believe Artificial Intelligence, IoT, renewable energy, and extended reality technologies like virtual and augmented reality hold the most promise for driving social change”, says Roxas. In particular, he stresses the importance of focusing on narrow, context-specific applications of AI and IoT, which are tailored to solve real-world problems rather than succumbing to the hype surrounding these technologies. “In the Philippines, where technology adoption may lag behind more advanced economies, introducing these solutions can have a transformative effect, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises”, he adds.

Bridging Green Futures

Balancing the potential of these technologies with the risks they carry - particularly the risk of marginalizing underserved groups—is a key consideration in the consultancy’s work. Its approach emphasizes a human-centered design that caters to diverse users, including marginalized populations and employs inclusive data practices to avoid bias. Affordability and accessibility are central to ensuring that these technologies are truly impactful, while ethical AI practices and collaboration with cross-sector stakeholders help safeguard against the unintended consequences of technological advancements.

Renewable energy is another area where Roxas Management Consultancy sees significant potential for creating sustainable social impact. Roxas’ entrepreneurial work in this field involves fostering partnerships with governments and organizations to promote green certifications and incentives, as well as leveraging tools like carbon accounting and lifecycle assessments to measure the true impact of tech-driven projects. By incorporating sustainability into the core design of its solutions, the consultancy aims to ensure that its projects not only address pressing challenges but also contribute to long-term environmental goals.

Seeds of Change

For young entrepreneurs looking to enter the field, Roxas offers some key pieces of advice. First, he emphasizes the importance of starting with purpose, urging aspiring entrepreneurs to understand their ‘why’ before embarking on their ventures. “Solving real problems, not just treating symptoms, is crucial to creating a lasting impact”, says Roxas. Collaboration and partnerships are also indispensable in today’s interconnected world, and entrepreneurs should be prepared to think big but start small to move quickly. Leveraging technology responsibly, measuring and communicating impact, and focusing on financial viability are equally important components of a successful entrepreneurial journey. By following these principles, he believes that the next generation of entrepreneurs can harness the power of technology to drive social change and create a more equitable, sustainable future.

The management consultancy envisions a future where technology and social impact are inextricably linked, with innovations like AI and machine learning being used to address global issues such as food security, poverty, and environmental degradation. Technologies like decentralized and open-source platforms, healthcare innovations, and virtual and augmented reality will also play a critical role in shaping a more equitable and resilient world. For regions prone to natural disasters, like the Philippines, the ability to deploy tech-driven solutions for crisis management and resilience will be especially vital in the coming decade. Ultimately, Yen Roxas hopes that their company’s most lasting contribution will be a world where technology is seamlessly integrated into solutions that address humanity’s most pressing challenges. Their vision is not just to push the boundaries of what’s possible with technology but to leave a legacy of meaningful change, one that transforms social impact from a concept into a global movement powered by innovation.