Josephine Briones-Gonzalez has been dubbed the “champion of corporate citizenship” in a Ford Motor Company Fund website, where she appears with a Ford Volunteer Corps All Star badge.
As government and corporate affairs director, Briones-Gonzalez represents the company in all government, business and industry-related matters, and gives strategic advice on government policies and regulations to support business operations in the Philippines.
“My role also includes community relations where I ensure that the Ford Fund grant is put to good use and is aligned with the company’s thrust on education and training, community development and support to disaster relief efforts,” she explained.
She is also in her second year as VP of TMA. She began with the association as government relations committee chair. “I, together with TMA President (Atty Imelda Abadilla Brown), represent the association in putting forward the industry position on issues that impact the business and the overall industry.”
Briones-Gonzalez joined Ford in 2008 when the American car company still had a manufacturing plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. She stressed that “Ford is my first, and will be my last, auto brand.”
She continued, “I have been in the auto industry for 15 years and this is where I think I will retire. I joined Ford with no automotive background, but my first boss and mentor, Henry Co, told me that I should learn the auto business fast to be able to understand the implications of government policies and regulations on our business. I was challenged to learn the manufacturing operations, sales and distribution, import tariffs and taxes and trade policies.”
Prior to her stint with Ford, Briones-Gonzalez already had a couple of decades of experience working in government. “I was hired as government affairs manager due to my government service experience at DTI-CITEM (Department of Trade and Industry-Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions) for 20 years, where I handled the country’s export promotions and was also part of the team that developed and promoted the IT-BPO (information technology-business process outsourcing) industry. I was taken in due to my maturity in dealing with issues and engaging with government and industry,” she explained.
Among her various roles, Briones-Gonzalez finds her passion leading corporate social programs, collectively known as Ford Operation Better World, which provides a platform for Ford and dealer employees to volunteer for community work. “I started as a volunteer during Ford’s Global Caring Month activities where I assisted the plant employees in organizing the CSR activities, and later found myself leading Ford Philippines CSR strategy and implementing them with our non-profit partners.”
She said, “While I love the excitement of new product launches, what motivates me more is Ford’s mission of giving back to the community by partnering with local non-profits to find ways on how Ford can serve and make a difference.”
Briones-Gonzalez experienced first-hand the male-dominated industry when she started out in TMA. “During my initial years, I was the only female representative in the conference room. At first, I felt intimidated due to my limited knowledge of the auto industry, but it did not take long to gain confidence, as the gentlemen treated women with respect. So, women shouldn’t feel inferior to men, but be co-equals with the same capabilities to contribute in the workplace,” she stressed.
Josephine Briones-Gonzalez is Vice President at Truck Manufacturers Association and Director for government and corporate affairs at Ford Philippines
