This CFO runs and plants trees to de-stress
We spend most of our week in our workplace so it does spell a difference when our chief executives are also the best examples and advocates of healthy living. Such is the case of Franc Ramon, who is a group financial comptroller on weekdays and a trailblazer on weekends.
THE PHILIPPINE STAR: You’re a group financial controller and a speaker at the CFO Finance Leaders Summit, roles that are highly analytical and strategic. How does this data-driven side of you coexist with the adventurous, rugged spirit of an avid trekker?
FRANC RAMON: As a controller, you always have a vision and expected outcomes based on existing structures and available data. Whether I join or organize a race or an event, I always have a vision. In a way, I organize events to create meaningful experiences for people to enjoy the outdoors and I always visualize that experience for our participants.
What inspired you to organize Pinoy Trails? How do you balance the immense responsibilities of being a controller with organizing large-scale events like the Stryde Run?
Running has been good to me and it came at a time I was at my lowest. Running was how I built myself up again. When I finished my second marathon, I wanted something different and then I found the trails and started Pinoy Trails in 2016. The goal was to promote fitness and nature to newbies. So it became an advocacy and also a way to de-stress from my regular corporate job.
Many executives play golf. You climb mountains and run on trails. What does the trail give you that the boardroom can’t?
The trail is my recharge zone. I function better at work because I’m able to recharge on weekends. Nature has the innate ability to de-stress and even on busy days, I still find time to go for a run or hit the trails.
You organized The Stryde Run on Nov. 9, described as a “scenic challenge” with rolling, up-and-down terrain. What was the vision behind creating an event that is both scenic and challenging?
I always want to create events for the experience so when I look for events, it has to be different from other road races. Eastland Heights has a challenging terrain but it’s very scenic and that’s always my recipe for a memorable race. We want to take people’s breath away, both literally and figuratively.
This is the first fun run collaboration between Eastland Heights in Antipolo and Westside City in Parañaque. Could you talk about this unique “East meets West” concept and how it merges a nature-inspired lifestyle with a vibrant urban one?
We were lucky enough to have the support not only of the team of Eastland Heights but also the team of Westside City. While Eastland Heights is the venue of the event, participants also get to train at the Gym at Gentry Manor in Westside City before the event. For us, it’s trying to give more to our participants while being able to promote both properties.
You’ve secured some impressive partners like Suunto and Shinagawa. From a controller’s perspective, how do you build these strategic partnerships for an advocacy-driven event?
From a controller’s perspective, you always want to see that the benefits outweigh the costs. I always find a way where everybody wins, and I’ve been lucky enough to have lasting partnerships with my sponsors. It’s always creating a circle of support between our team, our sponsors and our participants.
The tagline for your advocacy is “Every Step Counts. Every Tree Matters.” Why was it important for this run to support a tree planting initiative in the Sierra Madre?
Aside from my regular finance job and Pinoy Trails, I’ve also been active promoting sustainability with the Association of CPAs for Finance Inc. I’ve always been incorporating tree-planting activities and other sustainability initiatives in our races even before. With my sustainability lens, the bigger picture is that our world needs less carbon emissions and more trees to combat climate change. Running/walking is one way to reduce carbon emissions if we use it as a way to commute. So when you can promote running and planting trees, it’s a double win for sustainability.
The event promotes “fitness, community, and the planet.” How do you believe these three elements are interconnected for a person’s overall well-being?
We all need fitness, community and the planet. Being fit, allows us to have the strength and the endorphins that help us in stressful times. When the community is involved in fitness, there’s always a push for everyone to be more involved and encouraged to be fit. We save the planet when we are fit, especially if we use that fitness level to go for more walks and runs, reducing car usage.
What message do you hope runners take away with them after they cross the finish line, beyond the personal achievement of completing the race?
There will be times in the race that they will hate the struggle and there will be a point of giving up at times, but that’s how stories are written. It starts smooth, gets challenging at some point and culminates in a fulfilling ending. We want participants to create their story of triumph in the race and once they cross the finish line, it would be a start of a bigger fitness journey.
What is the single most important lesson about risk management and resilience that trekking has taught you, which you’ve applied to your corporate career?
Running creates discipline, gives you mental fortitude and toughness and helps you strategize. Those are things you need when it comes to risk management. When you have that mental toughness, you remain calm during risk management situations. You need discipline to go with the regular processes and be strategic to think out of the box when needed.
Pushing through a difficult trek and navigating a complex financial quarter both require immense mental fortitude. How does one strengthen the other?
A difficult trek is a character-defining journey. You have to build up from the lower parts of the mountain to be able to be strong enough to climb the steep and more technical summit. You always know that there’s a difficult road ahead and if you have mental toughness, you know that you’ll find a way to reach the top. That’s the same for every financial quarter, you know that it’s always challenging but you know that you can find a way to survive it.
For the busy readers of this column who feel overwhelmed, what is your practical advice for taking that first step towards a more active and purpose-driven life?
We really target newbies and non-runners and once they join, they always finish the race or event. Fitness is something people abhor but is something they need both for their physical and mental health. My advice is start slow, go with the shorter distance, and build your way up from there. Enjoy each step, take your time, and do it with a group so everybody has an accountability partner.