Whether by contributing to the nation’s digital transformation or by transforming the lives of underprivileged women through the advocacies she supports, the president and co-founder of telecommunications service provider Converge ICT is in a class of her own when it comes to leading with, well, grace.
By Iris Gonzales
Photography by Mark Chester Ang, assisted by Maru Arguelles
The deities of the universe must have whispered to her parents’ ears what name would best fit her. Thus, the most befitting name was given to Maria Grace Uy. The president and co-founder of Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is certainly a woman who carries herself with much grace.
That’s the first thing you’ll notice when you meet her — she is gracious, poised, kind, confident and more importantly, beautiful inside and out. Her style is simple yet elegant. Simplicity, she believes, is the ultimate form of sophistication.
The grace she exudes, matched with grit, is perhaps Grace’s secret to success.
In 2007, she and her husband, Dennis Anthony Uy, put up Converge, a telecommunications service provider that has disrupted the telco duopoly in the Philippines.
Of course, like most success stories, Grace’s story didn’t happen overnight. It’s a long, continuing journey and the first chapter was written by her mother.
Mother knows best
“My mom was the most pivotal person in shaping me to become who I am today. She raised me to be hard working, driven, goal-oriented and conscientious. Growing up, she would repeatedly tell me: Always have a goal, work hard and be in control of your life,” Grace tells PeopleAsia.
Grace is the youngest and the only daughter of a middle-class, third-generation Chinese-Filipino family.
Her father worked for a plastic manufacturing company while her mother used to make clothes for babies.
Unfortunately, her mother passed away when Grace was only 13, giving her more responsibilities very early on. Just the same, her mother bequeathed to her a strong belief in education. “She was a large believer in the power of education. It can provide opportunities that can dictate who we become and what we can create for our future. In the same way, I try to impart these lessons to my kids,” expounds Grace, who herself is a mother of three.
Thus, upon the prodding of her mother, Grace made sure she studied hard. She pursued a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at the De La Salle University and eventually landed on the 16th place in the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure Board Examination in 1989.
Obviously, she loved numbers.
After finishing her studies, she worked for a multinational, which helped her prepare to grow Converge into the business it is today.
Observers say that she and her husband, Dennis, make a formidable team. After all, Dennis is the tech-savvy visionary while Grace is the one who turns this vision into reality. Perhaps, she is Hermione to Dennis’ Harry and ultimately the one who keeps the magic wand powerful.
Together, they built a tech kingdom and it continues to grow.
“We founded Converge because we really believed that our people deserve something better. We wanted to give our people world-class connectivity which we had already been enjoying in our home. Thus, we built Converge with the intention of creating a world-class ICT organization that empowers people, businesses and the nation to be their best,” she says.
Nation-building
The business in itself is integral to nation-building as everything now revolves around connectivity and digitalization, says Grace.
“Now that we are rebuilding and recovering from the pandemic, one thing has become very clear: We have emerged into a world where digitalization lies at the core of people’s lives. Digital transformation is not a buzzword; it represents a fundamental shift in the way businesses and organizations operate, communicate and serve their customers. The pandemic has served as a catalyst, accelerating the adoption of digital tools and forcing companies to rethink their strategies,” she explains.
It doesn’t end here, though.
Grace says there’s still so much work to do. “We aim to provide services for SMEs so that they can grow and compete. We are also providing services for the lower income segment with our prepaid fiber product, Surf2Sawa,” she adds.
Amidst all this, Grace doesn’t mind being in the shadows, even if she herself is a strong pillar in Converge.
“My goal has always been to support my husband in realizing his dreams. Coming from a corporate background and entering a growing business, I always found value and strength in structure and processes to ensure that the foundation of the business is always strong. As I look back, I realized that I find excitement in putting structure to any challenge that comes my way,” Grace says.
As a businesswoman, she also advocates for women empowerment and sustainability.
“Women have always been at the forefront of innovation and progress, and digital transformation is no exception. We bring unique perspectives, skills and experiences to the table, which are essential for organizations to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by digitalization. To harness the full potential of digital transformation, it is imperative that we create an inclusive environment where women can thrive,” she continues.
“At the same time, we need to care for the environment. For me, sustainability means walking the talk. As we expand nationwide, Converge has a responsibility towards the communities we serve and our environment. This is why I actively push for zero-waste efforts in the organization,” she further states.
Converge strives to pursue greener practices across its operations in line with its sustainability commitment, aiming to eliminate its landfill waste output by 2030. By upcycling its discarded tarpaulins and flyers, Converge is reducing its waste while also helping create a reusable and beneficial product.
Earlier this year, Converge partnered with KREations Upcycle Furniture Manufacturing, in Angono, Rizal, where a group of women repurpose the company’s old marketing materials, such as tarpaulins, and turn them into reusable bags and other materials.
The partnership creates jobs for women in the local community who would otherwise not have the chance to be formally employed. Before these women joined KREations — which was founded by advocate Akrisah Helig — they were housewives, household workers or part-time manicurists in their villages.
“I am excited by our partnership with KREations. Through it, not only are we taking steps towards sustainability, we are also helping empower women in communities by providing them a means of livelihood and employment. This multiplier effect is precisely what we need to help our country move forward faster,” shares Grace.
When Grace looks back to her and Converge’s success story, she is filled with gratitude and grace, and this is what gives her strength and inspiration to look ahead.
“I’ve always believed nurturing something valuable takes time, patience and hard work. I’m a mother of three, so I know all too well that it’s an everyday job. Being in the technology business, we need to always look ahead and deliver better results for our stakeholders. Being successful in Pampanga is nowhere near what we were faced with in expanding to Metro Manila. But we focused only on two things: Making our network the best in class and taking care of our customers,” she concludes.
This, indeed, is Maria Grace Uy. And so much more. In a nutshell, one might say she is no doubt quite an amazing Grace.
Art direction by Dexter Francis de Vera
Makeup by Sheena Macatangay for Estee Lauder
Hair by Rubi Macawili for Estee Lauder
Styling by Mike de Guzman and George Palmiano of MGP, assisted by Ysabelle Bianca Viray
