Sharon Pesengco, one of Pru Life UK’s top finance consultants in the Philippines, proves that success and motherhood can go hand in hand, especially when your heart and mind are in the right place.
By Grace C. Diez
Photography by Rap You
In March 2022, Sharon Pesengco found herself basking in the limelight, when she was once again named “Agent of the Year” during Pru Life UK’s Prudence Ball at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila. And while it was her stellar numbers that won her the evening’s top award, this working mom reveals it was all made possible by a personal decision that she made early on.
“When you’re a mom in the corporate world, sometimes you feel guilty because you leave early in the morning and when you come home, it’s already night time,” Sharon confesses. The situation called for deep introspection that led her to take a break from corporate life. “I wanted to see every milestone in my children’s lives so I decided to leave the corporate world and sacrifice even though I was enjoying my work back then. After a couple of months, I became a full-time housewife. Just the same, I felt something was missing,” she says.
It didn’t take long before Sharon, who used to manage the portfolio of high-net-worth individuals in top international banks, felt the need for something more. And she found more, indeed, when she walked down the aisle (of her favorite supermarket, that is). “I was longing for something more at the time.
Thankfully, I bumped into a friend at a grocery store, who swas working at the head office of Pru Life UK. When he invited me to join the company, I said yes. Looking back, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” she declares.
A good start
Because life insurance was something new to her, Sharon initially intended to just try it out for a month. A couple of weeks into her new job, she was hooked. “I started to appreciate the purpose of joining this industry. After undergoing trainings and talking to more people, I realized the value of life insurance, which led me to realize why I’m here,” she narrates.
Her personal life also played a role in that realization. “As a mom, of course, you want to protect everything that you have. You want to make sure all of your three children will be okay no matter what happens. That is the value I want to share also with my clients and friends,” Sharon adds.
Eight years later, Sharon, who has constantly been one of Pru Life UK’s top agents in the Philippines since her rookie year in 2015, credits her success to commitment, dedication and having a knack for understanding her clients’ needs.
“When I started as a rookie, I met a lot of top performers already — very seasoned and very good. I worked hard, studied and talked to more people. I talked to mentors who would teach me as well. That same year, I was ‘Rookie of the Year’ at Pru Life UK. The following year, I aimed for top financial consultant nationwide, but I only reached up to first runner-up. Hindi ako umabot pero sige okay lang iyan. (I didn’t land on top, but it’s okay.) The following year, I finally made it as a top financial consultant nationwide. That was very important for me because it really proved that I can do everything I put my heart into,” she recalls.
Getting the top spot, Sharon adds, is also no walk in the park. So how did she do it? The tried-and-tested way, it seems — one client at a time. “Always put your client’s best interest at heart and everything will follow. Magugulat ka na lang, dadami sila (You’ll be surprised to find there is more of them one day),” she advises.
“I study my clients. I create suitable solutions for each client so I really probe and ask questions and research about the client before I make recommendations. When you create a plan for the client, do not create just for the sake of sealing a deal. You have to create a plan that will make an impact. If something happens to the client, you want to be sure that their family is covered by the plan you came up with,” she continues.
Again, her motivations go deeper than the numbers.
“My personal life, my family, always play a role in my decisions. I want to be able to provide for my family but at the same time, I want to be able to make sure that I see all their milestones as well. I also want to show my children that as a mom, I can attend to their needs while still having my own career. I want to show my children that they can dream and achieve whatever they dream of,” Sharon shares with a smile, grateful that Pru Life UK has helped her achieve a steady balance between the personal and the professional.
And so, she continues to live the dream. “I value my family above everything else. Family first. After that, I love to cook and bake. I value good food because I believe good food nourishes the soul and I also want to share it with everyone. I still manage to cook every day,” she happily shares, noting that the “foodie” side of her also enables her to bond with clients, especially when they eat out and talk business in restaurants.
Despite her many accolades, Sharon notes that she still has bigger missions to accomplish, ones that don’t necessarily end with her taking yet another prize. “I want to be able to open my own Pru Life UK branch someday. I want to be able to establish a big team and mentor young ones. I want to be able to share my formula for success so that members of the future generation can learn from my experiences and do well with their careers,” the multi-awarded Pru Life UK financial advisor concludes.
Pru Life UK is home to over 39,000 digitally empowered insurance agents, making it the largest agency force in the Philippines. The company, in its efforts to empower its workforce, continuously provides and equips them with the necessary tools and training. To know more about Pru Life UK, visit www.prulifeuk.com.ph or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
