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Leading with trust, people and purpose

When Maria Cristina Alip talks about her work, one thing becomes clear immediately: leadership starts with people. For nearly eighteen years, she has been part of FrieslandCampina Philippines within Alaska Milk Corporation. Today, she works as QC Laboratory Manager, leading a team of 29 colleagues in the central quality control laboratory.

Together with her team, Maria Cristina is responsible for securing product quality throughout the entire production process, from raw materials and line monitoring to finished product testing. The laboratory performs physical, chemical, sensory and microbiological analyses, providing reliable data that supports product release decisions and risk assessments. While the work is highly technical, Maria Cristina believes quality is ultimately driven by people

 “Behind every result are individuals who feel safe, supported and trusted,” she explains.

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A leader who grows with her team

For Maria Cristina, leadership is first and foremost about people. She believes that real progress only happens when teams feel safe, trusted and supported. Creating psychological safety is therefore central to how she leads. “If people are anxious or unsure about direction, it creates fear,” she explains. “And fear does not foster a growth mindset.” By offering clarity and encouraging open dialogue, Maria Cristina helps her team feel confident enough to speak up, learn and grow.

Her team brings together people with different backgrounds and experiences, something she sees as a strength rather than a challenge. “We all come from different backgrounds, but as a team we overcome challenges and deliver results,” she says. Working together, learning from one another and growing step by step gives her energy and pride.

Learning through the Our Leading People Programme

As part of her leadership journey, Maria Cristina joined the Our Leading People Programme. What stood out to her was the open, interactive and reflective approach. Instead of pressure, the programme offered space to truly reflect on leadership and personal impact.

It helped her gain deeper insight into her own leadership style and introduced her to adaptive leadership, especially relevant in a multi-generational work environment. She learned how leadership evolves and how different people require different approaches.

One of her key takeaways was the importance of being intentional in communication, giving clear direction while empowering others to take ownership. Rather than solving everything herself, she now focuses more on building trust and partnership within her team.

Her advice to others considering the programme is simple: be open and self-aware. When people truly internalise what they learn, leadership growth becomes part of everyday work. Maria Cristina also believes leadership development should extend beyond senior roles, reaching supervisors and teams on the shop floor, because strong leadership matters at every level.

By leading with trust, openness and care for people, Maria Cristina continues to unleash her nature and inspires those around her to do the same.

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