His arrival was predicted. Sporting a Starbucks mug and standing beside Sean Lefebvre, he walked into our lives last March and introduced himself with a rich abundance of physical descriptions in many pieces. Exuding an iconic template, we welcomed and studied him with eyes that were steady and penetrating. The smiles we showed, he returned two-fold. We realized the sophistication of this new character named SHAUN KERMAN PATERSON and yes, OSRP’s new General Manager has arrived.
“I envision OSRP being a larger business. But more than that I see OSRP being a preferred employer locally. People will be able to say that they’re working for a world-leading business. People will be knocking on our doors to join us,” Shaun excitedly shared in an iNews interview that revealed a great visionary in him.
Well folks, it is easy to expect that he can make this a possibility. A graduate of B.Sc. Computers and Microprocessor Technology, our new GM brings with him a wealth of experiences—highlighted by his strong background in the country’s BPO industry, having worked in a number of capacities with Raytheon, Misys, Fiserv, and Thomson Financial.
Asked about how he landed the GM post, Shaun recalled that a friend told him to consider the OSRP opportunity. Sean, OSRP’s GM back then was on the lookout for someone who’ll take over because he decided to assume the leadership post in Montreal. After a series of interviews with Sean and Frank Khulusi, three months passed without any news about the job. He reached a point where he thought he didn’t get it. That was why he was ecstatic when one day the offer popped up before him. Then Day 1 came.
“My first day was interesting. Throughout the interview period I’d only been into the Conference Room next to the Entrance. I had no idea what the place looked like. I was really excited and Sean made the transition really positive, planned in detail & mapped out for a most effective learning process. First impressions were, “Great place to work, Good decision to join!” Shaun told this writer.
For almost two weeks, we saw the tandem of outgoing General Manager Sean and new GM Shaun undergoing a fairly intensive transition. Now on his sixth week (as of this writing), Shaun is just too happy to share his views about the company.
“OSRP has a pleasant working environment. I’m not aware of too much Office Politics. I’d like to ensure that that doesn’t happen. I want people to be happy to work here. I have an open-door policy and I’d like to see all Managers from Senior level through the Supervisors and Team Leaders work in a similar manner. Communication is a critical requirement for a good working environment,” he said.
After saying all these, this iNews interview of course shifted to a lighter mood. Actually, the chat with Shaun gave us a window on his real personality. Unafraid to share his thoughts and knowing that as a new face he’s a subject of curiosity, he was quick to answer every question. Topping the list was how he learned to speak the Filipino language.
“I began by taking 30hours of lessons at the International Language School in Makati. I also read the Pugad Baboy comic books to help me with some contemporary words and slang. But it’s very difficult to learn Tagalog…I keep asking my friends to speak Tagalog when I’m around to help me learn. My vocabulary is quite big, but I have a hard time constructing sentences!” Shaun shared.
Calling himself a “Starbucks Monster,” he said that he chooses to be a simple person. He named his life’s favorites like when in the Philippines, he craves for Chicken Tinola and El Nido, Palawan as his place for relaxing. Vanilla flavor please for his ice cream, Honey Dipped for his doughnut, and Techno for his music. Yes, techno! “I’m so mad that I missed the DJ Tiesto event recently!” Shaun said.
Apart from work, his interests are bent on traveling, meeting new people and reading. “I’m not a religious person but I’m a great believer in love, compassion, generosity and charity. I hate people who think they’re so special and treat others with disregard or contempt,” he stressed.
“I love my friends here. I love the passion people have. I love their friendliness and concern. I love the fact that a simple smile works wonders. I even love the terrible traffic – it gives me something to complain about. I love the opportunities,” he added.
Certainly, as days progress, we will know more about Shaun and according to him, he’ll be happier to meet all his employees. He ended the interview by saying that he dreams of seeing a “one OSRP” picture and he described this vision as a company where all strokes fall in sync. As much as possible, he said as someone taking the lead for the whole Manila team, he would love to shake into every individual a strong brand of enthusiasm and pride so that everyone will have a sense of unity and direction.
“I want to see a better picture of wholeness, of unity. Yes, I can see it now and want to develop it more. That everyone will not come to work plainly thinking that I am working for onSale, for MacMall, for Sales….I want people to come in with a mindset that ‘I am working for OSRP’…I want that,” Shaun said.
Yes, he is right. And we can tell Shaun that the picture of unity he has in mind is very much like the OSRP that he is leading today; a collection of disparate elements that in a vista forms a beautiful, coherent whole.
