Join us for this episode of Beyond the Headlines: Extra Edition, featuring Shion Canen, Assistant Vice President and Enterprise Sales Head (VisMin) of Converge Global Business.
In this special conversation, she opens up about life, leadership, and womanhood, sharing insights from her journey as a leader and as a woman making an impact in her field.
Don’t miss this inspiring interview this Friday.
#BeyondTheHeadlines #ExtraEdition #LiveOnFriday #ShionCanen #WomenInLeadership #ConvergeGlobalBusiness
In this special conversation, she opens up about life, leadership, and womanhood, sharing insights from her journey as a leader and as a woman making an impact in her field.
Don’t miss this inspiring interview this Friday.
#BeyondTheHeadlines #ExtraEdition #LiveOnFriday #ShionCanen #WomenInLeadership #ConvergeGlobalBusiness
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NewsTranscript
00:30Good afternoon, everyone. You're watching Beyond the Headlines.
00:33This afternoon, we meet a woman who pleads quietly to empower businesses across Visayas and Mindanao,
00:41not as a corporate executive, but as an advocate who understands people, communities,
00:47and the challenges of enterprise growth in the countryside.
00:51I'm DJ Moises.
00:53Today, we'll get to know Sean Cannon, Assistant Vice President and Head of Enterprise Sales
00:58for the Visayas and Mindanao region of Converge Global Businesses.
01:02Sean, thank you for joining us today.
01:04Thank you, DJ, for having me here.
01:06And finally, we were able to have this conversation.
01:09I know, right? We have a lot of reschedules, but I'm really happy that this is happening now.
01:14Of course.
01:14And thank you for having us, having me, having my team here with us this afternoon.
01:20And it's always a pleasure being here and visiting you in your space.
01:24But before we start, maybe you'd like to greet or have a shout-out with your millions of followers?
01:30Wow. I wish I had millions of followers, but I'm really lucky.
01:34So, hi, everyone, and to all my Converge family, hello, good afternoon, and to all my friends out there
01:41and all the women out there because it's International Women's Day this month.
01:46Correct. So, this timing is really perfect.
01:50Yes. Before we're going to talk about work and before we're going to talk about business,
01:56maybe you'd like to share to me who is Sean outside the office.
02:03Yeah, that may be a thing.
02:04Outside the office, Sean Cannon is really a simple person.
02:10So, everything I do is about for my family.
02:14So, I'm a devoted wife, a very hands-on mom.
02:19And when I say I enjoy simplicity in everything that I do, I enjoy simple things.
02:26Like on a weekend, I tend to my plans.
02:29I enjoy quiet moments with my family.
02:32And then, Cibu is the only place that I want to be in forever.
02:43And then, you know how it is.
02:45You enjoy going out in the malls.
02:48And then, if you would like to enjoy quiet moments, you just go to Busay, enjoy the sunset.
02:54And then, on the weekends, when my family decides to really, you know, chill, cool down, we go to the
03:00beach.
03:00The family loves to go to the beach a lot.
03:02And I think I want to have that balance in everything that I do at work, for my family, and
03:12even enjoying the companionship of my friends.
03:15So, just me.
03:16That's the good thing about the pre-pandemic era.
03:22Because while some people would think that we are now busier than we were, but I think it also created
03:29a conscious mindset about balance, which is what you do.
03:34Actually, yes.
03:35Pandemic, in a lot of ways, actually, help us to, you know, to be more conscious what really matters in
03:43life.
03:43While we do a lot of things at work on a daily, you know, daily routine, eight hours a day,
03:51Mondays to Fridays.
03:53But I think the most important thing is to recognize what are really worth to spend your hours with.
04:00And me especially, I really, I really work in, it's always about the family.
04:06That really motivates me daily.
04:08You know, when you wake up each day, you always ask your why.
04:12I give thanks, of course, to our father to just be living.
04:16And then, I look at my family every day.
04:20And it really, like, struck that this is why I'm here.
04:26And this is why I want to work.
04:28I go out daily on my routines and everything that I do.
04:31So, if I am to spy and talk to your family and your friends, how will they describe you?
04:43Oh, most probably, they would say that I'm quite firm.
04:48I'm the disciplinarian in the family.
04:51But I'm always the go-to person.
04:54Meaning, you know, because I really listen.
04:57So, most of the family members really go to me, sing advice.
05:00Sometimes, we just discuss a lot of things.
05:03And I think it goes the same with my friends.
05:05Sometimes, I'm very open and then I listen.
05:09I don't really just give advice.
05:11I don't actually, I try to avoid giving advice because, you know, my experience is kind of different
05:16to what they're experiencing on.
05:19But it helps that when you listen, they're more open.
05:23And that keeps the relationship going.
05:25So, yeah.
05:26Yeah, I think that's me.
05:28At work, though, if you're going to talk to my colleagues, they would really say, I'm not strict.
05:35But you know how it is.
05:38You know when to be firm to reach the goal.
05:41And then you also need to cool down and chill and just be a friend in the office.
05:46So, we also sometimes go out, enjoy, celebrate small wins.
05:50And then call out things that are needed to be called out.
05:54So, yeah, that's me.
05:55So, actually, what I'm getting in terms of the pattern, you've mentioned balance earlier about work and life.
06:03I can also see that you apply the same principle when it comes to leading people or even your family
06:09and friends
06:09because you are firm and also nurturing.
06:14So, let's backtrack a little bit to Dashaun when she was a student.
06:19Oh, wow.
06:20What were you like as a student?
06:24I must, I'm not, you know, I'm not like others.
06:28I'm not an overachiever.
06:31Just an achiever.
06:33I hope I can say that.
06:35But I'm really an average student.
06:37So, when I say average, I'm diligent enough to know and really focus on the studies.
06:43I mean, you know, in class and even study for exams.
06:49Because way back when, you know, when I'm still a kid, I always think that consciously you get to focus
06:58on what really matters and then also enjoy childhood.
07:02So, I am very fortunate that I have a very supportive family that on a weekend, they always, like, let
07:11us play, go out with family, with siblings, and even friends in the neighborhood.
07:16But when it's on the weekdays, during classes, and even going, even college days, I'm like that.
07:26So, enough, but I think consciously I'm always striking balance in everything that I do.
07:31You don't want to be over-exaggerating things and also you don't want to be very, very low-key.
07:38So, yeah, I can see that there's a pattern of balance in a lot of aspects in your life.
07:45So, when young people or young girls would be looking at somebody like you who is already successful, very successful
07:53in what you do, among the frequently asked questions is how to be you po.
08:00How to be you.
08:01And then, I'm curious whether, growing up, you were shy or you were outgoing or somewhere in between.
08:11I think I've shared this with you, you know, prior to the interview.
08:15I think I'm in between because, you know, I enjoy talking to people, interacting with them.
08:22I even shared with you that I used to be a cashier in a fast food chain.
08:28Oh, yeah.
08:28So, because I don't want to be idle at times when during the weekends or even, let's say, during college
08:34that I have, like, a lot of free days.
08:38These are the things that I love to do.
08:41Talking to people, engaging with them.
08:43But at the same time, I like the quiet moments.
08:46You know, there's a phase in everything that we do that we just want to, you know.
08:50Take a step back.
08:51Take a step back.
08:52Think a lot of things.
08:54Sometimes, you just don't think anything.
08:56So, it's my way of coping off, probably, the stress and how to move forward.
09:04I think, although not many people would mention this, but this is what I see also when Kanang Dasinulog dance,
09:12in which they take a few steps forward and a few steps backward.
09:17And then, so that they're able to move forward even better.
09:20So, I think that's also how I would look what you describe as a downtime.
09:26You know, that's the first time I hear.
09:28Yeah, it's a good analogy.
09:29Yeah, because it's a beautiful dance.
09:31That's right.
09:31But they take a step forward and then backward.
09:33Now, when we are going to go back again, and then let's talk about your family and even the people
09:44you grew up with,
09:45who were the key influences that helped shape how you lead and who you are today?
09:53I grew up with my relatives.
09:56You know, my parents are in Manila during childhood.
09:59And I'm with my aunt and uncle here in Cebu.
10:03Ah, here in Cebu.
10:04Yes.
10:05So, while my parents were working outside Cebu.
10:10So, I grew up with my aunt.
10:11So, I think the way I am today, it's because of her.
10:16She really instilled in us that integrity in all the things that we do and taking responsibility in all the
10:26decisions that we made and actions that we do.
10:28And even now, with my team, I mean, with my colleagues, I always believe integrity should be there.
10:37That I grew up thinking, and it's instilled in me that we always do the right things the first time
10:44rather than making things right.
10:47But, you know, this is life.
10:48And as we grow along, progress along with our daily lives, we sometimes make mistakes, but we learn from it.
10:57From that lesson, we do and improve things as we move forward.
11:03So, there, it's always, I'm always sharing this to everyone who cares to listen.
11:10And they care.
11:12Yes.
11:12And I think my friends and my family know this, that doing the right things the first time will really
11:20propel you forward rather than making it right.
11:24Because there's a lot of, I know there's a lot of challenges in between, but it prevents us from doing
11:31a lot of mistakes.
11:33I also grew up in the countryside.
11:35And one of the family routines or traditions that I remember is when my dad would actually cook on a
11:43weekend.
11:44Oh, nice.
11:45Specifically Sunday.
11:47And that kind of tradition is also something that I bring with me even until today.
11:52Do you have any family tradition or routine that you still practice until today?
12:00Yeah, actually, I shared earlier that I grew up with my aunt.
12:05So, she's a teacher by profession.
12:08And you know how it is?
12:10Very traditional.
12:12Church on Sundays, you start the day with prayer, end the day with a prayer.
12:18You give thanks to what you have.
12:22And then be contented with what you have right now.
12:26Because she always say, what you have right now, others don't have it.
12:30So, food in the table.
12:32You know that growing up that...
12:37Why is it still that more stuff that you have?
12:41That's what we have in court.
12:42You should finish the food.
12:43You should drink water daily.
12:46And then do the household chores.
12:49Even growing up...
12:51I'm not privileged, you know.
12:53But, you know, even with a household, we're really trained to do household chores.
12:57Learn how to cook.
12:59And then spend time weekends with the family.
13:03So, even right now, I have a son.
13:06He's 18 years old.
13:07And you know how they're 18 years old right now, right?
13:09So, I always tell him that on a weekend, one day you can spend it with your friends.
13:16But the other one day, let's say it's Saturday or Sunday.
13:20So, if he goes out on a Saturday, Sunday should be spent with the family.
13:24Whether he is with us discussing things or he is with, you know, playing in the game room.
13:29But we're there, four of us, sharing that moment.
13:33So, it's really very traditional family.
13:38And that's also what we have in common.
13:40Because obviously, I cannot cook, you know.
13:42So, how I kept the tradition is we eat out...
13:44You didn't know how to cook, you know.
13:46We eat out on a Sunday.
13:48And that's really sacred, you know.
13:52So, we preserve that tradition.
13:54Actually, that's the right.
13:55I always say to my family that weekends are sacred for us.
14:00So, one day should be spent with the family.
14:03Whether we go out to the mall or spend quiet times at home, just watching movie.
14:08It's really the relationship and just bonding at home.
14:12So, you are incredibly successful in your career, you know.
14:17Oh, thank you.
14:19And it's National Women's Month.
14:21How do you manage prioritization of the task?
14:26And how is your family supporting you in this journey?
14:33Actually, it's really hard, you know.
14:35But as I grow along, you know, as I grow in my career, I've learned to compartmentalize.
14:43Being in the tech school, being in this industry really will require a lot of our time.
14:51We don't stop 8x5.
14:55We support BPO's.
14:57We support hotels.
14:59We support a lot of industries that 24x7 may not be required on your job description.
15:07But it is something that you need to do.
15:09Because you're supporting 24x7 businesses.
15:13And because of that experience, I have to really learn that this is the work mode.
15:21This is me as a family person.
15:25And then weekends can be spent, you know, you divide it between an urgent need to be at work.
15:33May not be physically in the office, but you have to attend to something else that's really urgent.
15:38And then you focus back to your family.
15:42It's really like, I don't know how to explain it.
15:47But you have to learn when to give time, work for the family, and of course, for work.
15:53And I'm very lucky that my husband is really understanding.
15:59And he understands the demands of my work.
16:03I travel a lot because I...
16:05Visayas and Bindanao region.
16:07Yes.
16:07And we have to go far-flung areas.
16:10Of course, there's worry of the security and how long you've begun because you have your kids.
16:17But whenever we're back, we always say, you know, we cheer for each other.
16:22So that's good.
16:23And my kids, they admire what I do because they see me.
16:28I always share to them whenever I'm out traveling for work, I always go back and share with them my
16:35experience.
16:36You know, when you're in the outskirts of some bonga or you go to the mountain areas in Leyte,
16:43I always tell them what I see in the community.
16:46So they also get grounded with that.
16:49That what you have right now is actually what others don't have.
16:54And it is something that I always share because I always believe that, you know, the reality out there.
17:02Do you have any hacks in terms of managing pressure?
17:08Because it also comes with the territory.
17:13You know, I don't even know how I manage it.
17:17I don't have a pattern.
17:19And I don't have, you know, some others, they say, they go out, they shout in the building.
17:26You know, I see that a lot in K-drama, right?
17:28In the K-drama, when they're so stressed, they go to the roof deck and then shout, release their stress.
17:33But I think it's already part in me that consciously I know that you have to do it slowly,
17:43especially when a lot of challenges are, you know, building up and then take it one challenge at a time.
17:53You don't have to have the right choices at that moment or the right answers immediately on that, on that,
18:02whatever the challenge is.
18:03But you have to step back, analyze everything.
18:06It doesn't have to be you.
18:08You have to really think what is the good for the team, for the family.
18:14I also am like this, even with the family.
18:17If there is a need for me to, you know, just be with my kids because this is really urgent
18:24and I need to attend to it.
18:26So, that's really my focus.
18:28So, yeah, I'm not sure if I gave you the idea.
18:32Of course, of course.
18:32But that's how I am, really.
18:35So, probably because the stress is innate.
18:38We try on all of the stress that we have.
18:41True, true, true.
18:41So, we learn to actually not live but manage.
18:44Manage, yes.
18:46That's the right term.
18:47We manage the stress.
18:47And you mentioned in the earlier part of the conversation that you are a simple person.
18:54But obviously, what you do is complex.
18:58What are the small daily habits that you have that brings you joy?
19:09Daily, no, I share this with you.
19:11Coffee is really something that I really enjoy.
19:14I can have five to six cups.
19:19Black coffee daily.
19:21It makes me calm in a lot of ways.
19:25And then I just take a pause.
19:29And then I really say prayers silently.
19:32Especially when times that you just really want to cry and just be at the back.
19:36But you know that you need to move forward.
19:39A lot of people depend on you.
19:41So, yeah, there's that.
19:44Prayers keep me calm.
19:45And then coffee.
19:47And then I really enjoy even, you know, when I go out of the house, I see my plants.
19:53I even sometimes talk to them.
19:55Oh, I'm going to the office.
19:57Be beautiful.
19:59Behave.
20:00Don't let the wind affect you.
20:02And then I drive away.
20:04Simple things like that.
20:06I think it's really knowing when to take a pause.
20:12And then when to be aggressive to really hit your...
20:19You don't need to be cut out in everything, customized for the specific role.
20:25Just really put balance in everything.
20:28And then you also mentioned earlier, because that's the simple part of you.
20:32But you also mentioned earlier that you are firm.
20:35What are the principles or values that you will never compromise?
20:41It's really integrity.
20:45My team knows, and even in the family, I always tell the people that being...
20:53We are not perfect, okay?
20:55That's given, right?
20:56But when we strive hard to do the right thing and being honest in everything that we do,
21:03it always struck me when I say, you know, doing the right thing at all times.
21:08Even people don't see you doing that.
21:11Because everything follows.
21:13When you are doing the right thing now, less problems later on.
21:17And then being honest to everything that we do.
21:20You need to be authentic to really relay the sincerity that you have at work and in the family.
21:27So that's one thing I cannot compromise, really.
21:32Okay, because you know for a fact that I'm a leader, right?
21:35So I get to sign a lot of documents.
21:38Very true.
21:39Did you know that even a single centavo doesn't pass through me?
21:42And I think my team knows that.
21:45Because we are here, especially at work, that we are remote.
21:50So I'm overseeing a lot of things.
21:52So we want to show that we can do these things the right way all the time.
21:56And that's a good value that our viewers can pick up for a leader like you.
22:04Because that's also what the Philippines needs more, no?
22:09Leaders with integrity.
22:11And I honor you for not compromising that principle.
22:18We want more leaders with integrity.
22:20More honesty.
22:21So how do you also define success then?
22:26Okay.
22:27You're saying I'm successful to what I do.
22:30And then I always, if you notice, I laugh.
22:32Or, you know, I always, I really don't think about success in the role.
22:41Like you mentioned, my designation and all of these things.
22:45These are not, yeah, I'm there.
22:47I rise, you know, I rose from the ranks.
22:49But success for me is always about achieving the goals that are expected of me.
22:57And even small wins, there's success in small things.
23:02Like, for example, in our case, when we go outside the city,
23:08our goal is to, you know, put infrastructure to the hard-reach areas in Cebu or even in Bismin.
23:16When we complete infrastructure in a community, that's a success for me.
23:21Because that's really my goal.
23:23And I'm always, that's why I'm here, because I'm aligned to the vision, mission of the company.
23:28So, in a smaller, personally, though, in my life as well, I find success in the achievements of my kids
23:37or my husband being a champion in the basketball league that he's into.
23:44So, these are the small success and wins that I really celebrate.
23:47And I can see where the hugot is coming from.
23:53Because one of the things that you and the company that I also admire,
23:58it's also because of the opportunities and the possibilities that you give to people in the countryside.
24:05And now, having this conversation with you, I can see the why.
24:09So, for some of our viewers, because we talk about work and life balance,
24:14we also talk about being firm and nurturing.
24:18How do you reconcile being contented and at the same time ambitious?
24:27Wow. Miss Universe question.
24:31But let's go back to the fact that I'm really a simple person.
24:35I find contentment in everything that I do.
24:39Yeah, it's not perfect.
24:41Life is not perfect.
24:43The work is not perfect because there's always challenges and setbacks that you encounter.
24:48But I find contentment knowing that I have actually shared knowledge,
24:56mentor team members to grow in their careers as well.
24:59And personally, in the family, I'm very contented to, you know, we're coming to full circle.
25:12I have a little girl, I have a teenage son, and my husband is there to support me.
25:18And that matters a lot.
25:20In the business of life and every daily routine that we have,
25:24I think it's really knowing that the long hours are worth it,
25:29that the hard work that you put into it is really worth it.
25:33So, that keeps me going.
25:35And when work takes you to the countryside,
25:39you also get to engage local entrepreneurs
25:43and also people who have big dreams, no?
25:48What were the stories that you are getting from them
25:51that inspire you to do the work that you do?
25:59I mentioned, right?
26:01I travel a lot.
26:02So, I see a lot of communities, you know, not the first-class city.
26:06So, we go to a place where there's a gap in digital connectivity.
26:14Very true.
26:14Because that's part of our purpose being here.
26:18So, I'm really amazed that in a barangay,
26:24there's this discarte going on
26:26because they don't have the same resources that we have in the city.
26:32And it amazed me so much that they can do a lot in the small resources.
26:37I mean, having the small resources, they're happy.
26:40They can optimize it.
26:41Yes.
26:43Example, a local community with potential to grow their business,
26:47they're relying so much on connectivity in the data.
26:52But I always envisioned that when we provide infrastructure,
26:56we provide connectivity to this community,
26:59that business will be propelled forward faster than we can think of.
27:04And when you think about it on a bigger scale,
27:07with the support of our company,
27:09it gives me this vision that says,
27:12wow, we can go there.
27:15We can be successful in a small community.
27:17We can be successful in little help that we can give them.
27:23So, there's that.
27:24So, that's always my why daily.
27:26That's why I always make sure that I'm on the ground traveling with the team
27:31because I really want to see personally how it is out there
27:36and how much we can help.
27:37And when I heard about the job that you do,
27:40that's also one of the primary reasons that we wanted to have this conversation with you.
27:45Thank you, DJ.
27:46Because while technology makes people more efficient
27:50and it also helps them improve their lives,
27:55but there's obviously a digital divide between the city and the countryside.
28:01And I honor you for choosing this path.
28:04When you reflect on your journey so far,
28:06because obviously you will still have more years ahead of you
28:09and more successes ahead of you.
28:12But if you are to reflect on your journey so far,
28:15what is the one thing that you are most proud of?
28:23Well, top of mind,
28:25I'm very proud of the team that we have built here in VisNin.
28:31When I say earlier on doing the right things the first time,
28:35we really get the right talent to help us to achieve our goal.
28:40And I'm proud to say that we have come so far since we started.
28:45You know, here in VisNin, we just started way back 2021, 2022.
28:51But if you do research, we are very far already.
28:55And while we are talking about technology connectivity,
29:00we are now talking about solutions to help businesses.
29:04So there's that.
29:05So what I'm trying to say that all the hard work that we have done so far,
29:10we're seeing results, and we are very proud of that.
29:14And I'm proud to say that the leaders, my leaders,
29:18our leaders in the company are supporting us on this.
29:21And I think we're running out of time.
29:25So this is how much we're having, enjoying this conversation.
29:29So I hope there will be a part two.
29:32And with leaders like you,
29:34I am very positive that the dream of having an inclusive,
29:40inclusive technology is very, very possible.
29:45Thank you, DJ.
29:46And I know there was still so much to know about you.
29:49I'm so passionate about it.
29:50And your story.
29:51So I hope you would allow us to have a part two for this conversation.
29:56But for now, allow me to thank you for your time,
29:59for your stories, for your heart, and also your vision.
30:03Thank you, DJ.
30:04And thank you so much for having my team here.
30:08And we would like to really talk more about why we are doing this on the second segment.
30:14And hopefully that will come very, very soon.
30:17So thank you for joining us today and for sharing your journey with us.
30:21As well as your heart and your vision for the countryside.
30:24And there's so much to you and your story.
30:26So hopefully you will allow us to also have part two.
30:29Yes.
30:30Bringing technology to the countryside is not just about tools or infrastructure.
30:35It's about empowering local businesses, communities, and leaders to grow,
30:40thrive, and compete in a rapidly changing world.
30:44I'm DJ Moises.
30:46And from all of us here in Beyond the Headlines,
30:48thank you for joining us.
30:49Have a good afternoon.
31:20I'm DJ Moises.
31:20I'm DJ Moises.
31:20I'm DJ Moises.
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