From distributing Tires to Barbie Dolls, that is how Ms. Myrna Yao emerged to be one of the most successful lady entrepreneurs in the Philippines. She is the President and CEO of Richwell Trading Corporation and Richprime Global Inc, the exclusive distributor of Mattel Toys and Barbie, Ollie, Fisher Price Shoes and V-Tech Learning Computer in the Philippines.
A multi-awarded entrepreneur and a known women advocate, she has been very busy breaking barriers in the name of equality and women empowerment. Ms. Yao can truly be called a “Nation Builder.” Ms. Yao is one of the Top 50 featured individual in the new business publications “Rising Tigers:Nation Builders” to be launched this coming March of 2022.
From Micro Entrepreneur to Big Enterprise
Myrna entered the male-dominated world of commodities trading, working for her father’s copra business. She then ventured into tires distributorship under her Richwell Trading Corporation. When the going gets tough in the Tire business, she shifted gear, and this led her to Mattel.
She has been part of the re-invention of the Barbie doll. “We already have a diverse doll selection, from the fashionista to an international spy, and the Filipina Barbie which I created with Patis Tesoro, a notable fashion designer in the 90s.” – she shared
What once started from 10 employees has grown to almost 2,000, under the able management of Ms. Yao.
Sharing knowledge and experience
Advocating for the economic empowerment of women, she is a certified Go Negosyo mentor. Ms. Yao said, “Successful entrepreneurs should embrace mentoring and sharing their experiences to guide other entrepreneurs to become successful. There are many young people with potential who needs guidance. Their success will benefit our economy and our people.”
To share her vision that women cannot only think micro, and to guide them on how to become a medium enterprise or to even aspire to be a global one, she wrote a book entitled “The Gift of Dream.” In this book she shared her very own journey as entrepreneur, the inspiration behind the GREAT women project and how the project has benefitted women entrepreneurs all over the country.
The “GREAT (Gender-Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation) Women Project aims to uplift the economic conditions of women on the local level by empowering women micro entrepreneurs with business skills and knowledge; increasing their participation in economic decision making in their areas; providing better work conditions, social protection and better income opportunities.
She was also the founder of Pearl S. Buck Foundation Philippines, which has helped more than 550 scholars to date.
Rising Tigers:Nation Builders - Recognizing the Leaders of Tomorrow
“With 2022—The Year of the Water Tiger promising 365 days of positive changes, business must be stable, and finances will flow smoothly throughout the year with grit on its side.” – shared Engr. Grace Bondad Nicolas, Founder and CEO of Tag Media Group.
Asia Leaders Awards take the opportunity to recognize Ms. Myrna Yao, the savvy tycoon who made Barbie™ famous in the Philippines, among the Top 50 Nation Builders in the Asia Pacific on the launching of the Rising Tigers: Nation Builders Magazine.
Launching on March 22, 2022, at the Grand Hyatt Manila at the BGC in Taguig, “Rising Tigers: Nation Builders” is another brainchild of Asia Leaders Awards (ALA) Committee.
To know more about Rising Tigers: Nation Builders and Asia Leaders Awards, visit https://www.facebook.com/AsiaLeadersAwards.
