Teresita Sy-Coson

Teresita Sy-Coson – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Discover the life, career, and wisdom of Teresita Sy-Coson — a powerhouse in Filipino business. Explore her biography, achievements, famous quotes, and the lessons we can draw from her journey.

Introduction

Teresita Tan Sy-Coson, often called “Tessie,” is one of the Philippines’ most respected and influential business leaders. Born in October 1950, she is the eldest child of Henry Sy, the late founder of SM Group, and has played a pivotal role in the expansion and consolidation of her family’s vast retail, property, and banking empire.

Her story is one of legacy, resilience, vision, and quiet leadership. As vice chairperson of SM Investments Corporation and chairperson of BDO Unibank, she occupies positions of enormous influence in the Philippine economy.

In this article, we delve deep into Teresita Sy-Coson’s life: her upbringing, career milestones, defining traits, famous sayings, and lessons for today’s entrepreneurs and leaders.

Early Life and Family

Teresita Tan Sy was born in Plaridel, Bulacan, Philippines, in October 1950.

Her family background was deeply rooted in retail and entrepreneurship. Her father started from a shoe store in downtown Manila, while her mother had a clothing line sold within the family’s retail ventures.

She recounts childhood visits with her maternal grandfather to the local bank, experiences that sparked her early fascination with banking and finance.

Her upbringing was demanding: she and her siblings were expected to prove themselves in a high-expectation environment. As she would later reflect:

“We grew up in a very demanding environment. Dad expects us to prove ourselves … so my siblings and I worked hard to reach what we have today …”

Despite (or because of) such expectations, she internalized a strong work ethic and the importance of demonstrating capability, especially in a family business dominated by many siblings.

Youth and Education

Teresita Sy-Coson completed her early education at Immaculate Conception Academy in Greenhills and later at Assumption College San Lorenzo.

Although she considered pursuing graduate studies, her father instead urged her to gain real-world experience in the family business. As she later recounted, her father discouraged her from advanced studies: “Come work with me; it’s the school of hard knocks.”

At the age of 22, she was already taking on major responsibilities: she helped open the first SM department store in Manila—only two months after martial law was declared in the country.

Career and Achievements

Building the SM Retail Empire

After the initial foray in launching a department store, more doors opened. By the 1980s, the Sy family began branching into malls, real estate, and vertical integration of retail operations.

In 1990, she became president of the SM Department Stores unit (later under SM Retail), at a time when the group was still expanding its footprint.

A notable strategic move occurred around 2022, when SM Investments acquired Philippine Geothermal Production Co. as part of its aim to diversify and lower its carbon footprint.

Transforming Philippine Banking: BDO Unibank

One of Teresita Sy-Coson’s greatest legacies is her role in building BDO Unibank into the Philippines’ largest bank by total resources, deposits, assets-under-management, and loans.

Originally a savings and retail bank under the Sy group, it was under her oversight that BDO merged with Equitable PCI Bank (in 2004), which significantly boosted its scale and market presence.

Her leadership in BDO spans across its subsidiaries and financial arms—BDO Private Bank, BDO Leasing & Finance, BDO Capital & Investment, and BDO Foundation.

Leadership Awards and Recognition

Over the years, Sy-Coson’s achievements have been recognized through numerous awards:

• Asia’s Best CEO and Asian Corporate Director of the Year (Corporate Governance Asia)

• Named Best Retail Banker of the Year by The Asian Banker (2012)

• Featured in Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in the World from 2001 to 2010

• Included in Forbes Asia’s 50 Power Business Women

• Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) President’s Award (2014)

• Recognized as an Outstanding Exemplar in the Private Sector for her contributions via SM Foundation

• Named in Forbes’ real-time billionaire list; as of 2025, her net worth is estimated around US$1.7 billion (or more)

Beyond titles and accolades, she has also held roles in regional economic and business forums: she has been part of the Philippines’ delegation to the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and has represented the private sector in regional economic integration initiatives.

Philanthropy and Social Impact

Sy-Coson has been deeply involved in philanthropic work through the SM Foundation, established by her parents in 1983.

Key philanthropic programs she oversees include:

• School Building Program: Constructing dozens of schools in partnership with the Department of Education

• College & Technical-Vocational Scholarships: Supporting thousands of students

• Medical Missions and Health Outreach: Providing free medical services, diagnostics, medicines to underserved communities

• Sustainable Agriculture & Training Programs: Teaching financial literacy, farming skills to indigent farmers

• Relief & Disaster Response (e.g. Tulong Express) and community-sharing initiatives (SM Share Movement)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led efforts to donate vaccines, hospital equipment, test kits, and protective gear—leveraging SM’s supply and distribution network to respond quickly to health needs nationwide.

Her philanthropic leadership earned her a spot in Forbes Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy in 2021.

Historical Milestones & Context

Understanding Teresita Sy-Coson’s impact also requires a look at the historical, economic, and social context of her times:

• Martial Law & Political Turbulence (1970s–80s): Her early corporate work coincided with a politically volatile era under Ferdinand Marcos. Navigating regulation, uncertainty, and economic fluctuations posed challenges to retail expansion.

• Retail Boom & Mall Culture: The Philippines embraced a mall-centric culture, and SM Supermalls became a fixture of urban life in Metro Manila and beyond. Under her leadership, SM grew to dominate Philippine retail real estate.

• Banking Modernization & Consolidation: The Philippine banking sector underwent consolidation and regulatory changes in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Her strategic role in BDO’s mergers and expansion positioned it as a leader in financial services.

• Global & Regional Integration: Through ASEAN and regional business forums, she contributed to dialogues on economic integration, cross-border investment, and the role of the private sector in shaping regional growth.

• Sustainability & ESG Trends: More recently, SM’s acquisition of geothermal assets and her support for sustainable programs reflect changing global norms in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities.

Her career thus straddles multiple economic phases of the Philippines—from post-war rebuilding, martial law, the Asian financial crisis, globalization, to modern ESG-conscious growth.

Legacy and Influence

Teresita Sy-Coson’s legacy is multifaceted:

1. Corporate Stewardship: She has been a stabilizing force in the transition from founder-led business to a mature conglomerate. Her leadership helped professionalize the SM Group’s operations while preserving its core vision.

2. Banking Transformation: Her role in BDO’s rise has reshaped banking access in the Philippines, expanding services, branch networks, and financial inclusion.

3. Women in Leadership: In a male-dominated business culture, she stands as an example: not through vocal assertion, but through quiet competence, consistency, and substance.

4. Social Commitment: Her philanthropic projects have touched education, health, agricultural upliftment, disaster relief, and more—reflecting a conviction that wealth entails responsibility.

5. Mentorship by Example: Her life reinforces that leadership is not about spotlight but impact—regardless of how publicly she presents herself.

Her influence extends beyond business: she inspires younger generations of Filipino entrepreneurs, especially women, to lead with integrity, vision, and social purpose.

Personality and Talents

While her public presence is understated, her leadership style and personal traits shine through:

• Humility & Quiet Confidence: She tends to let results speak rather than seeking limelight. Many describe her style as restrained but powerful.

• High Expectations & Discipline: Growing up in a demanding family inculcated in her the value of standards, accountability, and perseverance.

• Strategic Vision: She is not focused on incremental gains only; she pursues transformative business moves—mergers, acquisitions, and strategic diversification.

• Balance of Rationality and Nurture: In her quotes, she often speaks of how men and women bring complementary strengths to business: men as risk takers, women as detail-oriented and nurturing.

• Resilience: After the death of her husband in 2003, she continued to lead and further expanded her influence.

• Long-Term Thinking: She frequently emphasizes the need to scale, sustain, and build for the future—not mere short-term gains.

These traits combine to make her a figure of steady authority—a person who commands respect without overbearing force.

Famous Quotes of Teresita Sy-Coson

Here are selected quotations that reflect her beliefs, values, and outlook:

1. “I belong to a family where I think we're all fairly treated, boys or girls. Although I have to work doubly hard just to be able to be recognized. That meant long hours, but the hard work paid off.”

2. “We grew up in a very demanding environment. Dad expects us to prove ourselves … so my siblings and I worked hard to reach what we have today …”

3. “For the men, they are more of a risk taker, and for the women, they are more nurturing and more details. So the combination of the men and women is very good for business.”

4. “I was always told I had to be an example to my siblings. I was told to toe the line. So I had to behave.”

5. “I was just born into a business family. It is really a destiny.”

6. “I learned by example. … As a kid you think you are just the same as other adults.”

7. “Sometimes, of course, I could not belong to the boys club, but that’s OK. There are always ways to do what I wanted to do. It doesn't really matter so much to me.”

8. “You start small, but in the future, you will grow big.”

These quotes highlight her views on fairness, discipline, gender dynamics, self-expectation, and growth.

Lessons from Teresita Sy-Coson

From her life and words, we can glean several timeless lessons:

1. Lead by example. Her rise came not from demands but from consistently embodying high standards.

2. Embrace both head and heart. Rational strategy + nurturance can form a powerful synergy in leadership.

3. Scale matters. She often emphasizes that small ventures must scale up—or risk being overtaken by inflation or competition.

4. Diversity strengthens business. Her belief in complementarity of men’s and women’s strengths suggests that diversity isn’t just moral, but pragmatic.

5. Sustain: Don’t just build, but maintain. Even after success, she speaks of the importance of preserving value and integrity.

6. Service is integral. Her philanthropic works show that true leadership includes building for others—not just for profits.

7. Quiet strength can be potent. You don’t need loud self-promotion to make an impact; consistency, competence, and humility go far.

8. Adaptability is essential. Her ability to navigate shifting business, political, and economic landscapes underscores flexibility as a core trait.

Conclusion

Teresita Sy-Coson is much more than a scion of a business dynasty. She has carved her own niche—balancing legacy and innovation, business and social purpose, discretion and influence. Her journey teaches that leadership isn’t about grandstanding, but about steady, values-driven work.

In a world where many chase instant recognition, her life reminds us that deep impact is often made quietly, steadily, and with deliberate purpose.

Call to action: Explore more of her timeless quotes, read her speeches, and let her story inspire your own path in business, leadership, and service.