Balik Bayan Success Story: Leonora

Leonora Atienza has 23 years of professional experience in the Accounting and Finance industry, with her last 9 years spent working abroad in Singapore for an oil and gas company, where she handled the Singapore and Brunei markets.

However, the oil and gas industry faced a downturn in recent years, which was worsened by the global COVID-19 pandemic.  Given the challenging situation, Leonora’s previous company had to go through a huge global reduction in headcount, and she was subsequently affected. As Leonora was only holding a working visa in Singapore then, it limited her from exploring new opportunities in the country. This led her to decide to return to the Philippines for work.

While Leonora’s goal was to look for a new financial controllership role in a multinational company back home in the Philippines, she didn’t know how to get started in finding the right opportunity. “As I lost my job during the pandemic, I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able get a job quickly and for a position I really like,” shares Leonora.

After much contemplation and research, Leonora came across the Balik Bayan programme of Robert Walters Philippines. She then spoke with Shane Garcellano, International Candidate Manager, to learn more about the programme.

“With Robert Walters being reputed as a prestigious search firm, I was confident that they will be able to connect me to the best companies in the Philippines.”

With the help of Shane and Maxine, Leonora is now employed as a plant finance controller in a US based company, and is happily residing back in the Philippines. One advice that she wants her fellow Balik Bayans to remember is “There is always a career opportunity for you back home. You just need a partner like Robert Walters to get you the right job.”  

For more information about our Balik Bayan campaign, contact Grace Sampan at grace.sampan@robertwalters.com, or visit our website.