Iyeshliben 'Eli' Que

Product Control Analyst

Growing up in Zamboanga City, a southern province of the Philippines, some of Eli Que's earliest memories involve making paper boats with his late father, who was a pastor. If he got it right, Eli recalls, the boat would glide across the water. Together, they would race their boats in the puddles that appeared outside their home after rainstorms.

As Eli grew older and developed interests of his own, his father encouraged him. For example, one day, he took a fish from a pond near his house and kept it in a jar. When his father saw that, he bought Eli his first aquarium. Soon they began breeding hamsters and rabbits, taking in lizards and quail.

Those early lessons from his father taught Eli how to listen to others, focus on their needs and interests, and help them achieve their goals. His original plan—becoming a veterinarian—changed as he got older, but the skills he learned from his father taught him to care for the needs of others. “Helping others, especially the ones who can't help themselves, is a passion of mine," he says. That passion is an integral part of his work today in customer service and online technical support.

Today, Eli lives in Cebu, a central province in the Philippines. And, while his plans changed, the love of animals that he shared with his father didn't. Today, he lives with three dogs—a Labrador, a Japanese Spitz, and a newborn Labrador puppy that arrived just in time for quarantine.

What does success look like to you?

Success is reflected in the people I've helped along the way. As a peer coach, I've assisted multiple specialists in their growth and development, and their success is my success. It's really fulfilling to see someone who looked to you for help, now moving up in the company, and doing really well in what they're doing.

What do you consider the most valuable piece of advice you've ever received and where did it come from?

One of my high school teachers told me to always assert myself, especially when I know I'm right. When I was in high school, I was the shortest, smallest kid, so I was often bullied. Sometimes it's difficult to believe in yourself and know that you're right. Since I'm an introvert, sometimes I still struggle with that. Introverts can be a little quiet, but I use that time to go into myself and think about what I'm going to say, to process my thoughts and make sure that when I say something, it's the right thing.

What has been the biggest obstacle you've overcome?

My biggest obstacle has been living on my own in a city where I don't have relatives. I'm the youngest of three and was always pampered by my parents. So moving to Cebu and fending for myself was a big step. But this taught me a lot of invaluable life lessons and helped me discover a lot of things about myself. Cooking my first pot of rice was a big deal for me. I even texted my mom to tell her: Hey, I cooked rice and I didn't burn it.

Mentorship seems important to you. How has your mentor helped you?

My mentor was my manager when I was in consumer online technical support. She let me bounce ideas off her, and gave me great feedback. It was great having someone to help me see things from a different perspective, being a sounding board. It really helped me stay grounded.

She has left the firm, but a lot of her teachings and advice have stuck with me. We still keep in touch, and I still reach out to her for advice on how to approach things.

What advice would you give to new employees entering the corporate world?

Joining a well-established firm might be intimidating, but never shortchange yourself. As an individual, you have a lot to offer. Bank on the things you're good at, be open to criticism and honest about your experience, and the company will surely take care of you.