IAG catches up with Pepe Costa, Philippines Country Manager for FBM, to learn about his journey from Brazil to the Philippines and into the exciting world of the local gaming industry.
Oscar Guijarro (OG): Thanks for chatting with us Pepe. Could you share some of your fondest memories from your years growing up?
Pepe Costa (PC): This is a good starting point. As many of your readers know, I grew up in Brazil where football was a religion. It was no different for me. I come from a family of five boys and we all loved to play football. We had a nice backyard where my dad put two goals. Many kids from the neighborhood would come on the weekends to play football. It was a lot of fun having everybody there, and we would only stop when our mothers started looking for us. I deeply cherish these memories.
OG: What sparked your interest in the gaming and entertainment industry? How did you get into the sector?
PC: The first time I came to the Philippines was back in 2002. I did social work in a day care center for less privileged children in Tagaytay. After several trips to the Philippines, I decided to permanently live here, as I had met my future wife and we had plans to build our family here. I started working for IBM Business Services as a Lead Auditor back in 2007.
In 2011 there was an opportunity for me to join FBM to work for the manufacturing plant located in Subic. During the interview with Renato Almeida, a shareholder and Director of the Board, and Fernando Ferrazoli, the current CTO, I was very transparent and informed them that I did not know anything about gaming and manufacturing. They told me not to worry because they would teach me everything I needed to know about running a factory.
I got quite excited about the idea of learning a completely new industry. I believe the learning process has still not stopped today, even after 13 years. And I thank FBM for trusting my potential and helping me develop it even more.
I worked for five years as the General Manager of the factory. After that I was assigned to Manila, again to learn a lot and eventually run the Philippine operations.
The gaming industry is quite dynamic. It has allowed me to learn new things on a daily basis. What excites me the most is when I visit the gaming venues and I see that players are truly entertained by our products. They have fun playing our games.
OG: What did you find was the most challenging thing when learning about the industry?
PC: My educational background is Economics and International Relations. I had studied to become a diplomat, so when I joined FBM my main challenge was to learn the technical aspects of manufacturing the Electronic Gaming Machines. Of course, we have always had highly qualified employees in the assembly line building our machines. But, as the head of the factory during that time, it was important for me to learn each step of the manufacturing process, the importance of each component and the different best practices. I learned a lot during those five years of heading the manufacturing plant, and that learning proved valuable when I moved to operations.
OG: What do you enjoy most about the job and being part of the FBM team?
PC: FBM is a large company. We have operations worldwide and because of that we are also a multi-cultural team. I work with people of different nationalities and that is something that has widened my horizon.
I also consider myself a trouble shooter. I’m challenged when I see a problem and I don’t rest until we are able to sort it out. I enjoy strategizing and doing processes improvement. It’s natural for me to see things over the long run so I find joy in discussing targets and setting long term goals for the company. But the best part is seeing those plans being accomplished and evaluating the results. That’s the most exciting part.
OG: What is unique about living in the Philippines and working in the Philippine gaming industry?
PC: I consider the Philippines as my home. I have been here for 17 years. I consider myself a Filipino at heart and I have learned how to communicate with my broken Tagalog. I love the country, the people and the culture. It’s a very beautiful and yet affordable place to live in. The Philippines has some of the most beautiful coastal areas in the world and so, for a person who loves the beach, this is paradise.
In terms of working in the gaming industry, the Philippines is the place to be now and for many years to come. There is just so much potential to be explored, and it’s one of the most exciting gaming markets in the world right now.
OG: Who has been the most influential person in your life?
PC: There are a couple of people who have shaped my life but if I had to choose one, it would have to be my father. He is the greatest example of hard work and dedication. There was a time in his life when he was working three jobs to provide for a family of seven. When he came home, he still helped my mom in taking care of us. He resolved conflicts with patience and calm. He often took us to visit his mother and siblings who lived in the province. He was a loyal husband and a devoted family man. I would like to believe that I have espoused these characteristics in my own way.
OG: What are some values or principles that are important to you?
PC: I believe in hard work. Nothing comes easy in life. If you want something, you have to work hard for it. I would not be where I am today if I was only half as diligent. It was not easy to land a job in a foreign country, especially because I did not speak the native tongue, but I didn’t give up. When I found a job, it was in an area I was not trained in. I equipped myself with the necessary skills and persevered.
Teamwork is also crucial. There is no one person who can do everything. We have varying expertise and if we put that together, the result will be better. It is a chance to listen to and to learn from different perspectives. It is also an avenue for support and motivation.
Balance is another important principle. Since late hours cannot be avoided during the week, I make sure I get time to rest and do the things I like with my family during the weekends.
OG: Can you share a personal achievement that you’re particularly proud of?
PC: Something that is truly personal and not related to work at all is living beside the water. Ever since I can remember, I have always been in love with the ocean. I have long dreamt of having a small beach house. An opportunity presented itself a few years back and I was able to purchase one. Now I look forward to spending the weekends there. It’s not a big house but there’s enough space to host family and friends. I particularly like swimming, snorkeling and grilling.
OG: What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned over your 10 years of experience?
PC: From a very practical point of view, I have learned the Filipino way of doing things. How do I tell someone to improve his performance? How can I persuade a hesitant client? How do I get a proposal approved? I would not have known how to handle these scenarios if I was not aware of the norms and behaviors of Filipinos. Understanding their culture is a key bit of learning.
I have learned how to be a better communicator. I have gone out of my way to learn a few useful Filipino phrases, but the language barrier goes beyond words. I realized that I do not need to be fluent in a language to communicate with people. If I relate to them with sincerity, I can get the message across. A dash of humor also goes a long, long way.
The hardest lesson I’ve learned is to become a good listener. Being born the eldest among five trained me to become an independent decision maker. I was a competitive athlete. In school, I would initiate efforts and others were just happy to follow. But things are different in a working environment. To be able to get everyone’s commitment, I need to listen to their input.
OG: What’s something you’ve always wanted to try or do?
PC: I have long thought of climbing Mt Everest. I have had a couple of invitations from friends and colleagues, but I have not gotten around to doing it. I love the outdoors, I like the cold and I like challenging myself. I hope I will have time to prepare for it and finally do it in the coming years.
