Atty. Josette Adrienne “Yet” A. Abarca

President and CEO

Generika Group of Companies

Executive Director

Ayala Corporation

Leading with Resilience and Purpose

In the toughest of times, an inspired leadership and unwavering commitment to a mission become even more crucial.

In July 2020, amidst a pandemic that gripped the world, Atty. Josette Adrienne A. Abarca, better known as 'Yet,' assumed the role of President and CEO at Generika Drugstore. At a time of unprecedented business disruptions, she was given the task of stabilizing operations and carving a path forward, for Generika to adapt to the new normal and secure its future. A tall order but Yet took on with passion and commitment.

"While the pandemic was very disruptive, it heightened my appreciation of Generika’s mission. It was a time when I was reminded in very tangible ways how people relied on us for continued access to affordable medicines. Failing them was not an option. That was such a compelling purpose for me to be passionate about and to inspire the rest of the team with.”

Yet believes that for an organization to succeed, everyone must work towards a common goal. "This is where our shared sense of purpose fueled our recovery efforts. It propelled us to innovate and find new ways to serve our customers. For instance, at the height of the lockdowns we launched our e-commerce platform, allowing our customers to access our stores online and have their medicines either delivered at home or picked up at their designated time.”

Reflecting on her journey as a CEO, Yet noted how her faith kept her resilient in the most uncertain of times. “I certainly did not plan for it but I believe in God’s plan. Believing it was part of His plan made me confident I was up for it and that He will see me through. I learned soon enough that He actually equipped me through the people He blessed me with in this journey. I learned how to trust people more and achieve much more through them.”

Yet also credits the discipline instilled in her in school chasing after her B.B.A. Accounting and Juris Doctor degrees in laying a solid foundation for her professional success. A CPA-Lawyer, she brings a structured, data-driven and strategic approach in tackling complex issues and navigating an evolving business landscape.

Her 25 years of experience within the Ayala Group has also been instrumental in her success. The Group gave her a stable and rich platform to evolve as a professional and as a leader. She started in Finance, holding finance roles at Globe Telecom and Ayala Corp., before being assigned to Ayala’s healthcare arm, AC Health, where she held key positions, including a stint as Chief Operations Officer at IE Medica, Inc. and Medethix, Inc. Prior to that, she served as AC Health's and Generika’s Chief Finance Officer. The opportunity to work with the best people in different businesses, as well as the wealth of experience those assignments gave her, prepared her well to lead Generika through tough times.