Faculty, students, and alumni of the John Gokongwei School of Management’s PhD in Leadership Studies program attended and participated in the Asia Academy of Management Special Conference from 18 to 21 June 2025. Held at the Grand Fourwings Convention Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, this conference marked the inaugural Special Conference of the Asia Academy of Management with the theme “Institutional Complexities and Managerial Responses.”
The Ateneo team was led by the Dean of the John Gokongwei School of Management, Dr Roberto N Galang, and the Program Director of the PhD in Leadership Studies, Dr Emerald Jay D Ilac. Alumni from the PhD in Leadership Studies participated as paper and poster presenters, and session moderators, including Dr Helen Amante, Dr Joseph dela Cruz, Dr John Lagdameo, Dr Melissa Reyes, Dr Pilar Tolentino, and Dr Emmanuel Zara Jr Also presenting were JGSOM faculty member Dr Alvin Patrick Valentin and current PhD in Leadership Studies student Huoge Zhao.
A day prior to the conference, the Ateneo team conducted an official visit to AAOM Conference’s host, the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) in Bangkok, specifically its business school. They were received by Dr Asda Chintakananda, the current Director of NIDA’s PhD programs and Director of the Management Insight Laboratory.
The team toured NIDA’s museum, gaining insights into the history, vision, and future direction of the 60-year old institution. Following the tour, discussions ensued regarding various applications of neuroscience in business and research, thereby establishing the foundation for potential collaboration and support on future innovative research utilizing neuroscience technologies. By the late afternoon, the team joined the pre-conference networking event in the hotel where they met other participants to share insights and possible research collaborations.
The first day of the conference discussed the current global disorder and the application of various international business theories, strategic management theories, organization theories, and political theories to frame geo-political solutions. It emphasized the importance of new business intelligences for business leaders to navigate these challenging times.
Dean Roberto Galang, alongside other directors and deans of Asian business schools, elaborated on the role of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business in business education within the Asia Pacific, including context on Ateneo JGSOM’s strategic objectives, societal role in the Philippines, and future plans. The subsequent plenary session covered geopolitical issues in Southeast Asia, strategic shifts, and resilience for multinational companies in the region, as well as the tariff war between global business leaders and its impact on the Southeast Asian market.
By the afternoon of the first day, the conference transitioned to paper and poster presentations, enabling scholarly discussions among participants.
Dr Emmanuel Zara Jr presented on leaders with a mindfulness practice, Dr Joseph dela Cruz discussed how active theater involvement fosters leadership, Dean Roberto Galang examined politician-owned enterprises, Huoge Zhao analyzed the impact of quiet quitting leaders on team motivation, and Dr Helen Amante shared her collaborative research with Dr Pilar Tolentino and Dr Emerald Jay Ilac on the application of artificial intelligence in public governance leadership. Additionally, Dr Melissa Reyes and Dr Alvin Patrick Valentin presented their posters on Filipino local government leaders’ experiences during COVID-19 and predicting the use of repurposed secondary packaging, respectively.
The day concluded with a gala dinner and cultural performance.
The exchange of insights continued into the second day of presentations, during which the Ateneo team attended sessions by various practitioners and scholars who discussed trends and topics in business research at both local and global levels. This event also provided an opportunity for Ateneo alumni to share their perspectives on business and leadership. The final day of the conference was held at NIDA, featuring a doctoral consortium designed to assist current Ph.D. students in developing their research for publication. The conference ended with the ceremonial passing of the baton to the next venue for the AAOM Conference in 2026 to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam.
