'Culture Is Authentic; It Cannot Be Fast-tracked.'

Since 1910, Insular Life has protected and served the people of the Philippines through war, natural disasters and economic downturns. President and CEO Mona Lisa B de la Cruz shares the lessons learned and plans for another successful 100 years ahead.

- Holly Johnson

 Coming from a family known for their commitment and service to their native Philippines, Mona Lisa B de la Cruz developed a love for mathematics from a young age. “My mother had a friend who was Chief Actuary of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). She was well-respected, intelligent, rich and pretty – so naturally, my mother wanted me to be an actuary,” she laughs. “What matters most to me, however, is that I make the best of my God-given talents to contribute value.”

Following her bachelor’s degree in statistics, Lisa completed her master’s in mathematics majoring in actuarial science. “As a government scholar, originally my plan was to become an actuary for GSIS as a way of giving back to the Filipino people. But as fate would have it, I ended up at the biggest Filipino life insurance company in the country. I came to Insular Life fresh from school, armed with a lot of idealism as to how I could contribute. I actually began my journey at the company as a Technical Assistant, but I soon earned professional recognition as a Fellow of the Actuarial Society of the Philippines and an Associate of the US Society of Actuaries.”