The outsourcing industry was one of the few sectors that continued to operate throughout the entirety of the lockdown designed to contain coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Much of the industry moved their operations to work from home, creating new challenges when it comes to mental health. Professional isolation is the bane of telecommuters, while those who have to show up on-site—to address cybersecurity needs that aren’t supported by home-based work—have to deal with the anxiety of possibly getting infected with the COVID-19 virus.

Mirei G. Magallona, country vice-president of Telus International Philippines, tells BusinessWorld reporter Jenina P. Ibañez how the outsourcing industry is dealing with these challenges and what the firm is doing to help its workforce.

This B-Side was recorded remotely on Feb. 18. Produced by Paolo L. Lopez and Sam L. Marcelo.

The tourism and hospitality industry is focusing on the domestic market since pandemic-related restrictions have hamstrung international travel. While the Philippines waits for vaccines, hotel operators—and other stakeholders—are finding ways to assure people that it's safe to venture out. "We're still hopeful that we can rely on local travel but it will take time. We need to get people back on their feet," Cinty R. Yniguez, director of sales and marketing at Seda Vertis North, tells former BusinessWorld senior reporter Zsarlene B. Chua. "A lot of destinations have been successful at reeling in travelers and [helping them] surpass their anxiety and paranoia."

This B-Side episode was recorded remotely on Feb. 2, 2021. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.

The pandemic is changing the way we design our world and the way we move around in it.

"If you're creating a journey from home to destination, then obviously everything you touch and interact with is design," said Paul D. Priestman, founder and chair of PriestmanGoode, a design consultancy out of the United Kingdom that counts Airbus SE, Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway, and Transport for London as its clients. 

"Good design is not an add-on but a crucial part of what makes a business successful," he tells BusinessWorld reporter Patricia B. Mirasol. "When used effectively, it can make a massive difference to any business."

Recorded remotely on Jan. 13. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.

Because of GameStop Corp.'s wild roller coaster ride on the New York Stock Exchange, people have been talking about retail investing and how social media is changing the game. 

The video game retailer's stock price hit a high of $483 in what has been framed as a battle between "the little guys" of Reddit against the suits of Wall Street who had heavily shorted GameStop shares. 

"Whatever it is you are doing, you have to know the rules of the game—how it should really be done," said Edward K. Lee, chairman and founder of COL Financial Group, Inc., who warned against "the madness of the crowd."

In this episode of B-Side, Mr. Lee speaks with BusinessWorld reporter Revin Mikhael D. Ochave about short selling, GameStop shares, and the Philippine stock market. 

This B-Side episode was recorded remotely on Feb. 2. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.

Carvey Ehren R. Maigue, an electrical engineering student at Mapua University, invented a plastic-like material that makes renewable energy from rotting fruits and vegetables. His invention won the first James Dyson Award for Sustainability in 2020, beating a record 1,800 entries from around the world. And now he’s fielding inquiries from electric car manufacturers who are interested in his technology. Mr. Maigue’s story is about persistence. He first joined the James Dyson Award in 2018 and didn’t even make it past the national level.  In this episode B-Side, he talks to BusinessWorld reporter Patricia B. Mirasol about his company, AuREUS System Technology, and the commercial applications of his invention.  “You can think small and come up with something big,” said Mr. Maigue. “You do not need to solve a problem for the world. [Your solution] can be for a person that, for you, means the world.”

Charter change (cha-cha) is once again alive in Congress. Although business groups support the initiative to liberalize the economy, they say that amending the Constitution 15 months before the national elections will only be “divisive.”

Lawmakers, they added, should instead focus on passing pending measures reforming the country’s existing economic policies while the country is in the middle of a pandemic.

In this episode of B-Side, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo A. Garbin, Jr.,—chairman of the committee on constitutional amendments—speaks with BusinessWorld reporter Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza about the resolution filed by House Speaker Lord Allan Q. Velasco in 2019, which seeks to amend the “restrictive” economic provisions of the Constitution that bar foreign investors from owning more than 40% of certain industries. 

Only 3% of invested dollars went to female-only founders in 2019. That percentage hasn’t changed since 2010, according to a Crunchbase report on gender disparity in startup funding.

In 2010, female-only founded companies raised a billion dollars; their male-only counterparts raised $31 billion. In 2019, female-only founded companies raised $6 billion dollars; their male counterparts, $195 billion.

In this episode of B-Side, Nicole Denholder, founder and CEO of Next Chapter Raise, tells BusinessWorld reporter Patricia B. Mirasol why gender disparity in funding exists and what women entrepreneurs—and the business community at large—can do about it.

Next Chapter Raise is a funding ecosystem based in Asia with one mission: to get female founders funded faster. 

This B-Side episode was recorded remotely on Dec. 16, 2021.

Everybody loves a comeback story, where the underdog—beaten and bruised—wins it all despite the odds. The sports industry has to recover from a year that saw tournaments canceled and stadiums silent and empty. In this B-Side episode, Rely San Agustin, a sports marketing professional who has been in the industry for more than 20 years, tells BusinessWorld reporter Michael Angelo S. Murillo how sports stakeholders are dealing with the harsh reality that getting fans back into the stands will take time. “A bubble setup makes sense,” said Mr. San Agustin. “Seclusion is needed. You really have to control movement in and out of the venues.”

Jeremy Meltzer, founder of cause marketing platform i=Change, tells BusinessWorld reporter Patricia B. Mirasol how brands and consumers can make a difference, a dollar a time.

"Cause marketing" is a term coined in 1983 by American Express to describe its campaign to raise money for the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. American Express donated one cent toward restoring the statue every time someone used its charge card. As a result, the Restoration Fund raised over $1.7 million.

Businesses on i=Change give back a dollar to a specific cause with every sale they make. "Customers understand what a dollar is," Mr. Meltzer said. "It's more understandable than "'we give back 1% of our profit to charity.'" 

He added: "Don't think about how clever you can be. Think about how authentic you can impart your message to your customers."

Recorded remotely on October 30. Produced by Nina M. Diaz, Paolo L. Lopez, and Sam L. Marcelo.

The disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic to global supply chains were unexpected.  

“This has really been one of the most challenging times … in all walks of life,” said Chris Buono, managing director of UPS Philippines, who has been in the industry for 18 years.

UPS is one of several logistics groups tasked with delivering billions of coronavirus vaccine doses to the world. On top of that, it’s the holiday season and packages have to be delivered. 

For the logistics industry, the new normal means operating in a peak-like environment for the entire year.

In this episode of B-Side, Mr. Buono speaks with BusinessWorld senior reporter Arjay L. Balinbin, and takes stock of this year against the backdrop of the ongoing health crisis.