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As the winner of Optimal Me, I'm truly honored to share my journey and express my heartfelt appreciation. A special shout-out to Ate Cha, my amazing coach, whose guidance and support have been instrumental in shaping my path towards embracing our values. With Ate Cha's unwavering encouragement, I've learned the power of being present, taking on challenges with resilience, and the art of recovery. She has been a beacon of inspiration, leading by example and showcasing the true essence of living our values. Let me take you to a moment where, through my eyes, Ate Cha's impact radiated. She emphasized the importance of staying focused on our goals, maintaining clear communication within the team, and adapting to changes with resilience. Her advice centered around the idea that challenges are opportunities for growth and that by working together collaboratively, we could overcome any obstacle. I took her advice to heart by leading the team with a renewed sense of determination and optimism. I ensured that communication lines were open, encouraged team members to share their concerns and ideas, and fostered a supportive environment where everyone felt empowered to contribute their best efforts. That having errors is not the end of the world, but must use this to do better and moving forward to not repeat this situations again. In utilizing Ate Cha's guidance, I navigated the challenges of the project with grace and confidence, ultimately leading to its successful completion and strengthening the bond within the team and to our partner. Ate Cha, you've not only inspired me but have left an indelible mark on our teams and partners. Your leadership has become a guiding light, reminding us all of the importance of resilience, presence, and the strength found in our shared values. Here's to continuous growth, gratitude, and the incredible journey ahead!

It is indeed true that being on unfamiliar path leads you to a new journey that will give you a wide range of opportunities. When I was first informed that I would be working with a law firm in Australia, I got overwhelmed, as this would be my first time working in that kind of industry.I have some thoughts in my mind on how I will be working with them, the tasks that I will be doing, and how I will apply all my skills in terms of marketing. When the day comes and I meet some of the partners, I am very surprised, as they are not what I expected. They are very welcoming and had an instant warmth that I felt. During my discussion with them, I felt a sincere and positive energy in the air that fosters a sense of belonging, even if I am just an offshore employee for them. The first few months of dealing with them have been a challenging part for me, as I still have a lot to learn, especially about the processes and the setup that they have. I have also mentioned to them that this is my first time working with a law firm, and I am very glad that they are very patient and kind to me while I am still training with them. Dealing with different people inside the firm is both thrilling and exciting, since I get a chance to collaborate, help, and assist them in different areas. I also learned a lot from them, which is really helpful for me as I navigate my career in their industry. I remember when they requested a design task from me on how we would execute a diagram that had a lot of details and content. Creating the diagram proved to be an unexpectedly challenging yet rewarding endeavor. Despite encountering obstacles throughout the process, our determination and creativity prevailed. Through open communication and understanding feedback as a room for improvement, we navigated a refining approach towards collaborating with our partner. Fostering a positive and productive relationship with our partner requires a combination of communication, trust, continuous improvement, understanding their goals, and delivering exceptional output. By implementing these strategies, I can say that we can cultivate a strong, positive, and mutually beneficial relationship with our partner. The most rewarding part of working with them is being able to help them with their goals. I remember when they requested for me to create an urgent presentation for an upcoming event and I did it for only a few amount of time with minimal revisions. After I sent it, I receive a feedback coming from them saying that I did a good job on the tasks as it help them to execute the webinar smoothly and for helping them to finish the presentation which are one of the most important things to get completed for that event. Witnessing how our collaboration has helped them achieve their goals and seeing tangible results, whether it's increased efficiency or revenue growth. Receiving feedbacks, may it be good or a room for improvement is helpful for me as I navigate my journey at their firm and it really helped me to unleash my potential. The relationship that I am building with our partner is continuous, and being able to work with them has been an invaluable journey. I can't wait to have more collaborations and productive discussions with them.

When Whale logistics Australia was a startup, managing director and founder Ryan Cummings was left with a decision to make. Scale up purely in Australia or build a team extension model across Australia and the Philippines. ‘The answer was simple’ Cummings said ‘we started with 2 roles in Manila and haven’t looked back. The depth of talent in the Philippines market, the proximity to Australia, the language skills, it just ticked so many boxes’. As Whale grew, so did the WHAM (Whale Manila) team with roles now spanning finance, procurement, pricing, operations and customs clearance. They now have a team of 20 in the Philippines working across all elements of the freight forwarding back office. ‘Offshoring brings so many benefits to a business but one that is huge for us is the infrastructure side. If we had that 20- person team in Sydney I would need twice the office space, PC’s and laptops, phones, twice the HR and payroll processing, the legal support. It just gives you such an operational advantage’ said Cummings. ‘What it also now means is that we have redefined the types of roles we do in different locations. In Australia for example it is more client and sales focused with of course our senior leadership layer whereas the WHAM team are our subject matter experts across process and control. It truly is one team across two locations, run the same we would between say, a Sydney and Melbourne office’. While some offshore structures can be very hands off with a real on/offshore feel, Cummings is quick to point out that central to Whale’s model is the commitment on both sides to foster a team extension environment. ‘We put a lot of work into it. From the daily operational connect points through to jointly running things like steptember and other engagement initiatives across both sites. We bring 6 or 7 of the Manila team to Australia each year and our own staff are regularly in the Philippines, it’s the only way to do it.  There are no shortcuts to building trust and nurturing relationships and this is why the Whale and Cooee partnership has been such a success’.

On Friday 12th April, our CEO Kris had the honour of attending the Australian Small Business Champion Awards at the Star Casino in Sydney. Spread over 2 nights, the awards are the flagship program for recognising small business in Australia. Proudly sitting alongside the Bluetongue team whom Cooee have been partnered with for 5 years, the table erupted when Bluetongue was announced as the 2024 Australian small business champion in the transport and logistics category. ‘It’s been a great journey with the Bluetongue team’ said Kris. ‘When they started their offshore journey, they were a team of 4 in Sydney. They are now triple that with teams across Australia and of course, the Philippines. It just goes to show the power of the model and the incredible opportunity for small to medium-sized businesses’.

Each time our CEO Kris is in the Philippines he runs a session for our new joiners (Cooee nooees) called ‘Australian culture and geography’ which he describes as ‘fun’ but also important as you step into a role managing international stakeholders. ‘I started this session because firstly, there is a lot of unpack with us Aussies – words we use, abbreviations and unique sayings but when you work in an offshore team extension model it’s also about helping understand the different work styles and therefore, expectations. Kris recalls running similar sessions while at Deutsche Bank Manila. ‘That would have been back in 2008/09, the early days of offshoring and it’s no different now, if anything it’s a ‘must have’ as the world becomes more deeply connected. The session begins with some basic geography (states, cities) and history followed by a ‘speak aussie’ game where the nooees have to guess what a certain ‘aussie’ word actually is. ‘This is the fun part’ he says. ‘Snags (sausages), bowlo (bowling club), Mozzie (Mosquito) are just a few of the examples he uses. He then switches to the topic of stakeholder management which Kris says, ‘is really the most vital part of the session’. ‘We work with SME’s of varying sizes but whether its our client base or you are with a huge multinational with thousands of staff, the success of the outsourcing model revolves around building trust and maintaining that relationship and from 5000km away its vital we do that day in day out. This session is about helping our guys on that journey as they work alongside international businesses’.

Towards the end of the 3rd quarter of 2021, the Leadership Team started talking about how to handle better several of the IT issues we had. On one hand, we aim to have a production that is undisrupted by any system issue. On the other hand, we always want to keep away from the dreaded IT issue escalation from any client. At that point, the initial IT issues escalation matrix was drafted and it went thru several discussions on how to improve it. One of the initial ideas was having a chat station or a chat desk that would be interactive in providing the info on managing IT issues. We initially thought it is a simple FAQ project where we simply build a table that maps corresponding responses to every IT issue. But as it turned out, we discovered it involved machine learning. Machine learning or ML is not something new. It has been there since the 1950's when an IBM programmer built a checker game that got better as it faced more opponents. However it's has been only used widely by major companies starting 2010. Somehow I felt it's still something unexplored by most. And you may not know it but you may already be using it every time you say, “Alexa, play Spotify.” or “Siri, tell me a joke.” When you watch Netflix, you would be amazed at the recommendations that it's already giving you. That is machine learning. Back to the project, the Imagineer team started to spend time to learn about how we can set-up the machine learning with the chat application we’re using, Webex. After about two weeks of back-and-forth discussion and video calls with the Google Cloud team, we were able to establish the connection between Webex and the Google platform we’re using, Dialogflow and complete the set-up. The next phase was the training phase. The first time the team introduced the Cooee chatbot to the Leadership Team, it only knew how to respond properly when you said, “Hi” or “Hello”. After that, it does a loop of asking you, “Say that again?” or “One more time?”. As of today, the Cooee chatbot knows about 50+ intents or categories of conversation, about 150 scenarios of a conversation and about 700plus training phrases. Why do we do what we do? From the business side of things, here are some points. Economies of scale: As it has been so since start of last year, Cooee Inc. is expanding. The company is growing. We want to ensure that the level of IT support or coverage is still there 100%, despite the small IT team we have for now. With this chatbot, basic queries are addressed and we ensure that there is no bottleneck with those queries. Everyone can ask the chatbot at the same time and it will still be able answer everyone at once. This ML tool captures data and it captures all queries so that in the long run, this tool would be able to give us insights on the kind of issues we are experiencing therefore bringing us to better directions, better business decisions. From the employee or user’s perspective, here are some benefits. Cooee iTee can be your personal assistant. It is the little far cousin of Alexa or Siri. If you're searching for answers for your whole life, i.e. IT related ones, the Cooee iTee is there to give you answers. The tool is available 24/7. Solutions or answers are customized according to Cooee’s needs and values, because this chatbot is trained by Cooee, by everyone who took time to drop the bot several test messages during the testing phase.

Great IT services are necessary to keep our operations running at peak performance. Our IT Team manages various tasks and one of these daily activities is to check the latest IT trends related to our software. This allows us to be abreast of the recent technology and development. While doing this task, we caught several news where we were encouraged to safeguard our network and asset. Although Cooee has their own antivirus software, the Windows Defender Antivirus, some cases of virus such as this server breach, requires a greater amount of security to remove. Our immediate response to this is to perform a monthly health check on all our devices for a server hack prevention. This monthly PC health checkup inspects for any security vulnerabilities, removal of unnecessary applications, increases system performance, and helps protect your network and resource’s privacy as well. Doing this brings us up-to-date information on your device well-being, thus, helping us take steps to enhance our device performance and troubleshoot performance difficulties. Included in the pc health inspection is scanning using Malwarebytes. This application is employed to detect unknown viruses and hackers who wants to steal the company’s credential files. Before, our IT team would schedule a session with each of us to perform health PC checkups and scan. But we are now moving into a self-service state where everyone is encouraged to perform a timely scan on their devices and provide a screenshot once done. In doing so, we eliminate the need to schedule individual meetings for the device scan, thus, we can be more efficient and focused on our productivity To help facilitate this, our team has provided a way to schedule the scanning of your device, enabling the Malwarebytes app to automatically open and all you have to do is to press the Scan button to start the health checkup on your device.

We celebrate you for sparking connection, enkindling joy, and igniting "One Cooee". We all know the pandemic has prompted the emergence of remote working. With its people's health and well-being as a top priority, Cooee Inc adapted to the "new normal" by offering work from home as an option for all staff. While our office in Makati remains operational, we do have a large population of the Cooee team who continue to work from home. Thus, last year we created the Cooee Engagement Team. Nine people from across the business joined to brainstorm on a common goal - to ensure we remain connected and engaged. TRIVIA GAME! 16 get-to-know questions about Cooee Engagement Team! Let's watch this video.

‘Walk the Cooee Way’ award is an invitation to and a celebration of living our Cooee values… Living our Cooee value of authenticity is about staying true to our own values and purpose especially when it’s hardest. It’s about checking-in to see that our own values and purpose align with that of Cooee’s and if not, putting in the work to find that place of alignment. Living our Cooee value of empathy is about investing in relationships where trust is given rather than earned, where listening leans on curiosity rather than on judgment so that we may discover and appreciate the person we are and the person we can be. Living our Cooee value of believing in potential is about the practice of healthy striving with the understanding that perfection does not exist.

Our ‘Optimal Me’ award celebrates a Cooee Coaching relationship that has made inroads in a Cooee Coachee’s journey towards sustainable behavioral change. It is a journey of making conversations count… A conversation with one’s self because we believe that the most important voice is the one you have inside you. On this journey to honing one’s mental skills and psychological framework, we must put in the work to master the quality of our thoughts. A conversation with a Cooee Coach because we believe the journey to ‘Optimal me’ cannot be taken alone. Every Cooee Coach is committed to setting us up with strategies for stepping-out of our comfort zones, investing in disciplined recovery and being deeply focused in the present moment.

“Coaching has really changed me by helping me understand myself better, set clear goals, and figure out practical ways to grow. It keeps me motivated, improves how I make decisions and makes me feel more confident. Overall, coaching is guiding me towards a better version of myself that I can stick with.” (Efraim Espino). It has always been a culture in COOEE to guide each employee to their path of transformation and to help them seek their sole purpose of why they do what they do. In my and Ef’s coaching relationship, it is slightly more than that - a coach learned from his coachee, and a coachee discovered more about himself because of their coaching sessions. After more or less two years of having our coaching sessions, I and Efraim found the perfect formula for finding the most effective way to attain transformation. The first one was the commitment, followed by consistency and evaluation. It has been a roller coaster ride experience for Ef as he witnessed his sunset and sunrise in COOEE. Thanks to his commitment to our coaching conversations, these ups and downs did not affect his mindset toward transformation but rather made him more eager to achieve his optimal self. I would also like to commend his consistency that kept his flame of passion burning and the evaluation we are doing every time our session starts and ends to keep on track to see if the planned actions were effective or not.

Creating a Sleep-Friendly Environment 1. Optimal Room Conditions: Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature (usually between 60-67°F or 15-20°C). Invest in blackout curtains to block out external light and use earplugs or a white noise machine if noise is a problem. 2. Comfortable Bed and Bedding: A comfortable mattress and pillows are crucial for a good night's sleep. Replace your mattress if it is old and invest in pillows that support your sleeping position. Choose comfortable, breathable, and hypoallergenic bedding materials. 3. Clutter-Free Space: Keep your bedroom tidy and clutter-free to promote a sense of calm and relaxation. 4. Limit Screen Time: Avoid screens (phones, tablets, computers, TVs) at least an hour before bedtime. The blue light emitted from screens can disrupt your body's production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. 5. Reduce Light Exposure: Use dim, warm lighting in the evening. Consider using a Himalayan salt lamp or amber bulbs to create a calming ambiance. Winding Down Before Bedtime 1. Establish a Bedtime Routine: Develop a consistent bedtime routine to signal to your body that it's time to wind down. This could include activities like reading, taking a warm bath, or practicing relaxation techniques. 2. Limit Stimulants: Avoid caffeine and nicotine in the hours leading up to bedtime, as they are stimulants that can disrupt sleep. 3. Avoid Heavy Meals: Eat dinner at least two to three hours before bedtime to prevent indigestion and discomfort. 4. Relaxation Techniques: Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or meditation to calm your mind and reduce stress. 5. Limit Fluid Intake: Reduce your fluid intake in the evening to prevent waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. Dealing with Common Sleep Disturbances 1. Insomnia: Maintain a regular sleep schedule and avoid daytime naps. Create a soothing bedtime routine. Limit caffeine and alcohol intake, especially in the evening. 2. Sleep Apnea: Consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment options. Consider lifestyle changes like weight loss and positional therapy. Use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine if prescribed. 3. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): Avoid triggers such as caffeine and alcohol. Implement a consistent sleep schedule. Exercise regularly but not too close to bedtime. 4. Narcolepsy: Consult a sleep specialist for diagnosis and treatment. Take prescribed medications as directed. Schedule short daytime naps to help manage symptoms. 5. Parasomnias: Create a safe sleep environment to prevent injury during sleepwalking or other episodes. Consult a sleep specialist for diagnosis and treatment. 6. Circadian Rhythm Disorders: Gradually adjust your sleep schedule to align with your natural circadian rhythms. Use natural light exposure in the morning and minimize exposure to artificial light in the evening. 7. Nightmares and Night Sweats: Practice relaxation techniques before bedtime to reduce stress and anxiety. Seek professional help if nightmares are frequent and distressing. Ensure your bedroom temperature and bedding are comfortable to prevent night sweats. Remember, addressing sleep disturbances often requires a tailored approach, and consulting a healthcare professional or sleep specialist can provide personalized guidance and treatment options. By creating a sleep-friendly environment and adopting healthy bedtime routines, you can improve your sleep quality and overall well-being.