CEO Insights Magazine

This is a tale of resilience and the power of remote work in a world where an evolving workforce has become a buzzword. It all began in early 2014 when Chrissa Beth Ranis entered the Virtual Assistance industry and explored the flexibility & convenience of remote work, at a time when Remote Staffing was a nascent concept.

She started as a Senior Account Manager in one of the pioneering Virtual Assistance companies , and from there, gained invaluable insights into the workings of the industry, preparing her for the future. Fast forward March 2020, in the height of the global pandemic and unprecedented economic mupheaval, widespread job loss and company closures, she found an opportunity to rise from the crisis and recognized the potential for entrepreneurial endeavours amidst adversity. So, in July 2020, together with her US partners, the Team launched My Mountain Mover.

CEO Insights Asia engages in an interview to deduce more about her as a COO & leader.

How would you define My Mountain Mover as an organization?

My Mountain Mover is a leading remote staffing company that provides exceptional quality and care, especially to clients in the healthcare industry. We have quickly gained a competitive advantage in the market and have received outstanding reviews from our clients, earning us a perfect 5 out of 5 client reviews and 5 out of 5 BBB reviews. With over 500 virtual assistants currently on our team, we have set our sights on doubling that number by 2025 to meet the growing demand for work-from-home setups in the labour force. Our success is a testament to the shifts in the industry and the trust that our clients have placed in us. Despite only starting in 2020, we have made significant progress and are well on our way to achieving our goals.

Tell us about your flagship offerings and value additions.

We offer our clients a complete end-to-end solution that goes beyond just providing expert-level virtual assistants. Our commitment to ensuring long-term client and VA success is reflected in our full-service support, which includes vetting, training, hiring, technical setup, onboarding, and accountability management. To achieve this, we use a unique tool called the 'Talent Profile,' which has been highly effective in matching clients with the most suitable virtual assistant for the role. We remain fully engaged throughout the intake process to ensure that our clients find the right fit for their company needs. I am also proud to say that we have built a work culture where work-life balance, integrity, christcenterdness, loyalty and family-oriented traits are a norm. By ensuring that these values are imparted to our virtual assistants, we have built a strong and healthy support system that has kept them motivated, and passionate about providing quality service and delivering top-notch performance.

What is your approach to leadership?

According to personality tests, I am an ENFJ, a protagonist personality type that is often associated with born leadership. Additionally, in the DISC Assessment, I was categorized as a Planner, which is why I always look for ways to take charge and be a step ahead in my game.

I pride myself on my ability to adapt my approach to different individuals and empower them while staying true to my visionary and mentoring nature. While my default leadership style is authoritative, I also strive to be democratic, empowering my team members and adapting to their needs. To be an effective leader, I believe in taking on tasks where I can give the most value and focus on my strengths while strategically leveraging my weaknesses. I also believe that a good organizational leader is highly systematic. At My Mountain Mover, we use the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to ensure we have a systematic strategy in running our operations.

What is the future destination you are heading towards?

Any great destination often involves a leap of faith. The path we are heading towards at My Mountain Mover is one of growth, retention, and global expansion. Despite starting during the height of the pandemic, we have remained disciplined in our pursuit of success, matching clients with the best virtual assistants and providing top-notch support. Our focus on quality has allowed us to retain happy clients and attract new ones, and we are committed to continuing this trend. As we move forward, we are also exploring opportunities to expand into other countries and bring our exceptional services to a broader audience. We are confident that our hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to excellence will lead us to our desired destination.

What advice would you give to budding industry leaders?

As a leader, I value the seven characteristics discussed in John Maxwell's book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, which include character, relationships, knowledge, intuition, experience, past success, and ability. As someone who wears many hats as a businesswoman, wife, and mother, I understand the importance of balancing personal and professional commitments. I obtained my certificate in Strategy Execution for Executives from Harvard Business School Online, among other courses, to continually improve my knowledge and stay ahead of industry trends. In our industry serving high-profile clients in healthcare, we prioritize process and compliance to stay competitive amidst external threats like recession, AI advancement replacing humans, and policy changes. Leaders should focus on developing their personal traits and constantly improving their skills, remain vigilant about industry trends and threats, and strive to always serve their community and organization from the heart.

Chrissa Beth Bantugan-Ranis, Chief Operating Officer, My Mountain Mover

Chrissa is a graduate of the University of the Philippines and has completed various executive education programs, including the Strategy Execution for Executives certificate from Harvard Business School. In addition to her professional achievements, Chrissa is an active advocate for various causes. She served as the 11^th president of JCI Boholana Kisses, a socio-civic organization in Bohol, Philippines.