Irma L., Area Coach Philippines. Franchise Org. PPI Holdings Inc.
A few months ago, we celebrated the top 200+, Best of the Best Restaurant General Managers and Area Coaches from around the world with a celebratory trip to Hawaii — we call it Golden Bell. Learn more about the program and winners below!
Irma L., Area Coach for Taco Bell Philippines was one of the first international Area Coaches to attend Golden Bell this year! Her journey to this moment was not short of hard work, determination, and ambition.
“Growing up in the Philippines, I was always drawn to taking initiative. I started working part-time jobs as soon as I was old enough; everything from helping small family businesses to working while studying computer programming. These early experiences taught me how to manage my time, take responsibility, and understand the value of earning and contributing. Even though I was not able to pursue computer programming professionally, I ended up discovering a genuine passion and sense of purpose working in the food industry!”
Irma started her 17-year long career with Taco Bell as a Restaurant General Manager (RGM). Now, she sits as the sole Area Coach in the Philippines, overseeing all restaurants in the country.
“As the Area Coach for all Taco Bell restaurants in the Philippines, I hold full accountability for the operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and team performance across all locations under my leadership. At the same time, I’ve found myself acting a mother-figure to my teams...guiding, nurturing, and encouraging them to take on challenges, support them and develop them into capable professionals from the ground up.”
Enter Golden Bell! Irma always made sure that all restaurants under her supervision were high performing, which is a requirement for Golden Bell. But she didn’t think much about the program since it was mainly for Restaurant General Managers. Then one day, she got an email!
“To be honest, I was genuinely surprised by the recognition as my primary focus has always been on empowering my Restaurant General Managers to succeed, not seeking accolades for myself. Then, out of nowhere, I received an email informing me that I’d been selected as one of the Area Coaches to attend Golden Bell, with my name on the APAC (Asia-Pacific) winner list. I was so shocked and happy!”
The rest was history! Irma attended Golden Bell in Hawaii and had the time for her life.
“It was an amazing experience— the breathtaking beaches, lush landscapes, and vibrant culture in Hawaii were truly unforgettable! No words can fully express how deeply grateful I am for this recognition. I sincerely appreciate the support and trust of my company, PPI Holdings Inc., for their unwavering support and for providing me with the opportunity to attend this recognition event. Their encouragement has been invaluable throughout my journey.”
For those who’ve never been to Golden Bell but want to set out on this path, Irma suggests the following:
“With courage and unwavering dedication, nothing is beyond your reach. Hard work will undoubtedly lead you to success!”
If you’re interested in learning more about Golden Bell, check out this year’s recap here.