Stepping through the revolving doors and into the elegant lobby of China World Hotel in Beijing can be awesome even for experienced travelers. From the twinkling chandeliers, to the intricately decorated walls everything comes together in an experience only this 5-star hotel can offer.

A great hotel gets noticed but making sure it does is Diane Fermin-Roeder’s job. As communications director for China World Hotel, she ensures that all its publicity is in line with its branding. They call her the Brand Nazi, but the moniker is a hint of how well she does her job. After all, it’s her commitment to quality and attention to detail that make dignitaries and world leaders consistently choose to stay at China World Hotel.

One Saturday, this Pinay proudly making waves in the international hotel industry graciously welcomed 34 Gokongwei Brothers Foundation Scholars—young Filipino leaders on a language and leadership scholarship program in Beijing—to her world-renowned workplace. She spoke candidly of her experiences and the lessons she’s picked up on her way to the top—how she broke into the global arena, what working in China’s booming hotel industry is like, the challenges she has encountered and how she overcame them all.

On working abroad and dealing with racial prejudice

As someone who has worked in many countries, Diane knows better than to get too comfortable with the trappings of expatriate life. Localization is a trend everywhere and foreigners are the first ones to go as industries start to localize. “At the end of the day, you are only a visitor,” she says.

Neither has sharp and talented Diane been spared the domestic helper/entertainer stereotype attached to Filipinas working abroad. She tells the story of a small dinner party with some of her colleagues and peers from all over the world, where her American host did a double-take upon hearing her introduce herself as a Filipina. The host looked at her in bewilderment, then at the Filipina household help serving their meal, and back again.

In a situation like this, she advises only one thing: roll with the punches. Astound them with your intelligence, wit and humor. Overcompensate with courtesy and kindness. Getting angry or retaliating might feel good for a moment but handling the situation with grace is what will knock them off their feet. As she puts it, “you will definitely earn more respect with an unexpectedly gracious response.”

On how to compete globally

Having studied in New York and worked in the Philippines and the USA, Hong Kong and China, Diane knows just how competitive the global arena is. Her experiences abroad allowed her to leave this pearl of wisdom to her rapt audience of young Pinoys just raring to make their mark: “Before you go on to be globally competitive, we must all first be globally competent as Filipinos.” Filipinos must be ready to take action and do it well, she said.

There are a lot of things that need to be improved in the Philippine tourism industry today, for instance. With globalization, resorts in Cebu and Boracay must now compete with resorts in Phuket and Bali. It is no longer enough to be at par with the neighboring resort’ one must be at par with resorts an ocean away. One must work with a bigger goal – to see what will work for and help our country. As Filipinos in the global arena, we must shy away from narrow-mindedness and take on a global mindset.

Paying it forward

When asked why she spared 4 hours of her time to sit down and chat with a group of scholars from the Philippines, Diane said it was all about paying it forward. She told another story from when she was working for her MBA in New York. Her savings were not quite enough to cover her tuition, board, and lodging and she had no choice but to apply for a student loan—only to cancel it later, thanks to a Filipino friend also working in New York. He offered to loan her tuition money and pay him back only when she was able. Her benefactor was also paying forward acts of kindness done to him in the past.

Diane accepted the young scholars’ invitation as a way of continuing the chain of paying it forward. She said she hoped they would learn from her insights and experiences, apply them in their own lives and pay it forward when the time comes.

On an ordinary Saturday morning, 34 young Filipinos had come face to face with a woman of faith and action, who exudes unmistakable confidence but also genuine humility. At the end of her talk, everyone was in awe of this brilliant Filipina, who is simply a cut above the rest. More than her accomplishments and grasp of the technical aspect of her job, her strength of character and convictions are admirable.

But what is most striking was how that simple interaction saw 34 young Filipino leaders going home believing they too could take on whatever challenges come their way, a renewed passion to create great destinies for themselves, and a sense of hope and faith in the future, not just theirs but their nation’s.