Shirley Sablan is NMI’s first Maga’haga Award recipient

Behind every successful woman is an understanding and supportive husband and that seems to be the case for Shirley Ann Tudela Sablan, the 2014 recipient of the First Hawaiian Bank and Guam Business Magazine Businesswoman of the Year at the 9th Annual Maga’haga Award Gala on April 26.

Sablan, the executive vice president and general manager of Pacific Insurance Underwriters Inc., said she’s very lucky she wasn’t born in the medieval ages when women did not have the same opportunities they do today and more fortunate that she’s married to Jason Tenorio Sablan who stands by her side even through the roughest of times. Mr. Sablan is the grandson of Jose C. Tenorio (Joeten) and an executive at Joeten Development, Inc.

“My husband and I are very young and have been influenced by modern concepts but our relationship is still very traditional. He is still the head of our household. But we’re not living in the early 1900s. My husband is a very intelligent man and he understands I’m very ambitious. There was a time when he told me, ‘Shirl, I didn’t marry you because you knew how to cook.’ He said he married me because I’m very ambitious.”

Sablan said that husbands must understand that women also have to fulfill personal goals and dreams.

“As long as women still take care of their household responsibilities, it’s OK. It’s OK to go out and fulfill your dreams, work, and be a part of the workforce and business community. I’m not a perfect housewife, I’m not a perfect mother, I’m not perfect in my profession, but then again, no one is. As long as you are passionate about what you do, exhaust all options, and give your 110 percent, which will never be perfect, that’s the most important.”

Surprise accolade

Sablan said she was caught totally off-guard when she won the prestigious Businesswoman of the Year award at the 9th Annual Maga’haga Award Gala last month in Guam.

“I was very surprised and I didn’t expect it, obviously. All the other nominees were quite deserving of the award. They were just as intelligent, they all have years of experience under their belts, and they are all leaders in their industries and in their communities. I really felt [the winner] could’ve been any one of us.”

Sablan was selected from 10 nominees in this year’s annual award program, which recognizes businesswomen who have made significant contributions to their industries and have demonstrated a strong commitment to their community. She is featured in a commissioned photo study on the cover of Guam Business Magazine May-June issue, which was released at the gala.

The mother of six said she was actually content with just being nominated for the award and gave credit to past nominees from the CNMI, namely Marcia Ayuyu of McDonald’s Saipan, Laila Boyer of Marianas Variety, and Vicky Benavente of Pacific Islands Club of Saipan, for paving the way for her.

Winning the award wouldn’t also have been possible without her support system, Sablan said, which includes her family, friends, co-workers, Norman Tenorio, and above all, God.

“I owe this award to my supportive family, especially my husband and of course my children, who drive me everyday to work hard and aim high. My parents and my parents-in-law have also been instrumental in the care of my children and in guiding me throughout both my personal and professional endeavors. My mother-in-law is relentless in tutoring my children every after school to ensure academic success. My mom is always there to take my children to their appointments whenever I wasn’t able. My siblings and my friends are always rooting for me in everything I do. Norman Tenorio and my other co-workers make for the best team. Without a really good support system, this wouldn’t be possible. No one can achieve anything without a good support system.”

Sablan, who is first person from the CNMI to win the award, also dedicated her achievement not only to the people of the Commonwealth but also to everyone in Guam as the “award not only represents the CNMI but the entire Marianas.”

Early start

The alumnus of Northern Marianas Academy got an early apprenticeship in business as she helped her parents run a small business in the 1990s.

Sablan said her father, retired Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director Roman Tudela and mother, Annie, set up Tudela Enterprise—which was into retail, wholesale, and a beauty parlor—to keep themselves busy after retiring from government.

Little did they know that the retail and wholesale business planted the seed that, in 20 or so years later, would produce a successful businesswoman.

“During my teens, I was already exposed to many aspects of the business. My parents pretty much allowed me to trip and fall and make mistakes in order to learn right from wrong. I helped them with their business day in and day out every single day of the week. I sacrificed hanging out with friends and party life for them. But this was how I developed discipline and a good work ethic. I was exposed to business challenges before I left for college, so what I have in front of me today is just a larger scale.”

Sablan also gave credit to her mother-in-law, Annie Tenorio Sablan, the wife of former lieutenant governor Jesus Sablan, for further honing her business acumen.

“After college I moved back [to Saipan] and started working for Joeten immediately. One of my mentors was my mother-in-law, Annie Sablan. She taught me countless things about business and has guided me throughout my experience in retail.”

Inspiration

Sablan hopes that by winning the prestigious Businesswomen of the Year award she becomes an inspiration to other women who want to succeed not only in business but also in life in general.

“Even though we see a lot of successful women out there, in most industries men still dominate the executive-level positions and even in politics. No matter how we feel about inequality, at least we’re [gaining] some headway. That’s really important and for me I give credit to the men in the past who’ve supported women and the men of today who continue to support women.”

She also extended her kudos to First Hawaiian Bank and Guam Business Magazine, particularly Maureen Maratita, who masterminded this program, for organizing the annual Maga’haga Award Gala.

“I commend their ongoing support to this very prestigious program that not only recognizes women leaders but also designed to where all the proceeds go toward scholarships for eligible students who attend local colleges like the Guam Community College, University of Guam, and the Northern Marianas College. I encourage other businesses to do the same and give back whatever they can afford.”

Sablan graduated from Chaminade University of Honolulu, Hawaii, with a Master in Business Administration with concentration in marketing and human resources management. Her community involvements include serving as vice president of the Northern Marianas Insurance Association, community events director of Stellar Marianas, among others.

Jason and Shirley Sablan have six children—Annabelle, 13; Jon Paul, 12; Jason, 10; Jesus, 8; Soledad, 6; and Jose, 3.