#MPowered’ to be her best self: Myra Doria
emphasizes the importance of taking risks in leadership, which she has learned
from her early years working at McDonald’s, first as a management trainee at
McDonald’s Pampanga, Philippines and now as
National Field President of McDonald’s USA.
Before assuming the role of National Field President
of McDonald’s USA, Myra Doria worked doubly hard to build a career that began
in the 80s, with grit, passion, and perseverance.
Doria started her professional career at McDonald’s in Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga, in 1985, or known as “Store 005.” 40 years later, her story is an inspiration–a testament to how a young woman
from a small town in the Philippines can earn a
seat at the table of one of the world’s biggest and most loved brands in the
US.
“Standing up here today reminds me of why I got into this business in
the first place, and all the incredible people I’ve met along the way. I’ve
always wanted to come back to the place where I started. It also reminds me of
how far I’ve come and how grateful I am to those who have made my career
possible,” she said during her recent visit to the Philippines to speak at an
operations leadership summit organized by McDonald’s Philippines–which was also a homecoming a long time in the making.
Humble Beginnings
“I was born and raised in Minalin, Pampanga. Ako po ang pinaka matanda sa anim na magkakapatid (I was the eldest in a brood of six),
and early in life my parents instilled in me the importance of being the role
model for my siblings. It is a huge responsibility that I carry with me still
today,” Doria shared.
Working in the palengke (public market) not only honed her
business acumen; it also developed her passion for shoes.
“I’ve come to see my shoes as a sort of metaphor for how
I’ve approached my life and career. When I look at my shoes, I remember my days
working at the flea market and my first days at McDonald’s. It may have been 40
years ago, but I remember the day vividly. I had just graduated from college
when my mom treated me to a meal at McDonald’s. Without me knowing about it,
she asked for a job application and, surprisingly, I was interviewed on the
spot that day,” she shared.
Eleven interviews later, she received a start date for
her management training.
From PH to US
From management trainee in 1985, Doria worked very hard to rise through
the ranks, eventually becoming a successful restaurant manager, committed to the growth of
her team and her restaurant–an empowered woman who also believed in empowering
the people around her.
When she got married, her priorities evolved. Her husband was serving
with the United States Navy stationed in Guam, and she was getting ready to
embark on a new life. She said: “Moving to an entirely new country like the United States was the
greatest change I had ever experienced. The culture was completely new and
foreign to me. In the Philippines, I was called ‘Ma’am Myra.’ In the States, it was just ‘Myra – do this… Myra – do that!’ ”
In the US, she
started building a career at McDonald’s, and although at first she didn’t see a
lot of people who looked or talked like her, she grew as a professional and
eventually as a leader. She said: “I
learned to have the courage to be assertive and create my own seat at the table
and bring my own voice—including my accent.”
She steadily
advanced through the ranks, taking on increasingly prominent roles. Starting as
a business consultant, she progressed to field vice president, then zone
president. In 2023, she was appointed National Field President of McDonald's
USA, playing a critical role in overseeing
14,000 restaurants all over the U.S. and over $56 billion in annual sales, and
empowering more than 1,800 franchisees and 500 company employees.
A Culture of Empowerment
McDonald’s takes pride in having a culture of
empowering its people, particularly women. In the Philippines with a McDonald’s
workforce of over 65,000, women comprise over 51% percent of key segments of
the workforce, from crew members (50.6 percent) to store managers (57 percent),
all the way up to the leadership team (53 percent). Among McDonald’s
Developmental Licensee markets, the Philippines has the highest percentage of
female sub-franchisees (53 percent), followed by Hungary (38 percent) and China
(35 percent). It reinforces McDonald’s long-standing commitment of focusing on
what their employees can do.
In Doria’s experience, while she learned to
constantly show what she was capable of doing, she also acknowledged that she
couldn’t have done it alone and is grateful for the people who believed and
supported her on her journey to becoming US National Field President.
Doria is also grateful for the opportunity that McDonald’s Philippines
Chairman and Founder Dr. George T. Yang has given her, and how he opened the
doors for a life-long career with the Golden Arches.
“George gave me my first opportunity as a manager trainee 40 years ago.
If not for him, who knows where I’d be today,” she said.
When asked how he feels about hearing about Myra’s success, Yang simply
said, “I am very proud of her.”
The empowering leadership Doria encountered throughout her career has
motivated her to empower others as well. In fact, she is known for honing
leaders at McDonald’s—people say, “You work for Myra, you
will be supported, and you will develop into a better leader.”
Many of the people she trained excelled in their careers—rising through
the ranks to become supervisors and even national and international leaders. In
fact, Doria mentored talents who ended up becoming the Chief Restaurant Officer
(CRO) in McDonald’s Australia and the CRO in the McDonald’s United Kingdom. The
UK CRO is a woman—proof that McDonald’s recognizes the great power women hold,
and how this power can accelerate action.
A Multifaceted Woman
Doria is a multifaceted woman. Aside from being a
successful leader at McDonald’s, she is also committed to her family, the way
her family has supported her throughout her career.
“Working at McDonald’s is just one of my jobs. I’m
also a wife, a mother, and now a lola for the very first time. Cora (her
granddaughter) is a year old and she’s the love of our lives. I can’t thank my
family enough for their unconditional love and support. They also do a great
job of grounding me,” Doria said.
She emphasized that remembering where you came from
and what you value most in life should guide your future decisions, whether
personal or at work.
“No matter how your career started, always remember
where you came from. As I say, lead with empathy and don’t let your title or
responsibilities get in the way,” she said.
“#IMPower”
Asked what other advice she could give to women who
also want a seat at the table, Doria underlined the importance of taking risks.
“My advice to everyone is don’t be afraid. Take risks.
Actually, the higher the risks, the more is the gain of that risk. Risk is so
important in leadership. Progressive companies like McDonald's always take
risks,” she said.
She also highlighted the importance of making an
impact on people’s lives. In fact, she would like this to be her legacy. “The
most fulfilling thing about my career is when I see people achieve their
aspirations, [when] they get better and achieve their dreams,” she explained.
As the world celebrates International Women’s Month,
McDonald’s emphasizes that it is an environment where women say “I M Power.” They are empowered to be their best selves, and they are empowered to
bring out the best in others. As a woman, Doria was “#MPowered” to succeed as
National Field President and a member of the McDonald’s US Senior Leadership
Team.
And women have the opportunity to “#MPower,” be “#MPowered,”
and be their best selves at McDonald’s, just like Doria. Learn more about the
#MPowered women at McDonald’s (McDonald's Philippines (Golden
Arches Development Corporation): Overview | LinkedIn)
About McDonald’s Philippines
McDonald’s
Philippines master franchise holder Dr. George T. Yang - who oversees and sits
as chairman for 40 years - founded and brought the first McDonald’s store to
the country in 1981. Since then, McDonald’s in the Philippines has been a
formidable player in the country’s quick-service restaurant industry, having
grown a store network of close to 800 nationwide. McDonald’s Philippines
continues to aspire to make a difference in communities where it operates
through its charity of Choice, Ronald McDonald House Charities Philippines.
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