Auto & Tech | Breaking Boundaries: Darlyn Valenzona’s Dive into the World of Engine Lubricants | By Mark Saberola, EIC | Moving from the security of one domain to another can make the already daunting task of navigating the sales and marketing world seem insurmountable. As the Sales and Marketing Manager for Repsol Phils at Gran Toro Oro Trading Corporation, Darlyn Valenzona sees transition as more than just a time of change; rather, she sees it as an opportunity for growth.
Darlyn has the self-assurance of a seasoned marketing professional. Within minutes of speaking with her, you’ll be convinced that you need the thing she’s pitching. When we look deeper into her life, though, we are most struck by her brazen move from a household name in appliances to the traditionally male-dominated industry of motor oil.
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Familiarity breeds contentment
Prior to joining Repsol, Darlyn worked for a major appliance brand, where she gained a thorough understanding of the requirements of typical homes. She found her niche in the appliance industry, with its focus on practicality and quality of life enhancement. Here, contact with customers was simple and routine. Her team’s mission was to provide families with long-lasting, environmentally friendly appliances. Because of the brand’s popularity, she gained invaluable knowledge about how consumers think and act, which she could use in the future.
A Radical Change
However, things are very different in the market for engine lubricants. It’s highly specialized and controlled by men, both in terms of the workers and the consumers. Knowledge of mechanics, technology, and automobiles’ inner workings is essential in this field.
What, then, could have caused such a sudden shift? Darlyn did so out of a combination of curiosity and the need to broaden her skill base. She understood that she couldn’t rest on her oars and expected to continue developing. She says it best: “To evolve, one must sometimes dive into uncharted waters.”
Finding Your Way in Unknown Seas
At first, Darlyn tackled every obstacle head-on, from learning the ins and outs of the product to overcoming traditional gender roles. The change involved more than just an awareness of cultural norms in addition to commercial information. She was thrust into a milieu where technical jargon was the norm and her actions had a direct bearing on the lives of mechanics, auto enthusiasts, and others.
However, Darlyn’s strengths were in her marketing experience. She took a problem-solving stance toward engine lubricants rather than viewing them only as a technical commodity. What exactly do these lubricants do to improve a car’s efficiency? How might they help increase the longevity of machines, which would reduce maintenance and replacement expenses for the end user?
Darlyn established a distinct market niche for Repsol Phils by asking and answering these sorts of questions. She integrated her knowledge of customer requirements with that of the items’ technical specifications. In what way? A name that might be recognized by both car nerds and regular people.
Overcoming Obstacles
Darlyn is a role model for women everywhere, as she successfully navigated a male-dominated industry. Her success in the workplace is a testament to her skill and creativity, but she also broke barriers by inspiring other women to pursue jobs that had previously been considered ‘unsuitable’ for them.
Darlyn stressed the value of lifelong education, flexibility, and toughness throughout the trip. She demonstrated that it is possible to move between seemingly unrelated fields with the appropriate attitude and drive.
Final Reflections
Many people, especially women who aspire to make an impact in fields where they are underrepresented, can find motivation in Darlyn Valenzona’s narrative. Her experience shows how our mindset and approach determine our level of success, not just our raw talent.
One thing became crystal clear to me after my informative talk with Darlyn: growth occurs when we move outside of our comfort zone.
