This is an excerpt from The Movers and Shakers feature in MEGA June 2025 issue
Grace Vera Cruz, Group Head of Corporate Strategy for GRAB, has worked in diverse industries before she came to lead the superapp. From retail, investment banking, and eventually tech, her experiences in each industry are building blocks that formed the leader that she is today. “Leading a superapp like Grab requires not just business acumen, but empathy and the ability to see the bigger picture. I’ve learned to approach challenges with both strategic thinking and a human touch knowing that every decision we make has the potential to transform communities,” she points out. “That’s why every hardship and victory I’ve faced along the way feels purposeful. I am driven by the knowledge that we are creating lasting, positive change.”
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As a woman in a predominantly male industry, particularly in leadership, Cruz does not see her gender as a disadvantage, “But rather an added dimension to how I approach leadership: with empathy, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.” If there was a question on whether she had to work harder than others to prove herself in the industry, she counters it with this perspective, “I have always believed in the value of hard work and strong work ethics, not because I’m a woman, but because I strive to be the best version of myself. Excellence doesn’t come from trying to meet others’ expectations; it comes from pushing your own limits.”
She adds, “The world does not define how hard I work—I do. My goal has always been to lead with integrity, strength, and the resolve to make a difference.”
And Cruz has seen that difference happen in real life while working at Grab. “One of my proudest moments is witnessing the real, tangible impact of what we do at Grab: stories of lives transformed because we built opportunities where there were none. Whether it’s a single mother earning a livelihood through our platform or a small business finding its footing through our ecosystem, these stories remind me that we are building something bigger than ourselves.”
At the end of the day, Cruz describes success as “A better world for future generations: a world where opportunities are accessible to everyone, where technology empowers rather than divides, and where people can live with dignity and purpose. It’s about laying down pathways for others to succeed and knowing that the work we do today will inspire and uplift those who come after us.”
With Cruz at the leadership of the superapp, looks like that future is well on its way.
Read more of MEGA’s Pinoy Pride Awardees in MEGA June 2025 issue now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Photography by JERICK SANCHEZ. Creative Direction by BRIE VENTURA. Fashion Direction by ROKO ARCEO. Fashion Associate ERICA TEROL. Editorial Assistant THESSMAR LECTURA. Photographer’s assistants KARL RIMANDO, BUDDY REYES, and DAVE ORPILLA. Makeup NADYNNE ESGUERRA. Hair MATT LEDESMA. Shot on Location at MEGA Studio.
