Benchmark Consulting, a trailblazer in coaching and leadership development in the Philippines and Asia, is mounting its highly anticipated e-conference this September with the theme: “Digitalization + Authentic Connection = Next Level Leaders.” The event comes at a critical time when businesses are grappling with constant disruption, shifting work models, and an urgent call for more people-centric leadership.
Scheduled on September 18, 2025 from 8am to 12nn (Philippine Time) via Zoom, the Benchmark 2025 Leadership and Coaching Conference is designed to empower leaders, coaches, and change-makers with the mindset and tools to thrive in today’s ever-evolving landscape—where digital transformation must go hand in hand with empathy, trust, and real connection.
“This conference is especially relevant because the pace of change has never been this fast—or this personal,” says Julius Ordoñez, Master Certified Coach (MCC), President of Benchmark Consulting, and this year’s recipient of the Asia’s Distinguished Leader in Professional Coaching Award. “Leaders today can’t just be efficient—they have to be deeply connected. They must lead from both the mind and the heart.”
Ordoñez, a pioneer of the coaching profession in the Philippines, introduced coaching based on International Coaching Federation (ICF) standards to the country in 1999. As founder of the ICF Philippines Chapter and one of the first in the world to earn the ICF Advanced Certification in Team Coaching, he has helped reshape how organizations approach leadership—moving from transactional models to cultures that promote psychological safety, innovation, and long-term success.
For Ordoñez, the event addresses a critical leadership gap: “Digital tools can increase efficiency, but only human connection can drive engagement and meaning. This isn’t about choosing one over the other. It’s about harmonizing both.”
Attendees can expect a fast-paced, high-impact program featuring global coaching leaders, expert insights, and real-world applications. The lineup includes respected speakers who will tackle how to lead with clarity in uncertain times, coach with presence in an AI-driven world, and ensure that people remain at the center of progress—no matter the disruption.
A standout feature of the conference is The Insighters—a panel of seasoned executives and industry leaders who will help bridge the gap between theory and practice. After each keynote session, The Insighters will share reflections and reactions grounded in their own leadership experience, showing how insights from the sessions can be applied directly to the workplace.
The Insighters lineup includes Rowena Subido, First Senior Vice President and Group Head of Human Resources at RCBC; Noel Tempongko, Jr., General Manager at Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures, Inc.; Dannah Majarocon, Managing Director of Jobstreet by SEEK Philippines; and Irvin Domingo, Jr., President of ICF Philippines Chapter.
“These leaders bring the sessions to life in a way that’s both insightful and practical,” says Ordoñez. “They understand what it takes to lead in complex environments, and their real-world perspectives make the learning stick.”
The conference also marks a milestone in Benchmark’s own story. With over two decades of service to the coaching profession, the company has helped organizations build cultures of clarity, courage, and care through coaching that transforms—not just performs. Aligned with ICF global standards and rooted in purpose-driven leadership, Benchmark remains committed to elevating coaching excellence in the Philippines and across Asia.
“This event will be a space for reflection, learning, and renewal. Our goal is for participants to walk away not just informed, but inspired to lead differently,” he says.
While the award recognizes Ordoñez’s individual achievements, he says it’s also a reflection of Benchmark’s ongoing mission. “Coaching has always been about unlocking potential—not just performance,” he says. “We believe the most powerful leadership doesn’t come from a title. It comes from the courage to connect, to listen, and to lead with authenticity.”
As businesses continue to face seismic shifts, Benchmark 2025 offers a timely opportunity to recalibrate what leadership means—and what it needs to become.
