The auto industry is becoming less of a ‘man’s world’—and that’s a good thing
For Toyota Subic President Mary Evangeline Tan, success isn’t about finding a “missing piece” to a puzzle. It’s about the relentless pursuit of Kaizen, or continuous improvement.
Under the umbrella of her father’s JBT Group of Companies, Mary has steered Toyota Subic into the winner’s circle of the Toyota President’s Award. For her, the formula is simple: Constant communication.
“Communication is key to knowing what’s happening in the dealership and what needs to be improved,” she said. Mary added that by consistently doing this, her “team is embodying the JBT Group DNA.” It’s a strategy that keeps her team’s morale high and their focus pinned on being “driven to serve.”
Growing face of female leadership
Mary is also making waves for another reason: She represents the growing face of female leadership in a traditionally male-dominated sector.
“We are seeing more female executives now in this industry, and that’s fantastic,” Mary said. Her advice to women looking to break into the automotive world is as sturdy as a Hilux frame: “Do not be intimidated, always work hard, dedicate yourself, and strive to be the best.”
This isn’t the first time Inquirer Motoring has featured Mary. Described by peers as headstrong and independent-minded like her father, industry veteran Jose “Doyong” B. Tan Jr, she is also a noted risk-taker. Last year, this author wrote about how Mary had already established herself in the United States before deciding to return to the Philippines.
Mary maintains that age and gender aren’t barriers to success in the dealership business. “For me, it’s about the hard work you put into it. There is already a growing number of women executives in the Toyota network now. There is also succession planning required within the Toyota dealer network that trains the next generation like myself,” she said.
Immersion before action
Mary lived abroad for seven years before returning to the Philippines to work across the family’s multiple dealerships. “Since the dealerships were assigned to me gradually, having those experiences from the earlier ones helped prepare me to handle multiple locations. Furthermore, immersing myself in our different businesses growing up was a good stepping stone. I spent a few summers training at our Shell gas stations and also served as a management trainee at our previous financing company. Living abroad also helped me become independent and adapt to different kinds of people and work environments,” she explained.
As of 2026, the JBT Group of Companies operates seven dealerships.
Following her college graduation, Mary worked at the family’s financing company, which she credits for her solid foundation in the financial side of the business. After completing her initial management training, she pursued further studies abroad, attending Harvard in 2022 for a course in Alternative Investments. She said that living alone overseas helped her become more responsible and mature.
Despite her busy schedule, Mary holds onto her roots. “Growing up, my mom loved to cook and bake. I was already in the kitchen at age 9, and seeing that made me develop a love for food. I still try to cook and bake from time to time, but handling three dealerships and raising two kids is very time consuming, so I don’t get as much time for that as I would want.
“Graduating with a degree in Business Management and having various experiences in our other businesses gave me the basic knowledge I needed. But it was when I started really immersing myself in Toyota and shadowing my dad that I truly learned dealership operations. I also had the privilege to train in different departments and learn from our people doing their day-to-day jobs. I would say experience is the best teacher,” Mary said.
Mary constantly reminds her team not to rely on “brand legacy” but to treat each year as a fresh start. By adapting to changing times and utilizing digital tools to increase efficiency, Mary is proving that in the modern automotive landscape, the best “man” for the job might just be a woman.
