Athena secures Philippines Employee Experience of the Year - Business Services at Asian Experience Awards 2024

The company’s approach includes world-class training, flexible work policies, and various benefits, such as a tuition-free, globally accredited MBA programme for employees.

Athena has been awarded the prestigious Philippines Employee Experience of the Year - Business Services category at the Asian Experience Awards 2024, a testament to its commitment to employee well-being and workplace innovation.

By pioneering a holistic approach that encompasses exceptional training, creative benefits, and a strong people-first culture, Athena is transforming the employee experience and redefining the industry standard.

Athena, a leading provider of executive assistant services, recognised the critical role its employees play in its ongoing success. With this understanding, the company launched a comprehensive employee experience programme, designed to prioritise employee satisfaction, development, and engagement. This initiative has not only resulted in higher retention and performance rates but also solidified Athena's reputation as a leading business services provider.

Building success, one assistant at a time

At the core of Athena’s success is a commitment to providing unparalleled training to its team of executive assistants. The company has developed a rigorous 120-hour curriculum designed to equip employees with the skills they need to excel in their roles. This three-phase programme covers foundational knowledge, advanced competencies, and real-world application.

By incorporating AI tools into the training, Athena ensures that its employees can deliver exceptional value to clients with greater efficiency, accuracy, and responsiveness.

Beyond its training curriculum, Athena’s focus on training does not stop at equipping employees for their current roles—it also seeks to invest in their long-term development. To address this, Athena launched Metis College, the first tuition-free, globally accredited MBA programme in the Philippines.

Through a partnership with Woolf University, Athena offers its employees a tuition-free, 18-month online MBA, valued at US$50,000 or PHP2.7m. This programme represents a significant financial investment in talent development, but more importantly, it is a strategic move to elevate service standards and redefine client expectations.

By offering this opportunity to its employees, Athena is empowering them to excel in their current roles and pursue advanced leadership positions, fostering a culture of growth and excellence.

Athena’s people-first culture

In addition to providing world-class training, Athena has developed a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employee well-being and promote loyalty.

One of the standout features of this package is the Flexible Reimbursement Program, launched in March 2023, which empowers employees to celebrate professional and personal milestones.

Athena also offers a unique deferred employee compensation plan, which provides employees with a deferred bonus to foster an entrepreneurial spirit and encourage long-term commitment to the company. This forward-thinking benefit has been instrumental in nurturing a sense of ownership and dedication amongst employees.

The company’s commitment to flexibility is also evident in its remote work policies. Athena empowers the majority of its employees to work from home, providing them with the flexibility to balance their personal and professional lives whilst still delivering high-quality service to clients. 

Athena also introduced a Pet Support Program that reimburses employees for eligible vet bills, medications, and other pet-related expenses, providing a unique benefit that resonates with pet owners. By offering this support, Athena promotes work-life balance for pet-owning employees.

To ensure that its employees are compensated fairly and competitively, Athena introduced the Force Multiplier Program, which offers an average salary increase of 7%, with the potential for up to a 15% increase. This programme surpasses industry benchmarks and reinforces Athena’s commitment to rewarding its employees for their hard work and dedication.

Athena has cultivated a strong sense of community within the company through its Employee Referral and Client Referral Programs. These initiatives not only encourage employees to refer new hires and clients but also reward them with financial incentives for every successful employee or client referral. This approach has been highly successful, with over 30% of new hires coming from employee referrals, demonstrating the positive and engaging work environment Athena has created.

Athena also offers counselling services, wellness workshops, and in-house support to ensure that its employees feel supported both mentally and emotionally. Additionally, the Lean on Me platform provides a space for employees to collaborate, share insights, and seek support on client-related tasks. This community-driven approach fosters a sense of belonging and encourages employees to lean on one another for help and guidance.

Athena’s holistic approach to employee experience has clearly paid off, resulting in a high-performing and engaged workforce that drives business success. By investing in its people through world-class training, innovative benefits, and a supportive culture, Athena has created a thriving workplace that is the foundation of its industry-leading position.

As Athena continues to grow and evolve, its dedication to employee well-being and development remains at the heart of its success. By prioritising the needs and satisfaction of its employees, Athena has not only enhanced its workforce but also strengthened its position as a leader in the business services sector.

The company’s recognition at the Asian Experience Awards 2024 is a testament to its innovative approach to the employee experience, and its commitment to fostering a supportive, empowering, and growth-oriented workplace that will inspire others in the industry.

The Asian Experience Awards, presented by Asian Business Review, celebrates organisations delivering exceptional product and customer experiences. It recognises the exceptional initiatives of creative companies in the region that have delivered meaningful brand experiences to their stakeholders.

The Asian Experience Awards is presented by Asian Business Review Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2025 awards programme and be acclaimed for providing meaningful brand experiences to stakeholders, please contact Jane Patiag at [email protected].