Guam Women’s Chamber panel addresses executive presence and mentorship
BY JACQUELINE GUZMAN Journal Staff
The Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce hosted its Executive Presence Panel during its monthly membership meeting on Feb. 12 at Crowne Plaza Resort Guam.
Barbie Jane Agahan, owner of itsBarbieJane and a board member of the Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce, opened the session with an interactive exercise examining common leadership challenges, including decision-making without full information and maintaining composure under pressure.
“Leadership is not isolated when it’s not unique,” Agahan said.
The Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce held its monthly meeting Feb. 12, 2026 (from left) Barbie Jane Agahan, owner, itsBarbieJane and board member, Guam Women’s Chamber of Commerce; Gyongyi P. “Pika” Fejeran, chief financial officer, Market Deli and Denanche’ Hot Sauce; Marilyn R. Borja, executive vice president, Docomo Pacific; Trisha Mae Marquez, owner, La Mae’s Bake Shop; and Desiree Lizama, president, Guam Contractors Association. Photos by Jacqueline Guzman
Panelists included Gyongyi P. “Pika” Fejeran, chief financial officer of Market Deli and Denanche’ Hot Sauce; Marilyn R. Borja, executive vice president of Docomo Pacific; Trisha Mae Marquez, owner of La Mae’s Bake Shop; and Desiree Lizama, president of the Guam Contractors Association.
Lizama addressed leadership during periods of uncertainty and organizational change.
“People aren’t looking for perfection,” Lizama said. “They’re looking for steadiness.”
She said credibility is built through transparency and consistent engagement with teams.
Borja discussed balancing executive leadership with personal responsibilities, referencing her experiences as a wife and mother and navigating significant life changes, including the loss of her son and becoming an empty nester. She emphasized the importance of remaining grounded while continuing to lead and support her team through change.
Marquez focused on mentorship, sharing that her professional growth was shaped during her time as an intern under Jessica Leon Guerrero, president of M80 Systems Inc., whom she met through the Guam Women’s Chamber. “If you have the opportunity to be a mentor to someone and change their life the way mine was changed, do it,” Marquez said.
Fejeran spoke about leading multiple business ventures and managing operational growth, emphasizing structure and accountability.
“As a leader, you can’t do everything yourself,” Fejeran said. “You build the systems, you train the team, and you trust them to execute.”
The chamber also highlighted plans to relaunch its mentor-mentee program in April 2026 following the completion of surveys from its 2025 cohort.
The discussion centered on practical leadership approaches, including composure, accountability and structured mentorship as drivers of organizational development. mbj
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