MANILA, Philippines – Before assuming the role of National Field President of McDonald’s USA, Myra Doria worked doubly hard to build a career that began in the 80s, with grit, passion, and perseverance.
Doria started her professional career at McDonald’s in Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga, in 1985, or known as “Store 005.” 40 years later, her story is an inspiration–a testament to how a young woman from a small town in the Philippines can earn a seat at the table of one of the world’s biggest and most loved brands in the US.
“Standing up here today reminds me of why I got into this business in the first place, and all the incredible people I’ve met along the way. I’ve always wanted to come back to the place where I started. It also reminds me of how far I’ve come and how grateful I am to those who have made my career possible,” she said during her recent visit to the Philippines to speak at an operations leadership summit organized by McDonald’s Philippines–which was also a homecoming a long time in the making.
Humble Beginnings
“I was born and raised in Minalin, Pampanga. Ako po ang pinaka matanda sa anim na magkakapatid (I was the eldest in a brood of six), and early in life my parents instilled in me the importance of being the role model for my siblings. It is a huge responsibility that I carry with me still today,” Doria shared.
Working in the palengke (public market) not only honed her business acumen; it also developed her passion for shoes.
“I’ve come to see my shoes as a sort of metaphor for how I’ve approached my life and career. When I look at my shoes, I remember my days working at the flea market and my first days at McDonald’s. It may have been 40 years ago, but I remember the day vividly. I had just graduated from college when my mom treated me to a meal at McDonald’s. Without me knowing about it, she asked for a job application and, surprisingly, I was interviewed on the spot that day,” she shared.
Eleven interviews later, she received a start date for her management training.
From PH to US
From management trainee in 1985, Doria worked very hard to rise through the ranks, eventually becoming a successful restaurant manager, committed to the growth of her team and her restaurant–an empowered woman who also believed in empowering the people around her.
When she got married, her priorities evolved. Her husband was serving with the United States Navy stationed in Guam, and she was getting ready to embark on a new life. She said: “Moving to an entirely new country like the United States was the greatest change I had ever experienced. The culture was completely new and foreign to me. In the Philippines, I was called ‘Ma’am Myra.’ In the States, it was just ‘Myra – do this… Myra – do that!’ ”
In the US, she started building a career at McDonald’s, and although at first she didn’t see a lot of people who looked or talked like her, she grew as a professional and eventually as a leader. She said: “I learned to have the courage to be assertive and create my own seat at the table and bring my own voice—including my accent.” She steadily advanced through the ranks, taking on increasingly prominent roles. Starting as a business consultant, she progressed to field vice president, then zone president. In 2023, she was appointed National Field President of McDonald’s USA, playing a critical role in overseeing 14,000 restaurants all over the U.S. and over $56 billion in annual sales, and empowering more than 1,800 franchisees and 500 company employees
A Culture of Empowerment
McDonald’s takes pride in having a culture of empowering its people, particularly women. In the Philippines with a McDonald’s workforce of over 65,000, women comprise over 51% percent of key segments of the workforce, from crew members (50.6 percent) to store managers (57 percent), all the way up to the leadership team (53 percent). Among McDonald’s Developmental Licensee markets, the Philippines has the highest percentage of female sub-franchisees (53 percent), followed by Hungary (38 percent) and China (35 percent). It reinforces McDonald’s long-standing commitment of focusing on what their employees can do.
In Doria’s experience, while she learned to constantly show what she was capable of doing, she also acknowledged that she couldn’t have done it alone and is grateful for the people who believed and supported her on her journey to becoming US National Field President.
Doria is also grateful for the opportunity that McDonald’s Philippines Chairman and Founder Dr. George T. Yang has given her, and how he opened the doors for a life-long career with the Golden Arches.
“George gave me my first opportunity as a manager trainee 40 years ago. If not for him, who knows where I’d be today,” she said.
When asked how he feels about hearing about Myra’s success, Yang simply said, “I am very proud of her.”
The empowering leadership Doria encountered throughout her career has motivated her to empower others as well. In fact, she is known for honing leaders at McDonald’s—people say, “You work for Myra, you will be supported, and you will develop into a better leader.”
Many of the people she trained excelled in their careers—rising through the ranks to become supervisors and even national and international leaders. In fact, Doria mentored talents who ended up becoming the Chief Restaurant Officer (CRO) in McDonald’s Australia and the CRO in the McDonald’s United Kingdom. The UK CRO is a woman—proof that McDonald’s recognizes the great power women hold, and how this power can accelerate action.
A Multifaceted Woman
Doria is a multifaceted woman. Aside from being a successful leader at McDonald’s, she is also committed to her family, the way her family has supported her throughout her career.
“Working at McDonald’s is just one of my jobs. I’m also a wife, a mother, and now a lola for the very first time. Cora (her granddaughter) is a year old and she’s the love of our lives. I can’t thank my family enough for their unconditional love and support. They also do a great job of grounding me,” Doria said.
She emphasized that remembering where you came from and what you value most in life should guide your future decisions, whether personal or at work.
“No matter how your career started, always remember where you came from. As I say, lead with empathy and don’t let your title or responsibilities get in the way,” she said.
“#IMPower”
Asked what other advice she could give to women who also want a seat at the table, Doria underlined the importance of taking risks.
“My advice to everyone is don’t be afraid. Take risks. Actually, the higher the risks, the more is the gain of that risk. Risk is so important in leadership. Progressive companies like McDonald’s always take risks,” she said.
She also highlighted the importance of making an impact on people’s lives. In fact, she would like this to be her legacy. “The most fulfilling thing about my career is when I see people achieve their aspirations, [when] they get better and achieve their dreams,” she explained.
As the world celebrates International Women’s Month, McDonald’s emphasizes that it is an environment where women say “I M Power.” They are empowered to be their best selves, and they are empowered to bring out the best in others. As a woman, Doria was “#MPowered” to succeed as National Field President and a member of the McDonald’s US Senior Leadership Team.
And women have the opportunity to “#MPower,” be “#MPowered,” and be their best selves at McDonald’s, just like Doria. Learn more about the #MPowered women at McDonald’s (McDonald’s Philippines (Golden Arches Development Corporation): Overview | LinkedIn)
