Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro East Urban
President | Rotary Year 2026–2027
Ma. Karina May G. Olavides is a multi-awarded business development strategist, entrepreneur, and regional leader who approaches community service with a builder’s mindset. Known for her eye for innovation and a passion for excellence, Karina spent over two decades driving growth across Northern Mindanao. After a highly decorated corporate career with Avon, she retired from corporate employment to transition into independent entrepreneurship. Today, she operates as an independent contractor, an Avon Business Partner, managing three major branches in Toril, Mintal, and Cagayan de Oro, and serves as an appointed member of the prestigious Avon Business Partner Council.
Karina’s analytical mindset and systemic approach to problem-solving are anchored in a rigorous foundation in the sciences. Her academic preparation began at the Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus, followed by the Ateneo de Manila University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Management of Applied Chemistry—a specialized interdisciplinary program fusing scientific methodology with commercial strategy. She initially applied this technical expertise within the manufacturing industry, serving as a Quality Control Chemist for the Davao International Copra Export Corporation. Recognizing the scalability of her data-driven framework to market operations, she made a strategic pivot into corporate commercial leadership, joining Avon as the Branch Sales Trainer in Cagayan de Oro. She later backed this commercial experience with a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Xavier University.
Throughout her career, Karina has consistently turned new challenges into benchmarks for excellence. As a corporate Zone Manager, her leadership earned her a rare five-consecutive-year streak in the Avon Circle of Excellence and winning the distinction eight times total. She was also a recipient of the highly coveted Avon Zone Manager Hall of Fame award. Her outstanding leadership also garnered the Pearl of Asia accolade, in recognition of outstanding APAC business metrics alongside multiple sales awards.
During her stint as Avon Philippines’ inaugural Digital Business Development Manager, Karina solidified her reputation as a global forward-thinker by winning Avon’s Innovation Pinkathon. Competing in a high-stakes arena celebrating the brand’s most innovative concepts worldwide, she brought immense prestige to Avon PH. She successfully designed, tested, and executed a proof of concept for her winning entry, earning exclusive global mentorship and advanced corporate training.
Her path to community leadership began through this very work. At Avon—a company globally recognized for empowering women and fostering financial independence—Karina’s career has been less about “sales” and more about true service through mentorship. She has championed numerous initiatives aimed at growing personal livelihoods, including Project GROW, Avon Next Gen and localized digital adoption campaigns that drove training and development for Avon sales leaders and representatives.
She also launched the Gift of Beauty Event Series, opening doors for market growth and individual entrepreneurship , alongside dedicated community-level recruitment programs that supported business growth and fostered a resilient growth mindset among the Avon representatives. During her corporate tenure, she actively organized and spearheaded Avon’s advocacy campaigns on breast cancer awareness in the region. This intersection of business innovation, mentorship, and advocacy sparked a lifelong commitment to service, making her transition to Rotary a natural next step in her journey.
Karina officially joined the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro East Urban in 2020. She immediately took on active roles, serving as Club Fellowship Chair, Director for Club Administration, and Director for Membership. She also chaired the Ways and Means Committee for the milestone Rotary Impact Expo and served as Chairman for the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) District Learning Seminar.
Her rigorous dual foundation in science and business uniquely equips her to approach community service with data-driven strategies and impactful solutions. Rather than implementing temporary, quick-fix solutions, she looks at community issues systematically: identifying the root cause, assessing what the club can realistically do, collaborating with experts, and tracking concrete results.
True to her Taurus nature, Karina is a deeply grounded anchor for her family—a happy wife, a mother to two sons, and the responsible eldest daughter. This practical, comfort-loving side shapes her lifestyle, balancing a passion for global travel with the quiet sanctuary of home, an excellent cup of coffee, and a compelling series. While she is an introvert who deeply values her peace, she lets her guard down completely with her chosen crowd, bringing a sharp wit and rowdy energy to a cherished group of lifelong friends.
As President for Rotary Year 2026–2027, Karina leads the club with a singular, driving focus: to “Create Lasting Impact.” In her vision shared with the club, she has established three clear pillars for her presidency. Through Meaningful Service, she is directing the club toward action-oriented projects that move past temporary relief to truly transform lives and encourage sustainable growth in local communities.
She is equally dedicated to Strong Fellowship, intentionally nurturing the unique bond, unity, and shared joy that defines the club, knowing that the members’ collective energy is what drives their success. Finally, through Purposeful Action, Karina aims to channel these shared passions into permanent, positive change that will continue to resonate long after this year ends.
