Meet Jamie Aclan, Managing Partner

Tell us about your role at The Ortus Club and how you got there.

I’ve recently been promoted to my new role of Managing Partner, previously Managing Director—the only difference being that I now have a personal stake in the company—though I’ve always treated my responsibilities with the same level of commitment. My primary focus is to ensure our business meets its goals and operates smoothly. The whole “Managing Partner” team actually complements each other very well: one focuses on the why, another on the how, and I bridge the gap to deliver the best outcomes aligned with our mission and vision. While we’re still a “smaller” company, I also continue to oversee my own departments, HR and Finance.

Looking back, I’ve probably told anyone who would sit down and listen to me how I got to where I am, but if I were to simplify it, it was simply by showing the same amount of passion for the company as the founders themselves. Not many people had approached them prior to myself with questions like, “Well, why do we do this? Why not this way?” or “Can you teach me?”. But I was curious about all the right things, offered input even when it wasn’t expected, and treated every detail with the same care they would have.

What drew you to Ortus initially?

I discovered Ortus when I was just the ripe age of 20 years old. Although I majored in Marketing Management, the concept that Ortus introduced was entirely new to me, combining two things I found myself passionate about: events and marketing. It wasn’t just marketing through events; it was events as a core component of marketing. What initially drew me in was the high-end, exclusive brand image Ortus projected. But what truly made me stay was the deep care and attention to detail that everyone put into each event.

At Ortus, we were encouraged to question every single thing and its overall contribution to our goals, ensuring that every topic and element made sense from the client’s perspective. This meticulous approach didn’t stop at just content but came out in every aspect of the event experience. An example of this is how we also inquired about the acoustics of our venues to guarantee privacy and that knowledge would be able to travel from one end of the table to the other seamlessly. It was this unwavering commitment to excellence and the dedication to providing a top-tier experience that ensured every party, client, and guest left our roundtables with genuine value. It’s this thoroughness and passion that continues to drive my enthusiasm for what we do.

How does Ortus’s mission align with your personal and professional goals?

Ortus’s mission to ‘Create environments that start meaningful business relationships’ aligns closely with my professional goals. Initially, I was drawn to Ortus for its unique approach to blending events with marketing, but as I moved from role to role, from Head of Finance/HR to Managing Director and now Managing Partner, I’ve come to deeply appreciate how this mission shapes our work.

I’ve always heard the saying ‘It’s lonely at the top’, and I didn’t fully believe it until I experienced it myself. Being in a leadership role, I found myself with fewer people to bounce ideas off of or discuss challenges with. This is precisely one problem Ortus addresses through our roundtables from the guest perspective. I’m constantly seeking ways to solve problems, and there’s no better way to learn than from peers who have faced similar challenges and emerged stronger. Personally, it’s great for me because I get to attend these events as a sort of ‘master of ceremonies’ or fly on the wall, soaking up all the insights and how people deal with challenges without having to say a word myself! It’s a fantastic way to learn and stay connected, and I’m glad we can offer a platform similar to that of C-suite executives.

In summary, Ortus’s commitment to creating valuable connections and providing a platform for shared learning not only supports my goal of continuous personal and professional development but also ensures we deliver exceptional value to our clients. This alignment with our mission is what makes my role here so fulfilling.

What Ortus value can you say you’ve consistently practised?

I could talk endlessly about our values, but during our 9th anniversary celebration, I wanted to do more than just talk. I had our team create activities designed to remind us of what truly matters here at Ortus. In my speech, I emphasised this: ‘As we celebrate this milestone, I want to reaffirm my personal commitment to these values. But this commitment is not just mine; it’s a collective call to action. Let us all embody these values in our daily work and interactions.’ These values are deeply important to me, and I make it a point to consistently embody and practice them in everything I do.

But if I had to choose one value that I consistently practice, it would be ‘Always Deliver.’ When I first joined Ortus, I had no experience in HR and no experience in finance. In fact, I was delayed a semester in college because I barely passed my accounting class. Yet, here I am, serving as our Head of Finance. My journey is a testament to my drive and determination to always do my best, even when I don’t have all the answers. I’ve always believed that no matter the challenge, I’ll figure it out—and I do a hell of a job at that if I do say so myself!

What’s one thing about working at Ortus that you think people might find surprising?

One thing about working at Ortus that people might find surprising is just how much we value and expect hard work. I’m not going to sugarcoat it—working at Ortus is challenging, and we will push you to give your best every single day, which might not be for everyone! But that hard work doesn’t go unnoticed or unrewarded. If you have the drive and are willing to go the extra mile, you’ll find that Ortus is a place where your efforts truly pay off. I mean– that’s exactly how I got to where I am!

We’re a company that values ideas above hierarchy, which means that anyone, regardless of their position, can make a significant impact. A great example of this is our ‘Operational Activities’ department. This entire department exists today because someone stepped up and proposed, ‘I want to do this.’ They saw a need and presented a solution, and now we have a whole team dedicated to making sure our operations run smoothly. That’s the kind of initiative we love to see—and reward. This isn’t an isolated incident; it’s a common theme at Ortus. Many of our team members in leadership roles have been entrusted with significant responsibilities because they’ve consistently demonstrated hard work and commitment. The challenges are real, but so are the opportunities for growth and the satisfaction of knowing that your hard work is making a difference.