Today we’d like to introduce you to Iylin Flock.
Hi Iylin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in the Philippines in a close-knit family with limited resources. Watching my mother work hard and make sacrifices for our family taught me the values of resilience, responsibility, and perseverance from a young age. As the oldest sibling, I often helped care for my younger brothers and sisters while my parents worked. At the time, I didn’t realize it, but those experiences were shaping my leadership style and my commitment to serving others.
When I came to the United States, I carried those lessons with me. I was determined to build a better future while never forgetting where I came from. Professionally, I joined DMSI over 16 years ago when the company was still very small. I was the fourth employee. Over the years, I had the privilege of growing alongside the company as it expanded to nearly 100 employees. That journey taught me the importance of relationships, adaptability, problem-solving, and teamwork.
I am also blessed with a wonderful family of my own. I am married to my incredibly supportive husband, Andrew Flock, who has been my partner through every challenge and success. Together, we are raising three beautiful children, Andrea, Matthew, and Joseph, who are my greatest joy and inspiration. Family has always been my foundation, and they remind me every day why service, leadership, and community matter.
Outside of my career, I found my passion in community service. I became involved with the Filipino- American Society because I wanted to give back and help create opportunities for others. Today, as President of the organization, I have the privilege of working alongside dedicated volunteers to preserve our culture, support our community, and invest in future leaders through youth programs and community initiatives.
Looking back, my journey has never been about titles or recognition. It has been about using my experiences, skills, and relationships to help others. I have always believed that meaningful change starts small with one person, one family, and one act of service at a time. If we can strengthen individuals and families, the positive impact will continue to ripple throughout the community for generations to come.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it has definitely not been a smooth road.
One of the biggest challenges was starting over in a new country. When I moved to the United States, I did not have family nearby or an established support system. At the time, the only person I had was my fiancé, who is now my husband, Andrew.
Like many immigrants, I had to adapt to a new culture, build confidence, establish a career, and create opportunities for myself and my future family. There were moments when it felt overwhelming and times when I questioned whether I was capable of building the life I envisioned. Looking back, those experiences taught me independence, perseverance, and the importance of believing in yourself even when the path ahead is uncertain.
As my career progressed, I was constantly pushed outside my comfort zone. With each new role came new challenges, new expectations, and new opportunities to grow. I had to learn new skills, navigate change, work with different personalities, and make difficult decisions. There were moments of self-doubt, but those experiences ultimately helped me discover strengths I didn’t know I had and gave me confidence in my ability to lead and solve problems.
I was also fortunate to have leaders and mentors who believed in me, challenged me, and entrusted me with increasing responsibilities. Their support helped me grow professionally and reinforced a lesson I carry with me today: sometimes all it takes is someone willing to believe in you and give you an opportunity. Looking back, I realize how much that belief impacted my journey, and it is one of the reasons I am passionate about helping others discover their own potential.
Another challenge has been balancing multiple roles: wife, mother, professional, and community leader. There were times when I wondered if I could give enough of myself to all the people and responsibilities that mattered to me. Finding that balance remains a work in progress.
Leadership has also taught me that not everyone will agree with your decisions, and that can be difficult when you genuinely care about people. Learning to navigate different perspectives, manage expectations, and stay focused on the bigger picture has been one of the most valuable lessons of my journey.
Thankfully, I have been blessed with an incredibly supportive husband, Andrew, and our three wonderful children, Andrea, Matthew, and Joseph, who continually remind me what matters most.
While the road has not always been easy, I wouldn’t change it. Every challenge taught me something valuable, and many of my greatest lessons came from the moments that tested me the most. More importantly, my journey taught me that people can have a profound impact on one another’s lives. People sacrificed for me, believed in me, and opened doors for me. Today, I try to do the same for others because I believe that when we help one person, one family, or one young leader, that impact creates a ripple effect that can strengthen an entire community.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I currently work in sales at DMSI, a fiber-optic manufacturing company, where I have spent more than 16 years building customer relationships and helping them find solutions that meet their business needs.
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to serve in a variety of roles as the company grew. I started at DMSI in its infancy as the fourth employee and had the privilege of growing alongside the organization as it expanded into a company of nearly 100 employees. Throughout that journey, I took on increasing responsibilities, worked with diverse teams, and developed skills in leadership, problem-solving, and customer relationship management.
While my role has evolved over the years, one thing has remained constant. I genuinely enjoy working with people. Whether it is supporting a customer, mentoring a colleague, or helping solve a problem, I find fulfillment in building relationships and creating positive outcomes. In many ways, the relationships I have built throughout my career have been the most rewarding part of the journey.
What I am most proud of is not a title or position, but the growth that has taken place along the way. I am grateful for the leaders and mentors who believed in me, challenged me, and entrusted me with opportunities to grow. Their support helped me discover strengths I didn’t know I had and gave me the confidence to continue pushing myself beyond my comfort zone.
I believe what sets me apart is my ability to connect with people, build trust, and bring others together around a common goal. I am naturally relationship-driven and solution-oriented. If there is a challenge to solve, an event to organize, or a goal to accomplish, I enjoy bringing the right people together and finding a way forward.
Looking back, I realize that my success has never been achieved alone. People sacrificed for me, believed in me, and opened doors for me. My mother’s sacrifices, my husband’s unwavering support, and the mentors who invested in me all played a role in shaping who I am today. That is why I am passionate about paying it forward, whether through my work, community service, or mentoring others. I believe that when we invest in people and help them recognize their potential, the impact extends far beyond any one individual, creating a ripple effect that can strengthen families, organizations, and communities.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
There are so many people who deserve credit for who I am today and for the opportunities I have been given throughout my life.
First and foremost, my mother deserves tremendous credit. Growing up, I watched her work tirelessly and make countless sacrifices for our family. She taught me the value of hard work, perseverance, responsibility, and putting others before yourself. Many of the values that guide me today were learned by watching her example.
My husband, Andrew, has been one of my greatest supporters and biggest cheerleaders. When I moved to the United States, he was the only person I had here. Together, we built our life, our family, and our future. Throughout my career, community involvement, and leadership journey, he has always supported me, encouraged me, and stepped in whenever our family needed him. I would not be where I am today without his partnership and unwavering support.
I am also grateful for the leaders and mentors throughout my career who believed in me, challenged me, and entrusted me with opportunities to grow. They saw potential in me, gave me responsibilities that pushed me outside my comfort zone, and helped me develop both professionally and personally. Their belief in me gave me confidence and taught me the importance of investing in others.
I would also like to recognize the many colleagues, customers, volunteers, and community members I have had the privilege of working alongside over the years. Success is never achieved alone. Every relationship, every challenge, and every collaboration has contributed to my growth and taught me valuable lessons.
Finally, my children, Andrea, Matthew, and Joseph, deserve more credit than they probably realize. They remind me every day why I work hard, why I serve, and why building stronger families and communities matters. They inspire me to lead by example and to leave a positive impact for future generations.
When I look back on my journey, one lesson stands out: none of us succeeds on our own. We all need people who believe in us, encourage us, challenge us, and help us grow. I have been blessed with many of those people in my life, and I am deeply grateful for each of them.
