For today’s young workers, career growth is no longer defined by a single path. Many are balancing jobs, school, personal interests, and creative ambitions all at once—and McDonald’s Philippines is giving its crew members more ways to turn those passions into opportunities.
This August, McDonald’s launches the newest chapter of Crew-ators, its employee creator program designed to help restaurant crew members develop their skills as digital content creators while continuing their work and, for many, their studies.
Leading the latest batch are 12 crew members from Cebu, who will undergo six months of training, mentorship, content creation activities, access to creator tools, and incentives. Along the way, they will also serve as official employee ambassadors, sharing their experiences and stories in their own voices.
The program is part of McDonald’s broader commitment to helping employees discover their “Best Me” by creating opportunities to learn, build confidence, and pursue interests beyond their daily responsibilities.
“Our people are more than the roles they perform every day. They’re students, artists, athletes, creators, and individuals with unique aspirations,” said Ben Marasigan, Vice President for Human Capital Group at McDonald’s Philippines.
“At McDonald’s, we believe our responsibility goes beyond providing a job. We want to create opportunities for our people to grow, discover their potential, and become the best version of themselves. Crew-ators reflects that commitment by giving our restaurant teams the space to pursue their passions, develop new skills, and build capabilities that will serve them both in their careers and in life.”
Learning From Established Creators
Before stepping in front of the camera and taking over social feeds, the Cebu Crew-ators received insights from experienced digital personalities, including David Jones Cua of Bisaya Conyo Girl, known for his humorous takes on Cebuano culture and the Bisaya-conyo experience, and TikTok creator Christian Antolin, whose relatable skits draw inspiration from everyday life.
Beyond mentorship, participants were also provided with creator tools that will allow them to apply what they learned throughout the six-month program.
But Crew-ators is only one part of McDonald’s investment in employee development.
Across the organization, crew members are given opportunities to continue their education, gain new skills, and pursue personal goals while building their careers.
For many, finishing school remains a major priority. Working students account for around 70 percent of McDonald’s Philippines’ workforce of more than 75,000 employees, supported by flexible scheduling that allows them to balance classroom requirements with work responsibilities.
Around 4,000 McDonald’s crew members graduate from college every year, underscoring how employment and education can go hand in hand.
Learning also continues inside the workplace. Employees across different levels have access to training and development initiatives, with McDonald’s investing ₱84 million in employee upskilling in 2024 alone.
Together, these programs provide different pathways for employees to grow—whether by earning a degree, sharpening professional skills, developing confidence, or transforming a personal passion into a new opportunity.C
rew-ators Expands Beyond Its Pilot Run
First introduced as a pilot program in 2023, Crew-ators is returning with an expanded format, with the Cebu batch marking another step toward bringing the initiative to more McDonald’s employees across the country.
Over the next six months, the newest Crew-ators will give audiences a glimpse into their interests, everyday experiences, and life at McDonald’s—told through their own personalities, creativity, and perspectives.
As the program reaches more restaurants and more employees, McDonald’s hopes Crew-ators will open even more doors for its people to explore what they love, develop valuable new skills, and discover just how far their passions can take them.