In business strategy, we often obsess over price elasticity—the mathematical relationship between cost and demand. But as we navigate the complexities of 2026, the marketplace is being reshaped by a far more volatile force: The Psychology of Uncertainty. Uncertainty is often more damaging than an actual price increase. While a price hike is a known variable one can budget for, […]
In strategy, what you don’t know can hurt you. But what you “know” for sure, that just isn’t so, will kill you. When we apply the PILA (Problem, Insight, Logic, Assumptions) reasoning stack, we see that the foundation of many global FMCG strategies is where the rot begins. Organizations have replaced “examine and reflect” with a “present and assume” culture, […]
Atty. Benedicta “Dick” Du-Baladad is the founding partner and CEO of Du-Baladad and Associates (BDB Law), a firm specializing in tax and corporate law. An accountant-lawyer by training, she graduated Magna Cum Laude and earned her Master of Laws and International Tax Program at Harvard University. She served as President of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) in 2023 […]
ER Rollan, CEO of Growsari and a winner of the 5th Mansmith Innovation Awards, has been transforming the micro-retail landscape in the Philippines. By leveraging technology, he empowers small sari-sari stores, streamlines distribution, and creates a scalable digital ecosystem. In this interview, he shares the assumptions he challenged, the pains he sought to solve, and how he turned innovation into […]
(Photo source: Pixabay) I’m not the type who usually writes love letters. I measure things in KPIs and deadlines, not feelings. I notice inefficiency, not poetry. And yet, here I am, writing during a flight, not to a person, but to an airline. Singapore Airlines. You’ve taught me that superior customer experience (CX) isn’t just about getting from point A […]
Atty. Kesterson Kua is the founding partner of Kua Sy and Yeung (SKY Law). With deep expertise in commercial and family business law, he has worked closely with many Chinese-Filipino (Chinoy) entrepreneurs. In this interview, he shares insights into the legal, cultural, and generational dynamics that shape Chinoy family businesses, and how governance, foresight, and self-awareness can help preserve both […]
Marketing columns usually focus on positioning, differentiation, and shareholder value. This Valentine’s Day, I want to talk about brand equity, not in the marketplace, but at home. It’s where I learned the true meaning of trust long before I began teaching it. Before my wife, Chiqui, became my partner in life, she was my first early adopter. She saw intrinsic value […]
If you’ve spent time in strategy post-mortems, or even in high-stakes “war” rooms, you’ve probably heard the same lines: “We had all the data, but no real insight.” “The logic felt right, but no one tested it.” “We assumed X would hold, and we never questioned it.” Sound familiar? I hear versions of this often, from CEOs, executives, founders, and […]
Edie Acedera is the founder and managing director of Brandev Insights and Consulting, and co-author of Mommy Republic: Understanding the Filipino Millennial Moms. Prior to Brandev, Edie was the global consumer and market insight director at Unilever, based in Singapore. In this interview, she shares her insights into the evolving behaviors of Filipino consumers, and how marketers can effectively navigate cultural […]
I walked into a meeting with a cup of Zu’s coffee in my hand. It was early December, when Starbucks lines grow longer and planners quietly signal participation in a shared ritual. The person beside me smiled and asked, “Do you like Zu? No Starbucks planner this year?” I laughed and answered honestly. The lines were too long for my […]