When we launched the Mansmith Young Market Masters Awards (YMMA) 21 years ago, the intent was deliberate: to recognize leaders early, before success was obvious and before history edited their narratives. Over time, a gap became hard to ignore. Many platforms celebrate breakthroughs and speed. Very few honor endurance, stewardship, and the long arc of leadership. Yet leadership is not a moment; […]

Influence mirrors society. It reflects who we admire, what we value, and—ultimately—who we decide to believe. But the mirror has cracked. Follower counts no longer equal persuasion, and visibility no longer ensures trust. In the Philippines, where pakikisama (social harmony) and hiya (moral restraint) quietly govern social behavior, influence is shifting away from performance and toward participation, from selling to shared meaning. This moment […]

Public awareness around corruption and social justice is at an all-time high across much of Asia, including the Philippines. Wealth and power, once flaunted without question, are now being cast in a more critical light. For years, social media made ostentatious displays of wealth feel routine. Few questioned the sources of that luxury, and many influencers posted without considering the […]