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 […]

Leadership in Philippine business is being redefined. Beyond profits, executives are increasingly judged by their ability to innovate responsibly, build institutions, and contribute to inclusive growth amid digital disruption and global competition. “The scope of the awards grew because leadership in Philippine business has grown in depth and complexity. There is more innovation, more institution-building, and more long-term thinking than […]

As we close another dynamic year, it’s worth pausing to look back at the ideas that truly mattered. This Top 10 Q&A brings together the perspectives of some of today’s most respected marketers and business leaders, individuals who didn’t just build successful enterprises, but shaped industries and influenced how we think about business. Their strategies, experiences, and personal reflections reveal […]

As a new year is about to begin, many companies are reviewing what worked, what didn’t, and what needs to change. It’s a time for reflection, and for most leaders, that includes confronting failure. But not all failures are bad. Some signal that your organization is learning fast. That was one of my key takeaways from Harvard Business School professor […]

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 […]

Across Manila, Jakarta, and Kathmandu, one force is reshaping markets: public outrage, not just at corrupt politicians, but also at ‘nepo baby’ influencers, entrenched institutions, and once-untouchable brands. In today’s hyperconnected world, trust isn’t given, it’s earned. Lose it, and you lose customers. Scandals involving misused funds, political favoritism, and influencer complicity aren’t just headlines; they’re changing how Filipinos and […]

We’re often seduced by data. Charts, dashboards, surveys, and analytics seem like the ultimate way to understand customers. But data alone won’t give you the full picture. It lacks context, can be incomplete or biased, and doesn’t explain the why behind behaviors. Human judgment and interpretation are essential to turn raw data into meaningful insights and decisions. To truly grasp […]

In the business world, where brands constantly seek relevance and differentiation, talent remains the true edge. Yet the corporate hiring lens, understandably, tends to gravitate toward efficiency, often favoring graduates from the country’s top three schools. It’s a pragmatic filter: limited time, limited resources, and a need to minimize risk. But this efficiency bias comes at a cost, it often […]

In business and in life, we often tolerate things that no longer make sense. We experience routines, processes, and small inefficiencies that persist simply because no one has questioned them. These everyday irritations are so familiar, they go unnoticed. They become default thinking. But to customers, they are felt, and remembered. This is what I call common nonsense: things that […]

Josiah Go features the movers and shakers of the business world and writes about marketing, strategy, innovation, execution and entrepreneurship

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