Thirty years ago, I had the rare opportunity to share my start-up experience and teach a full-semester, 3-unit course on network marketing, also known as multilevel marketing (MLM), at the Ateneo de Manila University. At the time, this subject had never been formally taught at the university level. I remain grateful to Rudy Ang, then chair of the management department, […]
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The world feels smaller today. Supply chains are under pressure, energy markets remain volatile, and uncertainty has become part of the operating environment. In times like these, the natural instinct of many leaders is to turn to dashboards—to track prices, monitor buffers, and revisit assumptions. These are necessary. But they are not sufficient. Because while systems help us respond, it […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Learning never stops. The author during a learning session, reinforcing his belief in lifelong learning. In marketing, what we know expires faster than we expect. Consumer behavior evolves, technology reshapes habits, and what once felt like hard-earned wisdom quietly loses relevance. That is why the most important skill in business today is not mastery, but the willingness and discipline to keep […]