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 […]
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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, […]
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 […]
In today’s market, trust is a brand’s most valuable currency. Consumers don’t just buy products, they buy confidence that a brand will deliver on its promises, act ethically, and keep its word. Yet, too many marketing campaigns focus on messaging, image, and perception, assuming trust can be “communicated” rather than earned through action. The reality is clear: trust responds to […]
(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 […]
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 […]