The RJ Ledesma Podcast

Join RJ Ledesma as we celebrate Women's Success by shining a light on the trailblazing women who are leading the charge in their respective fields.Discover inspiring stories of how financial management and strong family values have empowered these women to break barriers and forge new paths. This special episode highlights the importance of financial planning and support systems in nurturing success. Tune in to be motivated by their remarkable journeys and learn how you too can take charge of your future.

Very honored to have our next guest on the show – who was also the Past President of my Rotary Club in Makati West. Jose Teodoro ‘TG’ Limcaoco is the President and CEO of the Bank of Philippine Islands. The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) bagged multiple awards from prestigious regional publication FinanceAsia, getting the gold award for ‘Best Financial Company’ and silver for ‘Best Overall Company’ in the Philippines. BPI President TG Limcaoco also got gold as the ‘Best CEO’. BPI and Limcaoco are among the winners in FinanceAsia’s ‘Asia’s Best Managed Companies’ 2023 poll. Under his leadership, BPI hit a historical high for nine-month net income, ending the period with earnings of Php 38.6 Bn, up 26.4% vs the prior year, delivering a Return on Equity of 15.6%. Sustained loan and margin growth, as well as tempered provisions, were the main drivers of the strong financial performance.Limcaoco was appointed as BPI President and CEO on April 22, 2021. Before that, he was the Chief Finance Officer, Chief Risk Officer, and Chief Sustainability Officer of Ayala Corporation, a Philippine Stock Exchange-listed company. Previously, he served as President of BPI Family Savings Bank and President of BPI Capital Corporation.

 With a foundation in Industrial Engineering and expertise in areas like Sustainability, Analytics, and Continuous Improvement, Felix's impact extends beyond borders. As an industry leader, educator, and prolific author, he's reshaping the landscape for Filipino Industrial Engineers. His accolades, from Asia CEO Awards to global recognitions, highlight his commitment to excellence. His dedication to empowering MSMEs, startups, and academic institutions has earned him prestigious awards, recently including the Lean Six Sigma Award. A recipient of the EMBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology, his relentless pursuit of knowledge and leadership continues to elevate the Industrial Engineering profession, earning him a Presidential Citation from the Philippine Institute of Industrial Engineers.

The RJ Ledesma Podcast is back and I am very excited to interview Sergius Santos of SolX Technologies!SolX Technologies, Inc. recently beat out nine other startups to bag the top award in the Wildfire X Startup World Cup Philippine Regional Competition during the IGNITE 2023. They will represent the Philippines at the 2023 Startup World Cup Grand Finale in Silicon Valley, with a chance to win the $1-million grand prize.SolX’s platform helps local companies in identifying ideal power contracts and retail electricity suppliers, leading to cost-effective decisions on their energy consumption.SolX has already saved their clients close to P400 million in energy costs through their system as of date. And, more than that, their technology is 100% Filipino-made and their team all hail from the Philippines!

Frances Cruz is an omni-channel ads strategist from the Philippines. She’s been helping 7 to 8-figure startup businesses through digital advertising and nurturing approach in Meta and Tiktok platforms.Frances is also a coach for AdsLevelUp™, a media buying community program for beginners, aspiring ads strategists and business owners in the Philippines. Her field of digital marketing expertise is in the service-based industry such as aesthetics and medical clinics, restaurants, and construction firms.

In the bustling city of Cebu, Philippines, a visionary entrepreneur, Ralph Ray D. Chua, stands at the helm of Immuni Global Incorporated, managing a diverse portfolio of businesses in the food and pharmaceutical manufacturing, trading, real estate, and construction industries. With an impressive wealth of experience spanning over a decade, RR has become a beacon of change, steering his companies towards socially and environmentally conscious business practices that prioritize the well-being of Filipinos.

In the heart of Cebu City, Philippines, a beacon of hope and empowerment shines through the for-profit social enterprise known as ANTHILL Fabric Gallery. Founded in 2010 by the visionary leader Joy Anya T. Lim, ANTHILL stands for Alternative Nest and Trading / Training Hub for Indigenous Little Livelihood Seekers. This enterprise was born out of a deep commitment to address the prevalent issues of poverty and unemployment faced by marginalized sectors, particularly among indigenous communities.

 Stephen Michael H. Co is a visionary entrepreneur and the Co-Founder and CEO of two groundbreaking ventures, Worth The Health Foods (WTH Foods) and Nipa Brew Craft Beers. His journey into the world of sustainable food innovation and craft brewing began with a shared passion for showcasing Filipino creativity and locally sourced ingredients.

Ethan Rose founded http://Pouch.ph in 2021, a Bitcoin wallet service that uses the Lightning Network to enable customers to seamlessly send and receive money across borders. http://Pouch.ph is one of the most innovative startups in the Philippines – enabling faster, more affordable, and more borderless payments via Bitcoin’s Lightning Network. Pouch is currently running its closed Beta for a select group of individual early-adopters as well as for 250+ merchants in Boracay.