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The RJ Ledesma Podcast
đ FROM EXPO TO EMPOWERMENT: HOW PHILSME IS UPLIFTING FILIPINO MSMEs đď¸đľđ
This week on the RJ Ledesma Podcast, we sit down with Trixie Abrenilla, the dynamic force behind PhilSME â the countryâs largest B2B expo and conference for MSMEs. If youâve ever attended PhilSME, you know itâs more than just an event â itâs where Filipino entrepreneurs discover real business solutions, connect with industry experts, and get inspired by some of the nationâs top entrepreneurial speakers. And Trixie is the driving engine making all of that happen.
In this episode, we talk about her mission to bridge MSMEs with the solutions and partners they need to grow â from fintech to logistics, digital marketing to packaging, HR to tech and AI â and how PhilSME has become the go-to platform for entrepreneurs looking to scale. We also dive into the heart behind her work: empowering local businesses, uplifting the SME community, and building a space where learning, networking, and growth all come together.
If youâre an MSME owner, startup founder, or a dreamer about to take that first step â this conversation will light something up in you. Donât miss it!
For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.#RJLedesmaPodcast #PhilSME #TrixieAbrenilla #MSMEBoost #EntrepreneurshipPH #SupportLocal
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FROM âANTI-AGINGâ TO AI-POWERED LONGEVITY. đ§Ź
41:43|Most people think aging is just something we eventually learn to live with.Mike Chan believes we may soon be able to manage it far more proactively.On this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with the Founder and CEO of House of Gaia, the Philippinesâ first AI-powered longevity center, to explore how technology is transforming the future of healthcare and human vitality.From full-body MRIs and genome sequencing to biomarker tracking, AI diagnostics, and precision medicine, Mike shares how longevity medicine is shifting healthcare from simply treating disease⌠to detecting risk earlier and optimizing health before problems even begin.One insight that really stayed with me?Many of todayâs biggest health risksâheart disease, cancer, stroke, and dementiaâare closely linked to aging itself. Yet most people only start paying attention once symptoms already appear.This conversation goes far beyond fitness trends or supplements.Itâs about living longer with energy.Staying sharper as we age.And understanding how science and technology may completely redefine what âhealthy agingâ looks like in the future.Watch the full episode now on The RJ Ledesma Podcast. đď¸#TheRJLedesmaPodcast #MikeChan #HouseOfGaia #Longevity #AIPoweredHealth #PrecisionMedicine #FutureOfHealth #Wellness
From IT Guy to Scrub Daddy: Turning a âWhat Ifâ into a Real Business
50:22|He wasnât in retail.He wasnât in distribution.He wasnât even planning to start a business.He was an IT professional.Then one day⌠he saw something on Shark Tank.That product? Scrub Daddy.What started as a simple âwhat ifâ turned into something much bigger.In this episode of the RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with Dustin Ng of Wincorpâa former expat IT professional who took a chance on a product he believed in, despite having zero background in retail or distribution.No roadmap.No guarantees.Just the willingness to reach out, take a risk, and figure things out along the way.From spotting an opportunity on TVâŚto building a full-scale business bringing a global brand into the Philippine marketâthis is a story of hustle, resilience, and commitment.Because sometimes, the biggest opportunities donât come from experience.They come from seeing something others donâtâand acting on it.đ§ Watch the full episode now.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
From Market Crashes to Mental Clarity: How Entrepreneurs Can Build a Winning Investment Strategy with Jun Tarrobago
01:05:50|Most people donât lose money because they picked the wrong investment.They lose money because they had no strategy when things started falling apart.On the RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with Jun Tarrobagoâa former Chief Investment Officer at UnionBank of the Philippines who has managed billions in assets, navigated multiple market cycles, and helped build top-performing equity funds.Today, he works closely with entrepreneurs and investorsânot just telling them where to invest, but helping them understand how to think, decide, and stay disciplined when everything becomes uncertain.Because in times like these, itâs not about chasing returns.Itâs about having a clear, structured strategy when the pressure hits.If youâre building wealth, running a business, or simply trying to make smarter financial decisionsâthis conversation might just change how you approach money.đ§ Watch the full episode now.#RJLedesmaPodcast #InvestingPH #FinancialStrategy #WealthBuilding #EntrepreneurMindsetFor any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
From Scaling Fleets to Scaling Founders
50:35|In this episode of the RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with Eric Darryl Lim, co-founder of Autokid Mobility Solutionsâa fast-growing mobility and fleet solutions company helping businesses move smarter and scale faster.A recognized young business leader, Eric is also a Mansmith Young Market Masters Awards awardee, honoring the countryâs most promising marketing-driven entrepreneurs. In our conversation, he opens up about the real entrepreneurial journeyâbuilding from the ground up, navigating challenges, and finding the right model to grow. But hereâs where it evolvesâŚÂ Today, Eric is also an Associate Professor at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, helping shape the next generation of founders. đ Donât just watchâtake action. Join One Day with Master Entrepreneurs and learn directly from practitioners. đ April 23, 2026 | 8:00 AM â 5:30 PM đ Ateneo Rockwell Campus Get a practical deep dive into Marketing, Operations, HR, and Financeâso you can make smarter business decisions, faster. đŠ Contact: Kharla Villaflor đą (+63) 917 705 9465 đ§ kvillaflor@ateneo.eduFor any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
From Cellphone Wraps to Supercar Dreams: The Rise of Second Skin Industries
51:46|Most businesses start with a plan.This one started with a hobby.On this episode of the RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with Archie Chiang, founder of Second Skin Industriesâa self-made entrepreneur whose journey began back in college⌠not with cars, but with wrapping cellphones.That curiosity turned into skill.That skill turned into wrapping laptops.Then cars.And eventually⌠some of the most prized supercars in the country.From working out of a humble five-car garage to now operating across two warehouses, Archie didnât just build a businessâhe built it layer by layer, one wrap at a time.This is a story about passion that compounds, skills that scale, and how something smallâwhen pursued consistentlyâcan grow into something world-class.If youâve ever underestimated where your âhobbyâ can take you⌠this episode might just change your mind.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
From Wedding Dreams to Building an Industry: The Sharon Fabian Story
47:30|Most people see weddings as a one-day celebration. But behind every âI doâ is an entire industryâand one woman helped build that from the ground up.On this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with Sharon Fabian, the visionary behind Themes & Motifs and Wedding Expo Philippinesâthe countryâs longest-running bridal fair. From spotting a gap in the market to creating a platform that has connected thousands of couples and suppliers over the years, Sharon shares how she turned a simple idea into a lasting legacy.But beyond the business, this is a story of resilience, reinvention, and staying relevant in an industry that constantly evolves. Plus, if youâre planning your big dayâor building your own businessâyouâll want to hear her insights on the latest wedding trends and what it really takes to thrive for decades.đď¸ Watch the full episode and discover how one entrepreneur turned wedding dreams into an entire ecosystem.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
From Founder Chaos to Business Clarity
01:06:37|Many entrepreneurs build their companies with grit and instinct â a lot of âready, fire, aim.â But as your business grows, that same energy can also create confusion, bottlenecks, and misalignment inside the team.In this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with my co-founder and wife Vanessa Pastor-Ledesma, and EOS Implementer Haraya Del Rosario Gust, founder of Satori Consulting, to talk about what itâs really like to bring the Entrepreneurial Operating System into our company, Mercato Centrale. Known as the countryâs pioneering food market and incubation platform for small food entrepreneurs, Mercato has helped launch and grow hundreds of food businesses across the Philippines. But like many founder-led organizations, growth also brings complexity â and EOS is helping us create clearer vision, stronger accountability, and better execution across the team.Vanessa and I share candidly about the leadership challenges that surfaced as we began implementing EOS â from founder dynamics to decision-making tensions â and how its practical tools are helping us align the organization and scale more sustainably. Watch this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast to get an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what happens when founders commit to installing the right operating system for their business â and why that structure might be the key to turning entrepreneurial chaos into sustainable growth.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
From Corporate Sales to Transforming a Family Enterprise: The Ronnie Traballo Story
56:23|What happens when you take the discipline of corporate sales and bring it into a traditional family business?In this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with Ronnie Traballo, Chairman of Bomanite International Limited and Managing Director of Bomanite Southeast Asia, who helped transform their family enterprise into a major player in architectural and decorative concrete across the region. Ronnie shares how his early training in the corporate world shaped his approach to building systems, developing distribution, and scaling a business in a highly competitive construction industry.Today, Ronnie also serves as Chief Sales Strategist of Mansmith and Fielders, where he teaches entrepreneurs and executives how to apply disciplined sales strategy to grow their companies. In our conversation, he talks about the mindset shift required to professionalize a family businessâand how the lessons he learned in corporate sales became the foundation for building something much bigger.Follow The RJ Ledesma Podcast for more conversations with founders and leaders building the future of Philippine business. đď¸For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.
From Potato Corner to Partner ng Bayan: Whatâs Next for Jose Magsaysay Jr.?
57:59|What happens after you build one of the most iconic homegrown food brands in the countryâand successfully exit?In this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with Jose âJomagâ Magsaysay Jr., best known as the co-founder of Potato Corner, the flavored-fries phenomenon that scaled across malls and global markets before its acquisition by the Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures. But this conversation isnât about nostalgia. Itâs about reinvention.Today, Jomag has stepped into a new roleâas âPartner ng Bayanââhelping entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses using the hard-earned lessons he learned from decades in the trenches. An award-winning entrepreneur and now Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Asian Institute of Management, he has also captured a new audience online through his widely shared Facebook series, Business As It Really Isâwhere he breaks down the raw, unfiltered truths of building companies, leading teams, and surviving the realities of entrepreneurship.If youâre an aspiring founder, a scaling entrepreneur, or someone navigating your own âwhatâs nextâ chapter, this episode is packed with battle-tested insights you wonât find in textbooks. This is Jomag like youâve never heard him beforeâreflective, strategic, and deeply committed to building the next generation of Filipino businesses.Listen in. Because sometimes, the most important chapter comes after the exit.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.