Asenso Tayo, Leaders!

Monica Maralit had a goal: become the Asian Oprah and help people transform their lives. Life, however, had its own plans.   From being guided by a determined mom, to finding her way into the corporate world, to becoming a leader, entrepreneur, and a massive advocate for young women, Monica's story is a reminder that purpose does not always arrive in the package we imagined.   This podcast epi...

What happens when a Leadership Coach from Louisiana discovers that the culture, resilience and values of the Philippines feel surprisingly SO familiar? In this Tales from the Trail episode of Asenso Tayo Leaders, we are joined by a guest who reached out to us out of the blue! And the way from the United States! Known as Coach Kevin, his journey has taken him from public service and the seafood ind...

Another exciting Deck of Heart episode where Michael and Maria get to sit down with the incredible and empowered lady, Ana Marques! A leader who wears so many hats, lives across amazing cultures, and brings a perspective that’s equal parts thoughtful, honest, and refreshingly real.   At first glance, Ana’s roles are impressive (and there are many!), but what really stood out in this conversation i...

In this episode of Asenso Tayo Leaders, we talk about leadership through the lens of experience from 2025’s Most Influential Filipino Leaders in the World!   We have a chat with Aya Shlachter, CEO of MGS Global, a Filipina, a Cebuana, a leader whose story reflects how far Filipinos have come in global work.   Michael and Maria explore Aya’s experiences, the opportunities she has started with her p...

The Deck of Hearts creates space for openness, reflection, and conversations that go a little deeper.   In this Deck of Hearts episode, we have a chat with our guest who is a pillar of the 5 ELK Tribe; a coach, a trainer, and a culture-setter, Mr. Ed Jabla Jr.   In this warm and genuine conversation, Michael and Maria open the storybooks about Ed’s leadership journey and uncover the moments, stori...

We’re back with Adrian Ding, CEO of Maximum Impact Philippines! Part 1 episode with Adrian he painted an inspiring vision of what great leadership looks like and why Filipinos are uniquely equipped given the natural virtues and values that Filipinos may not even realise.   Now for Part 2, we get practical. This is where Michael and Adrian roll up their sleeves to talk about the inner work of leade...

In this episode of Asenso Tayo Leaders, Michael sits down with Adrian Ding, CEO and head coach of Maximum Impact Philippines, for a powerful and energizing conversation about what leadership truly means today.   Fresh from facilitating a 2-day workshop with our 5 ELK leaders, Adrian brings the same clarity, depth, and heart that have made him one of the most sought‑after leadership trainers in the...

The Deck of Hearts creates space for openness, reflection, and conversations that go a little deeper. In this episode of Asenso Tayo Leaders, it’s Michael’s turn to be in the hotseat.   Michael shares stories from early in his career, chasing the “right” path, ticking the boxes, and realising much later that he was playing a game he didn’t actually want to win. Michael reflects on playing it safe...

In this episode of Asenso Tayo, Leaders, we sit down with someone whose life’s work has touched millions….we have Masami Sato, founder of B1G1!   Masami shares the heart behind B1G1 and why she believes that small, thoughtful actions can transform & pollinate the good from organisation then out to the world…how generosity can be woven into the core of an organisation’s culture, and why groundi...

We are thrilled to introduce a new kind of episode, something a little different, a little deeper and in a form of a game. At first, in the phases of planning, we called it “Fail Forward”, but it didn’t quite capture the heart of what we were going for. So, we’ve renamed it: The Deck of Hearts. In The Deck of Hearts, we envisage to have a literal deck of cards, each one holding a question designed...

We’re back with Charm Melhem for Part 2 and this one dives even deeper.   Charm talks about what it truly means to lead with transparency not just upward to your leaders, but across to your team. She shares how she stays grounded during those uncomfortable conversations, choosing empathy and learning to pause, breathe, and see things from the other person’s lens.   You will also hear her powerful...

In this two-part episode of Tales from the Trail, we sit down with Charm Melhem, a proud Filipino leader and one of the driving forces behind Pivot Wealth, one of Australia’s most awarded Financial Planning businesses.   In Part 1, Charm shares her story success story from a Client Service Administrator role levitating to a well rounded Leader. She shares the strength in self awareness, the impact...

In Part 2 of our conversation with James Thompson, he reminds us that true leadership stems from the heart, through being present, uplifting others, and staying grounded, regardless of how high one climbs. This episode is filled with honest reflections, humor, and moments that reveal the person behind the airwaves, which made the entire conversation even more memorable. Asenso Tayo, Leaders is bro...

In this two-part episode of our 'Tales from the Trail', we interview James Thompson. We sit down with James Thompson, an inspiring executive whose leadership journey spans government, tourism, aged care, agribusiness, and the IT-BPM industry. James talks about his journey in navigating through personal and professional challenges. Now based in the Philippines as Executive Director at WrkPod, James...

In this episode, we explore the questions raised after Asenso Tayo Leadership Masterclass held at 5 ELK HQ in Cebu. Join us at our 'Ask us Anything' session, as we unpack insights, clarify leadership concepts, and provide practical takeaways. If you sent in a question, this episode is especially for you, but trust us, there’s something valuable here for everyone.

In this premiere episode of Asenso Tayo Leaders, hosts Michael and Maria dive into a chat about how to effectively manage conversations when communicating changes as a leader including the mindset needed to lead during times of transition.   Asenso Tayo, Leaders is brought to you by 5 ELK, a team who helps great businesses build great offshore teams. If you're curious about what we do or what...

In this 'Tales from the Trail' episode of Asenso Tayo, Leaders, we interview Roy Espinosa.    Roy Espinosa, the People and Culture Manager at 5 ELK, shares his journey from a BPO call center agent to a trainer, and ultimately to a pivotal leadership role at 5 ELK, managing a team amidst rapid company growth. Roy goes deep into the challenges he faced, the growth he experienced, and the pat...

In this 'Tales from the Trail' episode, we interview NJ Labuca.    NJ, one of the passionate Kickstarter Trainers at 5 ELK, joins us in this episode to share his inspiring career journey, from his early days at 5 ELK to the significant moments that motivated him to step up and level up. Our conversation was also directed into the transformative power of validation, how this shaped NJ’s gro...

Asenso Tayo, Leaders is a podcast for Pinoy leaders who want to find ways to lead better, but are still figuring it out. It’s brought to you by award-winning offshoring business, 5 ELK.    Through honest conversations and real stories, we help take the messiness and self-doubt out of your leadership.    Whether you’re leading for the first time or trying to lead better, this is a space for thinkin...