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 episode is about family expectations, taking chances, building communities, and discovering that sometimes the thing you wanted most is already showing up in your life just maybe in a different way.

You might be someone who have wondered whether you are following your own path or someone else's, this episode is for YOU. This is only Part 1, my friends, so keep an eye out for Part 2 soon!

*Want to explore Victoria Heart Strong and the incredible work being done by Monica & the team to support and empower young women? Find out more here: https://www.victoriaheartstrong.com/

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 it’s like to work with us, you’ll find everything you need at https://www.5elk.com

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 industry to speaking on global stages and coaching thousands of people around the world on leadership and business. He is the founder of Forge Legend, a coaching organisation.

What makes Kevin's story absolutely meaningful for you all, is his long-standing connection with the Philippines, having worked with Filipino virtual assistants since 2002!

He has developed a deeper appreciation for Filipino values, so much so that he often describes working with Filipinos as "working with people from home."

Filled with wisdom, humour, and powerful stories, this conversation will challenge all of us to re-think our limitations, embrace who we are, & recognise the impact we can have on the people around us. You would want to stick your nose into this.

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 it’s like to work with us, you’ll find everything you need at https://www.5elk.com

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 is who she is beneath all of that.

From navigating identity as a Filipina growing up abroad, to re-defining success after years of chasing perfection, Ana shares a deeply personal and relatable journey of finding her way back to herself. We talk about burnout, high performance, and why doing “more” isn’t always the answer. Ana opens up about her reset season and how she now treats herself like a high‑performance athlete, and why rest, health, intentionality and purpose have become non‑negotiables in how she shows up as a Leader, and basically in everything she does!

You will get to listen to such a beautiful thread around belonging, purpose, and what drew her to the 5 ELK tribe, because of shared values & genuine connection. It is a powerful reminder that the work we choose should definitely mean something to us and how powerful our emotions can be that magnetic force that pulls great leaders in, people who actually ‘give a sh*t’.

This episode is honest, reflective, and full of those little mindset shifts that sticks with you.

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 it’s like to work with us, you’ll find everything you need at https://www.5elk.com

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 passion for fellow Filipinos, and what it really takes for Filipino women to step into leadership with confidence. 

She shares her thoughts on staying proud of her culture, shaping the right mindset, and why more global teams are now led, built, and strengthened by Filipinos.

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 it’s like to work with us, you’ll find everything you need at https://www.5elk.com

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, stories, and philosophies that have shaped the way he guides team members and the people around him. You will also hear how he navigates tough situations, how he stays anchored during challenging days, and what he believes makes leadership meaningful. 

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 it’s like to work with us, you’ll find everything you need at https://www.5elk.com

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 leadership tackling: self-limiting beliefs, choosing the right circle of influence, understanding your inner critic & inner coach and embracing the power of vulnerability.

There are more Adrian Ding stories, like moments from his youth, his mistakes, his turning points and there’s an opportunity for you to see a different side of him, he does something in this episode that he has NEVER done on a podcast before. You wouldn’t want to miss it.

Honest, generous, vulnerable, and full leadership steps you can take today!

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 it’s like to work with us, you’ll find everything you need at https://www.5elk.com

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 Philippines. He breaks down how leadership is rapidly evolving and exactly what today’s leaders need to build to stay relevant, effective, and future‑ready.

But hey, here’s where the conversation becomes game‑changing for listeners: Adrian reveals why Filipinos are uniquely & naturally positioned in the global leadership landscape. From cultural warmth and resilience to emotional intelligence, adaptability, and a deep sense of community, Adrian explains how these Filipino virtues aren’t just nice-to-haves...they’re the exact qualities modern organizations around the world are actively on the look out for. 

Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting your leadership journey, this episode will give you a clearer vision - it's rich, heartfelt, and overflowing with insights that will challenge you to see yourself & your future differently.

One of the most value‑packed conversations we've had, dnd the best part? This is only Part 1, so keep an eye out for Part 2!

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 it’s like to work with us, you’ll find everything you need at https://www.5elk.com

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 early in his career, following the path that looked right on paper, and the moment he realised he was playing a game he didn’t actually want to win.

This episode explores playing the wrong game, finding clarity through action, and the need to regularly recalibrate your leadership. Michael also reflects on losing confidence when his strengths weren’t being used, and why excitement for the future became an important signal.

It’s a side of his journey that people don’t often see, and it shows the reality behind leadership that can sometimes look easy from the outside.

‘Screw Work, Let’s Play’ by John Williams: https://www.amazon.com.au/Screw-Work-Lets-Play-What/dp/0273730932

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 it’s like to work with us, you’ll find everything you need at https://www.5elk.com

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 grounding our work in purpose is transformative.

We also happily talk about the shared commitment between B1G1 and 5 ELK, and how 5 ELK Tribe has contributed to 57,000 days of shelter and how all this sums up our mission to uplift more people and support the spark around more “butterfly moments,” and create greater impact together.

If you would like to learn more about to B1G1, check them out here: https://b1g1.com/, it would be great for you to get a chance to see the Masami and the B1G1 team in action! And whilst you are at it, you can grab a copy Masami Sato’s Books:

https://www.masamisato.com/books

‘Legacy — The Sustainable Development Goals in Action’
‘Giving Business — Creating the Maximum Impact in a Meaning-Driven World’
‘Better Business, Better Life, Better World — The Movement’

And.. we are thrilled to share a very special sneak peek as Masami gives us a preview of her upcoming JOY book!! Can’t wait for you to get your hands on the first copies as soon as this is released, oh you got the firsthand intel to this!! 

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 it’s like to work with us, you’ll find everything you need at https://www.5elk.com

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 to go beyond the surface. They are the kind of questions that invite honesty, vulnerability, and reflection. In this two part episode, Maria draws a 'card' that opens the door to one of the most defining moments in her early leadership journey. It’s a story that shaped how she leads today and one that might just resonate with anyone who's ever faced a similar struggle and turning point in their career.
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 it’s like to work with us, you’ll find everything you need at https://www.5elk.com