Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending the SME Competitiveness Under Institutional Reform and Technological Change conference. It was organized and hosted by the Asian Institute of Management and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.
But first, I enjoyed my morning commute by taking the P2P to Makati. I slept comfortably during the two-hour traffic.
It was my first time to go to the Makati Diamond Residences, and it was really nice!
Since it was an SME event, I wore my Marikina-made Renegade Folk sandals with pride.
My seatmate, Esiel, is a Management lecturer at the University of Perpetual Help. It was helpful to have a teacher beside me as we got to exchange insights throughout the day.
Another SME product that I proudly wore was my Noah fanny pack from Rags 2 Riches.
AIM also partners with ADB on several studies, so we had a regional take on the industry landscape as well.
Lunch was a networking event, and it was a delicious way to digest all the learnings that were presented by the esteemed panel.
By the time the ensaymada was served, I was already inspired to continue supporting SME’s, especially those that help marginalized communities through social entrepreneurship. I sell Human Nature items through my online store, so I know first-hand how important technology is in business today. If the private sector and government will continue to work together to ensure that everyone has access to the right resources to setup their own businesses, then more Filipinos will be able to become thriving entrepreneurs. At the same time, the academe should continue researching on ways to support entrepreneurship in the country and the region. Lastly, we must all utilize the technology that is available to us to patronize business that have a heart and are locally-made.
Together, we can all build a competitive atmosphere for businesses to thrive!