Last May 5, 2026, I had the privilege of standing before a room full of determined entrepreneurs in Bukidnon. The occasion? The 9th module of the Kapatid Mentor Me – Money Market Encounter (KMME-MME) Program, hosted by DTI-Bukidnon.
The topic was close to my heart: "Market-Driven Innovation: Product Development."
I didn't want to just talk. I wanted them to think differently. So we started with a simple but powerful question: Are you building what you love, or what your market actually needs?
But theory only goes so far.
That's why I had them do a worksheet activity on self-mapping and gap analysis. It wasn't busywork. It became their mirror—showing exactly where they stood and what gaps needed filling.
Then came my favorite part: one-on-one consultations. Each mentee sat with me, worksheet in hand, and we talked real business. Personalized feedback. Honest recommendations. Mentoring tailored to their specific struggles and growth areas.
No generic advice. Just practical, actionable steps.
Walking out of that session, I felt the same thing I always hope for—shift. These mentees didn't just learn about product development. They learned to listen to their market first. And that changes everything.
