Manolo Mariano Isàda

Fast growing anime jewelry and accessories e-commerce brand, focused on premium design, and building a broader lifestyle product ecosystem.

Led Original Designs and creative operations across a high-volume remote environment, managing a focused original design group of 10 and a broader team of about 80 to 150 designers handling inbound custom apparel requests. Owned editorial and creative direction across templates, banners, icons, and other visual assets, ensuring consistency, quality, and alignment with business priorities. Supported metadata and SEO performance by improving how original designs were labeled, positioned, and surfaced to drive stronger CTR and conversion behavior. Tracked performance through CTR, conversion to order, and conversion into self-serve design tool usage, using results to guide creative and workflow decisions. Helped shift traffic from human-assisted design requests toward a self-serve design tool, reducing reliance on manual intervention and improving scalability. Helped develop and continuously improve Fresh Prints’ self-serve custom apparel design tool, using creative templates from the original designs team to support better user conversion and lower manual design demand.

Led a seasonal, high-volume remote organization of up to 150 people, with a layered structure of team leads and managers overseeing 60 to 120 associates. Owned the full employee lifecycle across hiring, interviewing, onboarding, promotions, performance management, sensitive people issues, and exits. Built the recruitment and ramp-up system from scratch, hiring and training 200+ team members and reducing ramp-up time from about 6 months to 1.5 months. Managed 20 middle managers and coached them on performance, accountability, communication, and execution standards. Owned KPI and SLA performance across cost per design, designs per shift per associate, click-through rate, conversion per design, customer service quality, 12-hour design delivery, and 6-hour response time for customer inquiries and concerns. Worked closely with managers in the US and operations teams in India and the Philippines, serving as a cross-border operator aligning team execution with business needs. Partnered with US Sales and internal stakeholders to improve handoffs, support closing, and maintain service quality across customer-facing workflows. Built structured SOPs, QA systems, performance reviews, and reporting routines to improve output consistency and team accountability. Led employee engagement efforts, handled retention and attendance issues, and supported teams through organizational changes in a seasonal business. Supported a $30M+ design-led revenue engine and about 35,000 monthly requests through tighter execution, team structure, and operating discipline.

Led Philippines-based hiring, onboarded and managed the first local HR team members, developed core policies, and handled sensitive employee relations matters. Worked with external legal counsel to protect the company’s business interests and support sound local operations. Introduced initiatives including bereavement leave, mental health support, and flexible work accommodations to strengthen employee experience. Organized company-wide and leadership retreats in the Philippines and overseas to support alignment and culture.

Built and ran a national-scale education and livelihood program under tight resource constraints. Led a 100+ volunteer network, coordinating schedules, outputs, standards, and delivery across distributed contributors. Produced 50+ hours of nationally broadcast distance-learning content, meeting government and broadcast requirements. Secured €93K+ in grant and donor funding and managed cross-functional execution across creative, production, and community teams.

I worked part-time at The Coconut Club by Raintree, Manila’s only authentic Tiki Bar, where I managed guest relations and handled table reservations. I also helped design the program flow and weekly promotions for Wednesday nights, keeping events fresh and engaging. During my time there, I helped sustain steady foot traffic and build a loyal base of regular patrons, blending hospitality with event management and on-ground brand experience.

Managed and expanded AKABA’s retail operations from 4 stores in 2018 to 18 nationwide by 2020. Oversaw store development, affiliate branch operations, merchandising, staffing, and day-to-day execution across a growing retail network. Built operating structure across a scaling business and handled issues tied to staffing, execution, and market disruption. Led the business through severe COVID-related retail disruption, making hard operating decisions under pressure.

Co-founded AKABA, a social enterprise that designed and produced bags made from handwoven indigenous textiles from across the Philippines. The brand aimed to create livelihood opportunities for weaving communities in Ilocos Norte, Sulu, Basilan, Oriental Mindoro, and Isabela. AKABA’s products were sold in the Philippines and internationally through retail partners and authorized resellers in the US, Canada, Italy, and Australia. Helped secure over PHP 5,000,000 in funding from impact investors and accelerators and supported participation in international trade shows across North America and ASEAN. Led product, brand, merchandising, supplier, and partnership work across a multi-market business.

I returned as a cast member for Season 6 of The Final Pitch. This season focused on social impact and pandemic-response projects, spotlighting entrepreneurs working toward inclusive and sustainable change. I pitched initiatives centered on digital and accessible education, securing PHP 5,000,000 in funding to support these programs.

Part of the cast of The Final Pitch, the Philippines’ first business reality show, similar in format to The Apprentice and Shark Tank. During the season, I represented our team in pitching business ideas and building partnerships on national television. Through strategic negotiation and presentation, I helped secure prizes worth over PHP 2,000,000 in value.

Helped drive national expansion from 16 to 98 stores through supplier coordination, store rollout support, merchandising systems, and operating playbooks. Set up a management and distribution hub in Central Visayas and improved store and admin systems through automation. Improved sourcing and margin performance while maintaining consistency across locations and SKUs.

Led the company’s rebranding, developed in-house brands, handled product sourcing, and supported the rollout of new concept stores. Introduced exclusive product lines and helped negotiate franchise deals in the Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

I joined Monster Radio RX 93.1’s Radio1 Student Jock program when I was just 14 years old, becoming the youngest recruit in the station’s history. From 2007 to 2015, I grew from a student volunteer into Head Radio1 Student Jock, leading brand development, show design, and technical training for new recruits. I also managed campus partnerships, secured sponsorships, and helped organize student-focused events and on-air programs. My years at RX 93.1 built my foundation in communication, broadcasting, marketing, and brand development while sparking my passion for creative storytelling and audience engagement. Alongside radio, I also explored opportunities in live event hosting, sportscasting, music television presenting, and briefly, acting in film and TV. I eventually chose to retire from radio and entertainment to pursue entrepreneurship and broader career growth opportunities.

Chief-of-Staff, Ateneo Model United Nations