CEO Insights Magazine

Today the world has undergone a paradigm shift with the technology adoption and globalization of economies & businesses. Born out of difficult circumstances or passion towards a field, where new entrepreneurs are finding opportunities to build socially minded and prolific businesses to tackle the world’s most critically driving sections, Kankan Ramos, Managing Partner of INVICTUSPH is one who stands differentiated.

Kankan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts (majoring in Advertising) from the University of Santo Tomas. She entered the Ad world to put her education into practice by connecting brands to consumers. Seamlessly integrating passion and profession has allowed Kankan to find purpose and meaning in the work she produces - exploring, experimenting, and discovering numerous possibilities in both the realms of Art and Advertising. As she continues to create art through painting, sketching, tangling, and mixed medium sculptures, her passion only grows with the understanding that there is still so much to discover, and there is so much to create. Let’s get to know her in-depth!

Could you give a brief account of your professional background and experiences? What is the motivation that fuels your daily routines?

Post my graduation over 20 years ago, I started my Digital Marketing career at Yehey! Corporation when the terms ‘social media’ and ‘community management’ were not even conceived, yet existed through the company's online portal. Before establishing INVICTUS PH, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with various agencies, ranging from small independent ones to globally affiliated ones. I have produced various visual artwork and participated in several group & solo exhibitions locally, as well as in the US and Europe. Both the positive and negative aspects of these encounters have served as invaluable lessons, shaping my vision for running my own agency and guiding me on how to be an effective leader. Currently, as the Managing Partner of INVICTUSPH, I endeavor to create a meaningful play space for stories and experiences through digital marketing & communications – enriching both brands and consumers. As one of my personal advocacies, I also find ways to share my professional knowledge and experience, as speaker & lecturer at Digital Marketing Institutes, and conducting Senior High School elective classes at St. Theresa’s College.

I also co-manage a Facebook community for a BTS fan group (Borahae From Manila) wherein dealing with a diverse set of individuals provides numerous opportunities to explore meaningful connections. With my passion projects and my professional work, every day is an opportunity to create meaningful change or contribute to a larger purpose. Hence, carrying the desire to make a positive difference and empowering & inspiring the people around me to grow, succeed and reach their full potential, I am motivated to continuously improve myself and expand my knowledge and capabilities, tapping on to opportunities and tackling complex problems, navigate uncertainty, & finding creative solutions.

How would you define INVICTUSPH as an organization and its current position in the market? Tell us about your leadership approach.

INVICTUSPH is a strategy driven advertising, marketing, and communications agency that provides tangible solutions that spring from inspired learning. We approach challenges presented to us agnostic of medium or platform, as this allows us to be unrestricted from the boundaries of service offerings. We believe in the power of working together with our partners to arrive at the best course of action, rather than dictating what should be done. We are committed to creating a ‘culture of bravery’. To foster bold thinking, to dare bravely, speak bravely and to lead bravely.

I believe that we are always a work in progress as a leader, but there are some of the things that I always carry with me like vision & purpose; lead by example; empowerment, delegation & collaboration; and continuous learning and adaptability. As a leader, providing a clear vision and purpose for your team or organization articulating compelling purpose fostering an open and honest communication is important. Hence, while leading by example, establishing credibility and creating a culture of integrity proves significant. It can promote an inclusive and supportive environment. Also, lifelong learning is the key to the unprecedented developments, thus encourage a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

What advice would you give to budding industry leaders?

Lead with purpose, define a clear vision & purpose for yourself and your team. Communicate the why behind your work, and inspire others with a shared sense of purpose. Stick to your core values and lead with integrity. Be a compassionate leader, and use your influence to positively impact your team, your partners/clients, your community, and society. Lastly, be kind, and have empathy.

Could you tell us about the unique experiences the University of Santo Tomas Philippines offers and what did you learn from the campus beyond academics?

If there is one thing that I learned and experienced from UST, it is the importance of understanding and learning how to effectively interact with people from diverse backgrounds. This includes being respectful and open-minded, as well as recognizing and appreciating the diversity of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds that individuals bring. Coming from an all-girls high school, entering college at UST provided me with a unique opportunity to embrace and celebrate diversity. Through meeting individuals from various backgrounds, I have come to understand that different perspectives can lead to more creative problem-solving and a wider range of ideas.

What is the future destination you are heading towards?

I believe that leadership is an ongoing journey of growth and development with no end. At INVICTUSPH, our objective is to consistently deliver impactful and meaningful campaigns. As an organization, our goal is to generate practical solutions through inspired learning, utilizing meaningful content and experiences.

Kankan Ramos, Managing Partner, INVICTUSPH

With over 20 years of extensive experience into the industry, creating art, doing social marketing, media planning, online publishing, content creation, strategic planning, and analytics for a diverse collection of brandsboth locally and internationally, she has a more holistic and multi-faceted approach to Arts & Advertising. She is currently leading it further through INVICTUSPH.

• Hobbies: Traveling, Creating Art, Boxing

• Favorite Cuisine: Japanese, Korean, Filipino

• Favorite Books: The Little Prince, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, Art books

• Favorite Travel Destination: South Korea, Japan, Paris