26-05-2025
Meet Carla Mae Leonor, whose fusion of business and design is elevating Filipino creative industries
Carving a new path
Despite not taking the opportunity to work for the Design Center of the Philippines, she was fascinated by the expansion of Filipino Creative Enterprises. She wanted to explore how they could expand onto the global stage. 'I started connecting more with Filipino creatives during the pandemic, when people were struggling with the uncertainties of what lay ahead,' she says. At the time, global consumer trends were shifting. With the help of social media, people began to show more interest in design as well. 'We reflected, created and experimented,' Leonor says. 'We brought down our walls as we craved connection and a sense of purpose.'
In 2022, she co-founded the Bughaw Research Institute for the Development, Growth and Evolution of Creative Industries, abbreviated to BRIDGE Creatives. The startup connects creatives with data-driven, tech-enabled solutions to strengthen Filipinos' global competitiveness.
At the time, the team was following the development of Republic Act No. 11904, or the Philippine Creative Industry Development Act. Drafted by Congressman Toff De Venecia in 2021, the act amplified national Creative Economies, encouraging collaborations between the public and private sectors. 'I saw how the government had the power and influence to drive change, acting as either an enabler or a bottleneck,' she says. 'I saw this gap and tried to fill it.'
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Without realising it, Leonor had answered Rhea Matute's question through BRIDGE Creatives. A key part of their strategy was exploring data points about the impact of national policies and institutions. 'These snapshots of our reality are great ways for our creatives to learn and build opportunities with neighbouring countries,' she enthuses.
But after RA 11904 was passed, Leonor 'realised my readiness for public service, seeing how my vision could have a nationwide impact and reach those who needed the most assistance.' Now, Leonor works on large-scale projects like Design X, pushing for more circularity in the design-manufacturing sector. She also heads ResiDisenyo, a design residency programme that revitalises Philippine craft industries and regional identity.
This push for more democratised design is exactly what Leonor had in mind. 'This gives voice to the users' needs and preferences from the first stages of conceptualisation,' she says. 'It ensures that the outcomes are not only technically sound, but also meaningful to the people inhabiting those spaces.' Looking forward with hope and resilience
Above Carla Mae Leonor is co-founder of the Bughaw Research Institute for the Development, Growth and Evolution of Creative Industries, abbreviated to BRIDGE Creatives
Despite her achievements, Leonor recognises that the Philippines still has a long way to go in making opportunities accessible to women. 'I often found myself being underestimated by my male peers,' she says. 'I had to prove my competence, but I was lucky to find mentors who were leaders in their fields. They shared my values and empowered me not to hold back, to be confident with my authority and to know that my opinion matters.'
For Leonor, it was important to dismantle the cultural weight of hiya (shame) to push her career forward. 'You'd be surprised: the people you admire from a distance could become your mentor,' she says. 'I've since learned to be comfortable in my skin and to flex my accomplishments, while humbly owning up to my imperfections,' she says.
The ability to pivot is rooted in Leonor's commitment to being a lifelong learner. 'I'm a nerd at heart; my interests range from design to material science to psychology,' she says. 'I'm ready to learn from anyone at any time, allowing each lesson to refine and define my leadership skills.'
It can be difficult to balance work and her private life, but Leonor prefers to see the two as integrated. 'They're complementary, with each aspect energising the other,' she says. 'In everything I do, I want to empower people to see, do and think better. I dream that one day, the Philippines' creative industries can be case studies for our neighbouring countries to learn from, the way we do from them now.'
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