By the time Jommel Macabagdal stood on the TEDx Manila stage, he had already built companies, reshaped a traditional industry, and coined a new archetype for Filipino professionals, the “EngTrePM”: Engineer, Entrepreneur, and Project Management Professional.
But his story didn’t start in a boardroom. It started with Family.
His grandmother, Maria Macabagdal, once turned ₱60,000 into a future by building apartments on inherited land. “She taught me the value of not just building structures,” says Macabagdal, “but building relationships.”
That seed of generational grit grew into a multi-company empire: MAC Management Inc., What Matters Inc., and MAXIMUS Built Solutions Inc.
Here are seven lessons from Macabagdal on how he built more than Structures and Businesses; he built Lives – culture, systems, and trust.
1. Lead with Purpose, Not Ego
“I realized early that the construction industry was broken by ego,” he recalls of his first job at Jones Lang LaSalle. Faced with shouting matches and finger-pointing, he decided to rewrite the rules. He called all stakeholders into a room and asked: “Aren’t you tired of the blaming game?”
That moment birthed his lifelong management mantra: “Tulungan di Turuan” (Helping not blaming).
2. Find What Matters, Then Build It
Work-life balance is more than a buzzword for him; it’s a strategy.
“It is hard to succeed in your career and business if your personal life is a mess. Know yourself and what really matters to you.”
This value is even reflected in his ventures, such as pioneering ‘What Matters’, the first coworking space with a child learning facility in the Philippines, together with his wife, Camile where they can be with their kids while being productive.
3. Reputation is Your Currency
“Reputation is a lifetime to build, but a moment to destroy,” he warns.
Macabagdal stresses honesty, notably in situations involving vendor issues, in a nation where the circles are small and street gossip spreads quickly. “Never compromise your values for short-term gain. Your name is your brand.”
4. Progress Beats Perfection
He doesn’t pretend to be flawless. “I’ve made mistakes,” he admits. “But I always aim to progress and be better from those experiences.” It’s why he champions feedback, upskilling, and employee empowerment across all levels of his teams.
5. Protect Your People
When other companies were cutting personnel during the pandemic, Macabagdal did the opposite. He voluntarily accepted a salary cut and encouraged others to do it as well. This move not only created long-term loyalty but also made employee engagement peak by 96% which is incredibly high for the Construction industry.
6. Simplify to Multiply
Macabagdal doesn’t believe in complicating things just for the sake of appearing smarter. That mindset has shaped both his teaching and leadership style.
“Even in school, my classmates would ask me to teach math because I made it simple,” he recalls.
This lifelong skill of simplification now leads to clearer team alignment, quicker decisions, and more reliable results across his companies.
7. Future-Proof with Intent
He’s not just building companies, he’s building a brighter future too. From continuous personal development to creating toolkits for project professionals, Macabagdal sees beyond short-term wins. “The best way to predict the future,” he says, “is to create it.”
A Legacy Beyond Accolades
Jommel Macabagdal’s story, shared in close collaboration with Pressiqa, captures a journey of leadership marked by recognition, reinvention, and relevance. His trek has won him laurels, including recognition among MSN’s Top 10 Influential Entrepreneurs 2025, Asia’s Hero of Transformative Project Leadership and Built Environment Impact, presenting on TEDx Manila, Construction Conferences, and University commencement. However, his actual legacy lies in the way he is transforming mentalities.
For more information about Jommel and his journey, connect with him on LinkedIn or Facebook.
