A marketing powerhouse built from the ground up and a media empire strengthened through the course of the pandemic, AGC Power Holdings Corp. (AGC PHC) is known today as a powerful conglomerate housing the biggest local and international media titles in the country, and the man behind this success, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AGC PHC, Archie G. Carrasco, shares his story.

The Test of Authentic Leadership

The onset of the pandemic brought the biggest challenge for Carrasco. Amidst the worldwide economic crisis that closed down several business operations, he stormed through and increased opportunities not only for his company but also for his employees.

“A test of authentic leadership,” he describes is how well one can adapt to the unpredictability of times. Carrasco started to build more companies to diversify his string of businesses. Above all, he put his people first with purpose over profit as his guiding principle. His employees’ safety and well-being were prioritized, providing job security and making sure salaries stayed intact.

Despite most of the team observing a work-from-home arrangement, Carrasco reports to the office every weekday to guide his executives and the support team of AGC PHC. Since he runs and oversees multiple companies each catering to its own respective industries and distinct niches, he always spends a half-day with the leaders of each company to motivate them and finalize the plans for the week ahead.

Mentors Behind his Success

Shaping him into the leader he is today, Carrasco extends his gratitude to the creative visionaries and pioneers who have paved the way and inspired him up until this day. He names his first mentor, Frances J. Yu, the former AVP for Marketing of Rustan’s, as someone who guided him when he joined Rustan’s.

He also looks up to the founder of One MEGA Group (OMG), Sari V. Yap, who passed away in September 2019. To this day, he stays true to the promise he made to Sari, in making sure that the company, its employees, and stakeholders are cared for, ensuring everyone’s welfare.

Today, Carrasco stands tall as a mentor to others, honing the qualities of a great leader and staying resilient no matter what obstacle he might encounter. He listens to his people and provides a space where his employees can share their own ideas and opinions. Time and time again, he has proven himself to be trustworthy by making decisions for the betterment of the company and his employees. Most of all, he empowers his people by leading by example and giving them the opportunity for growth to become the best version of themselves.

A Powerhouse Strategy

The secret behind carving a dominant leadership space in the fast-paced world of advertising and lifestyle media is “not to do what everyone else is doing,” Carrasco shares. Limiting yourself to the status quo won’t work. Instead, one should project what makes you unique from others, and that’s how the world will notice.

He also reiterates that every leader should know how to embrace change. Companies should strive for the endless pursuit of innovation as it is the only way for business to evolve. “Always prepare your business for the future. During unpredictable times such as the global pandemic, no one could have anticipated the economic toll it took on businesses,” he shares. While other businesses closed down, Carrasco took the time to recalibrate his business and diversify its string of companies to cater to more industries.

Today, AGCPHC functions as the parent company of some of the high-performing multimedia companies in the country, including One MEGA Group Inc., the prestige publisher of top local lifestyle media brands like MEGA, MEGA Man, MEGA Style, MEGA Entertainment, MEGA Active, MEGA Drag, The Game, Lifestyle Asia, Bluprint, Modern Parenting, and ONEMEGA.com, MEGA Global Licensing Inc., the publisher of well-known international media titles like NYLON Manila and VOGUE Philippines, DigistarPH, a 360-degree digital marketing agency and home of today’s digital superstars, Playlist Inc., a digital channel strategist that is behind some of the famous Filipino celebrity YouTubers, 7640 Inc., a complete music and video production house and soon SariSari.Shopping, is the only e-commerce platform that offers 100% Filipino products.

The Team Who Matters

With the stakes even greater as AGC PHC goes global, Carrasco never fails to thank every member of his team that plays a significant role in upholding the excellence they have shown as a company.

Carrasco is inspired every day as he works with the most talented and passionate creatives in the industry. “I am fortunate to have an incredibly supportive, innovative, and high-functioning team behind me. It was through their unwavering hard work and dedication that our company was able to expand and evolve despite the limitations brought by our current situation,” he adds.

And for Carrasco, this is what it means to be successful. More than his own accomplishments, success for him happens when you achieve something that positively impacts the lives of others. “At the end of the day, the true meaning of success is your level of happiness from within.”