🌏 Spotlight on Leadership: Madonna Elizaga Represents the Philippines at APEC 2022

In August 2022, our esteemed Chief Marketing Officer, Madonna Elizaga, took the global stage as a panelist at the APEC Self‑Funded Project: “Fostering Greater SME Participation in Global Value Chains”, held during APEC SME Week in Phuket, Thailand. This was more than an invitation—it was a celebration of her leadership and insight on empowering small and medium enterprises to join global supply networks.

A Global Conversation, A Local Champion

The project was designed to explore how SMEs can better tap into global value chains, especially through embracing digital technologies, improving logistics, and adopting ESG best practices. Madonna joined a stellar panel of international experts, regulators, and trade specialists, offering a uniquely grassroots perspective rooted in decades of real-world business building.

What Madonna Brought to the Table

Here’s what made her contribution so special:

• Real‑life SME experience: As the woman behind Zigmund Enterprises, a brand now distributed in Singapore, the U.S., Canada, and beyond, Madonna offered first‑hand stories of navigating FDA certification, exploring mechanized production, and growing from a small-town calamansi juice maker into an export-ready brand.
• Inspiration for women entrepreneurs: She stood as a reminder that passionate Philippine entrepreneurs can not just compete—but lead—on the world stage.
• Practical policy insights: Her experience aligns brilliantly with APEC’s vision for helping MSMEs scale responsibly into global markets—with integrity, sustainability, and community sensitivity .

A Proud Moment for Our Team

We’re incredibly proud to have our co‑founder shine under the APEC spotlight. Madonna’s presence at the panel underscores how local innovation, when supported by programs like DIT’s OTOP and DOST‑SETUP, can blossom into international opportunity.

Her participation echoes a larger truth: when APEC economies invest in digital capability, fair trade facilitation, and mentoring for SMEs—and especially women-led ones—real, tangible progress follows .

Looking Ahead

As Zigmund Enterprises continues to grow, we draw inspiration from moments like this. From kitchen creations in Metro Manila and Dumaguete to international forums and export campaigns, Madonna’s journey reminds us that one passionate person can ignite transformation—not just in her business, but in entire communities.

Thank you, Madonna, for leading with courage, for lifting up our brand, and for showing that Philippine SMEs can—and will—make waves in global value chains.

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