Mikaela Pacubas Talks Learning, Unlearning, and Relearning the Business

Solving problems is what Mikaela Pacubas does on a typical workday.

At 26 years old, Mikaela is already the Managing director of Surebright Manufacturing Industries Inc. and ELA Essentials. Growing up in a family that has dabbled in business for decades, she had always been exposed to the ins and outs of the trade.

Mikaela started working in the family business part-time when she was in grade school until her responsibilities grew each year.

“Finding solutions, innovation, and turning an interest into something feasible has always been ingrained in me,” she shared. Her parents encouraged her to take up the chemistry course in college, with the fruits of her labor manifesting in the creation of ELA Essentials and the possibilities of endless opportunities.

“I’ve always been into scents growing up,” she recalled. “I believe it is a really powerful tool for an individual—whether it be for personal or professional reasons.”

ELA Essentials began with the goal of being at the forefront of scent marketing in the Philippines. But when the pandemic hit, businesses had to shift priorities and like the rest, Mikaela and her team had to adapt.

“We focused on supplying hospital-grade 8 stage HEPA purifiers,” Mikaela shared. The team at ELA Essentials is also in the development stages of wellness and self-care products.

On the other hand, Mikaela also had to keep manufacturing cleaning products and disinfectants through Surebright. At the height of the pandemic, the company didn’t cease operations and continued to create timely and efficient solutions.

“We are also in the development stages of making efficient and quality chemical essentials that provide a lot of value to our everyday lives as Filipinos,” she said.

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Mikaela’s work ethic speaks for itself. While the situation each day at work can be different, she can always be found trying to take a crack at the root of the problem. She works closely with the rest of her team to figure out the most efficient solution.

2020 proved to be the most challenging year for Mikaela, not just as an individual, but as the one behind the helms of her companies. Still, she can confidently claim that it is also the most fulfilling one by far. She shared that she was able to start mental health programs in their workplace.

“[I think] that’s something that’s very important, especially now.”

These programs consist of seminars that guide the employees on how to cope, deal with stress, and handle uncertain times. Mikaela shared that she and her teammates try to understand when a member is falling short of their usual performance.

“[We] give them ample time to heal,” she added. “We try our best to practice work-life balance. We encourage rest and relaxation, as well as time for oneself and with loved ones during [our] free time.”

As an entrepreneur, it’s natural to have doubts about a project or its potential, but thanks to Mikaela’s strategic nature, she hasn’t experienced anything of the sort. She’s the type to think long-term and keep an objective mind. She and her team brainstorm together and if problems do arise, they try their best to nip it in the bud.

“We try our best to shift our focus if there is something that isn’t working. But if we do fail, failing fast and taking it as an opportunity to learn is something to keep in mind,” she said. “We treat every problem, small or big, urgently. Then we learn, unlearn, relearn. After that, we evolve.”

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She tries to get fresh ideas everywhere, whether it is in her surroundings, when she travels, or when she converses with someone. Books, mood boards, and art also get her mind’s gears turning.

“We just need to be able to utilize what applies to us so we don’t get overwhelmed, as we are in the age of unlimited knowledge and data,” she added.

Mikaela believes that it’s important to be firm when making decisions. Difficult things must be done to make the processes and systems easy, she shared.

“Finding solutions, innovation, and turning an interest into something feasible has always been ingrained in me.”

Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones, including her family and boyfriend, whom she shares are part of her inspiration to keep working the way she does. Her team, which consists of individuals who cooperated, adapted, and never gave up, also inspires her. Above all else though, Mikaela emphasizes her relationship with God.

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“I’m a firm believer that we were put on earth to serve God’s purpose,” she enthused. “He gave us the skills, talents, opportunities, and even problems to sharpen our character so that we may serve Him and the people on earth better. We need to make the most of every day for that reason.”

Mikaela shared that she likes to take long hot baths to rest and recharge. She also does aromatherapy and therapeutic massages. In her free time, she paints and takes inspiration from art and design.

In the next five to ten years, Mikaela hopes to bridge the gap of innovation in the personal care, home care, and wellness industries.