AN ILOILO-BASED consulting firm is proving that excellence in business and innovation need not be confined to the country’s capital. Cornelius Magnate Engagement & Consulting, founded by Ilonggo professional and businessman Ken Lerona, is steadily carving out its place on the national stage — offering boardroom-level strategy while staying deeply rooted in the realities of the countryside.
Cornelius Magnate is a strategy and advisory firm that focuses on training, leadership development, organizational innovation, communication, and reputational risk management. It delivers bespoke programs for companies and institutions, serving clients that range from multinational brands and family corporations to government agencies, cooperatives, and MSMEs across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
What sets the firm apart is its ability to bridge the corporate world with grassroots communities. From executive briefings in Bonifacio Global City in Metro Manila to workshops for cooperatives in Iloilo, Samar, and Davao, Cornelius Magnate thrives in adapting global business frameworks to local contexts. The firm’s guiding principle is simple: business growth must be inclusive, practical, and anchored in people.
A Global Probinsyano
At the helm of Cornelius Magnate is Ken Lerona, who describes himself as a global probinsyano. After more than two decades of corporate work in communication, marketing, and innovation, he brings boardroom credibility while remaining firmly immersed in provincial realities.
Lerona has seen both ends of the spectrum: advising executives in multinational boardrooms while also mentoring vendors, farmers, and small entrepreneurs in rural towns. This breadth of exposure enables him to translate complex strategies into actionable solutions for organizations of all sizes.
For Lerona, this dual perspective is essential. “If we want to build stronger businesses and communities, we must understand both the language of executives and the language of farmers,” he often shares in his lectures. This approach has made him a sought-after business and innovation consultant for clients who value both technical depth and cultural grounding.
Solid Academic and Professional Credentials
Lerona’s work is supported by strong academic preparation. He holds a Master in Innovation and Business from the Asian Institute of Management, alongside certificates in Corporate Strategy, Corporate Innovation Systems Strategy and Design, and Futures Thinking from the same institution. He also completed an Executive Certificate in Digital Leadership at Singapore Management University and studied adult learning at Ateneo de Manila University. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (major in marketing) degree from the University of the Philippines Visayas.
These credentials complement his professional experience across diverse industries, including FMCG, telecommunications, real estate, technology, and finance. His specialty areas — innovation, communication, organizational development, and reputational risk management — reflect both global best practices and Filipino realities.
In his corporate career, Lerona worked with major institutions such as Home Credit Philippines, Arthaland, Federal Land, Smart Communications, and SM Supermalls, experiences that deepened his expertise across diverse industries.
Serving Both City and Countryside
Lerona deliberately positioned Cornelius Magnate outside Metro Manila to highlight opportunities in the provinces. He has partnered with government agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Agriculture, and local government units, helping them improve service delivery and equip MSMEs for growth. He has also worked with private companies and cooperatives, guiding them in branding, customer engagement, and leadership training.
In these engagements, Lerona often emphasizes that innovation is not exclusive to private high-rise offices. It is equally important in farms, markets, and rural enterprises where livelihoods are built. This philosophy underpins Cornelius Magnate’s training and consulting: to make innovation accessible, relevant, and practical for the countryside.
At the same time, Lerona remains engaged in high-level corporate circles. His workshops and consulting sessions with multinational brands and family corporations focus on strategic growth, innovation, and leadership. This ability to move fluidly between different worlds — from boardrooms to barangays — is what makes Cornelius Magnate distinctive in the consulting space.
Looking Ahead
Cornelius Magnate Engagement & Consulting continues to grow as a trusted partner for organizations nationwide. By combining global expertise with local immersion, it demonstrates that world-class consulting can thrive even outside traditional business centers.
For Ken Lerona, the mission is clear: to help businesses, institutions, and communities navigate change with integrity, foresight, and resilience. As a business and innovation expert, he embodies the idea that one can be both global in outlook and provincial in grounding — a probinsyano making an impact on the national business stage.
Know more about the company at www.corneliusmagnate.com./PN
