We recently connected with Korina Mercado and have shared our conversation below.
Korina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you manage your own social media?
Managing social media effectively is all about strategy, credibility, and consistency. I’ve been building my presence online since 2011, starting as a student in the Philippines who knew that standing out was essential for creating opportunities. That’s when I discovered LinkedIn—a platform filled with professionals—and realized it was the best place to showcase my credibility. Over the years, by consistently sharing my experiences and insights, I grew my LinkedIn following to 35,000. My Instagram has 12,000 followers and a community I built on Facebook has almost 70,000 members, the credibility I built on LinkedIn has led to brand partnerships, consulting opportunities, and leadership roles.
Social media is a long-term investment, and not every platform works the same way. Before diving in, you need to assess the risks and identify the best platform for your goals. TikTok, for example, is great for engagement and product sales, but LinkedIn is where professionals establish thought leadership and career credibility. Success isn’t just about following trends—it’s about creating a unique strategy that sets you apart while learning from those who are excelling in your field.
Beyond content creation, community building has also been a huge part of my journey. I founded Filipinas in Tech, a space to uplift and support Filipina professionals in the tech industry, and Konnect Konsult, a consulting service offering Industrial Engineering and AI-Driven Continuous Improvement techniques, helping professionals navigate their careers. Most importantly, people follow and engage with those they believe in. Building a community isn’t a one-time effort—it requires consistency, value, and authenticity. If you want to sustain growth, you need to continuously showcase your skills, share insights, and stay inspired by your journey. When you are genuinely passionate about what you do, consistency follows naturally. That’s the key to not just managing social media, but making it work for you in a way that creates real opportunities.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m Korina Mercado—an Industrial Engineer, Entrepreneur, Community Builder, and Content Creator. My journey has been driven by a passion for exploration, resilience, and creating opportunities where none seemed to exist. I grew up in the Philippines in a family of engineers and entrepreneurs, where I witnessed firsthand how my parents built multiple businesses, from food and transportation to real estate and lending. This environment instilled in me the belief that with passion, strategy, and hard work, anything can be created.
My professional foundation is rooted in Industrial Engineering, a field focused on optimization, efficiency, and continuous improvement. These principles shape my approach to business and life. I pursued Industrial Engineering because it aligns with my natural inclination toward problem-solving and improving systems. While many of my peers followed traditional paths in manufacturing, I carved my own unique journey in the aviation industry, where Industrial Engineers were rare. This allowed me to combine my love for optimization with the thrill of travel, gaining global insights and pushing beyond what was expected.
The transition to the U.S. tech industry marked an exciting new chapter in my career. The tech world offered a vast playing field for growth, and my background in process optimization, problem-solving, and adaptability made that transition both smooth and rewarding. Beyond my career, I started exploring different creative ideas to eventually build a business of my own. The continuous learning I’m doing in tech right now is pushing me to improve my current communities, services, and skill set. And I can’t wait to share what I’ve been working on—I’m building something great, something I’m refining every day, and soon, I’ll be able to launch it for the community.
What sets me apart from others is my ability to bridge the worlds of engineering, business, and content creation. I don’t just share insights—I create spaces where people can grow. Through my consistency and hard work, I’ve built a thriving community of over 35,000 professionals on LinkedIn, nearly 12,000 on Instagram, and a Facebook group with almost 70,000 members focused on business, real estate and consulting. These communities are a testament to my dedication to helping others navigate their careers, optimize their businesses, and connect with like-minded individuals.
And I’m just getting started. The best part of this journey is that there’s always something new to build, new ideas to explore, and new ways to make an impact. Stay tuned—I can’t wait to bring you all along as I turn my next vision into reality.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Resilience has defined my journey—shaping my career, my mindset, and how I build opportunities where none seem to exist.
I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs in the Philippines, watching my parents navigate challenges with persistence and strategy. That mindset fueled my own path, from stepping into the aviation industry—where Industrial Engineers were rare—to transitioning into the U.S. tech industry, where I had to rebuild my career from the ground up. Each shift came with uncertainty, but I adapted, learned, and kept pushing forward.
When I first launched KonnectKonsult, I secured clients from the UAE, Germany, and the U.S., helping businesses optimize their processes and strategies. But after moving to the U.S. and taking on a corporate role in tech, I had to shift my focus. Still, I never stopped sharing insights and supporting my network because I know my expertise can create impact. One day, I’ll return to building the next version of KonnectKonsult—stronger and more refined.
Beyond my career, resilience has also played a huge role in content creation. It’s not easy to stay consistent when your biggest supporters aren’t always the people closest to you. Yet, I kept going, sharing valuable insights, and building spaces for others to grow. That dedication led to a LinkedIn network of 35,000 professionals, nearly 12,000 followers on Instagram, and a business and consulting Facebook group with almost 70,000 members.
Right now, I’m channeling everything I’ve learned into my next big project—something I’m refining and can’t wait to launch. Resilience isn’t just about overcoming challenges; it’s about showing up, evolving, and staying committed to a bigger vision. No matter what obstacles come my way, I know they’re shaping me for what’s next.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One thing I had to unlearn was the idea that success is a linear path—that there’s only one way to achieve your goals.
Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, I thought the route to success was straightforward: get a degree, build expertise, grow a business, climb the corporate ladder. But as I moved through different industries—aviation, tech, and content creation—I realized that growth isn’t about following a set path. It’s about evolving, pivoting, and finding new ways to add value.
I learned that success isn’t about staying in one lane. It’s about reinventing yourself and being open to new opportunities. Now, as I work on my next big project, I know that the journey isn’t a straight line—it’s a series of twists and turns that lead to something even greater.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beacons.ai/mercadokorina?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabpbWUZXzgQyuPjRpqcC9SLv5lFvu_NYEIw5eSXWHo76KRI5_OlVjIhOfw_aem_myZqNfs_M-q6xhW0ATJngw
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mercadokorina_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mercadokorina/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mercadokorina/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mercadokorina
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/konnectkonsult/