Pleased to share the latest episode of the Penn State Dickinson Law Profiles in Leadership series, featuring Michael Aguinaldo, Chairperson of the Philippine Competition Commission.

His career offers a distinctive perspective on what institutional leadership requires when public trust, independence, and effective government all have to be earned at the same time. After nearly two decades in private practice, he moved into public service and went on to serve in the Office of the President, lead the Philippine Commission on Audit, and now head the country’s competition authority.

Our conversation explores how those experiences shaped his approach to leadership. He reflects on the importance of listening before acting, exercising judgment without losing sight of institutional principles, and preserving independence in environments where legal, political, and practical pressures often intersect.

One story captures that philosophy particularly well. A dispute over a $20 write-off becomes a lesson in proportionality, common sense, and the difference between enforcing rules mechanically and using them to make government work better.

We also discuss what it takes to make competition law meaningful in a developing economy, where the success of an agency depends not only on doctrine and enforcement but also on whether ordinary citizens can see how competition affects their daily lives. He spoke about strengthening the Philippine Competition Commission’s capacity, managing political and corruption risks, and building an institution equipped for the challenges ahead.

Watch here: https://lnkd.in/gmxsRQya

View past episodes of Profiles in Leadership here: https://dickinsonlaw.psu.edu/faculty/profiles-in-leadership

Justin Kulp