Pinky's Philosophy

A high-powered chemist, businesswoman, and mother, Pinky Tobiano reveals the formula for creating balance in style

- MIA CASTRO

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

We were all asked this question when we were children, and for most of us, the answer is far different from the career paths we choose as adults. But this was not the case for Pinky Tobiano, chemist and businesswoman. At the age of five, in a moment of private ambition, she already daydreamed about making a breakthrough in modern medicine to help the people around her. It wasn’t a faraway dream, though. Early in life, she already knew she could achieve her goals through discipline—something she learned from growing up around her family’s business.

“I follow the SMART principle,” she shares. “When I was starting in the industry, my goals were always specific, measurable, attainable, and realistic, and you always must be time-bound. Even at this age, goal-setting for me is very important.” Today, Tobiano has created a remarkable visual narrative about herself on her own terms. She established two companies called Progressive Laboratories in 1995, which has created the best medicines for the agriculture industry, and KPP Powers Commodities Inc., a Philippine-based company that specializes in the importation and distribution of feed additives and supplements for the livestock and poultry industries. Not only that, but her other company, Qualibet Testing Services Corporation, has recently entered the international scene through an acquisition by Bureau Veritas Assurance Quality (BVAQ), a French-owned company and a major player in the global testing and certification industry. This means that Qualibet-BVAQ is a global leader in quality testing, with Tobiano being one of the board members.