As CEO and founder of his own beauty and wellness trading company, this gentleman doesn’t just find ways to make his customers get slimmer and fairer. He also provides opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs in search of greener pastures.
By GRACE DIEZ
Life can certainly be a series of plot twists. And what you do with these curveballs defines your future. In the case of Leo Ortiz, he embraced the plot twists and explored the new path they led him to.
Prior to establishing Rising Dragon Beauty and Wellness Corp., Leo was a registered nurse who graduated cum laude from the University of Perpetual Help. He was more than ready to pursue a nursing career, even going as far as to volunteer in a public hospital for six months.
However, the hospital he volunteered in did not absorb him for full- time employment. Two years later, he still couldn’t get a job in a local hospital. “I was having trouble finding a job at the time to practice my profession because the Philippines had an excess of nurses,” he explains.
Well, destiny had other plans, to say the least.
Plot twist
While waiting for opportunities as a nurse, Leo didn’t just sit around. He took on a job as a lecturer in one of the nursing review institutes in the city and even worked as a customer care representative in the BPO sector. He also ventured into multi-level marketing to earn his keep.
Starting with just P2,500 in capital to resell contact lenses, things began to look up as his earnings grew. “I had a great opportunity to join a network marketing organization as a distributor — which really paved the way for me to become who and where I am now. It was no piece of cake but eventually, by God’s grace, I was able to keep up and continue,” he says.
Soon, the prospect of working as a nurse, whether locally or abroad, no longer seemed as alluring. “Leaving my profession as a nurse was not easy for me. However, I pursued entrepreneurship because of the bigger opportunities that network marketing had opened for me,” the CEO explains.
Slimming, whitening, glowing
After his success in contact lenses, Leo was then inspired to venture into a business that would help people in their weight loss and skin whitening journey. Thus, Glupalipo was born in 2016. Inspired by his own weight loss journey, this drink, according to Leo, contains 12 natural ingredients that help consumers achieve a slimmer body and fairer, more radiant skin. He further adds that it comes with antioxidants that prevent diseases and delay signs of aging.
Today, he distributes Glutalipo, along with other FDA-approved and Halal-certified products through Rising Dragon. Among those products are appetite suppressant and slimming coffee, red iced tea, juice, milk tea, dark chocolate and skin rejuvenating set. More products are in the pipeline. He and his company have also earned multiple recognitions including Global Iconic Aces Awards as a “Global Iconic Brand Builder with Remarkable Innovations” in the field of Health and Wellness, ASEAN Excellence Achievers Awards, and American Association of the Philippines’ “Young CEO of the Year,” among others.
The “Prince of Health and Wellness,” as his peers would call him, also reveals that his knowledge in healthcare inspired him to invest in wellness and beauty products. “I am committed to providing world-class products for all Filipinos, so that we may all have alternative solutions to address common health concerns while staying within our means,” the young CEO said.
Being part of a business that empowers others also keeps him inspired. “Another reward about my work is empowering my angels—my employees and staff, fostering a culture of trust, respect and family. I believe that if you treat your employees with dignity and courtesy, you can expect the same from them. I also respect their individuality and our workplace is inclusive. Lastly, being able to provide opportunities to other people and their families is really fulfilling,” he ends.
