The Pioneer of Solar Philippines

We are accustomed that during our young age, we should focus on ourselves and give our
time to studying at schools or universities to achieve the dream job that we want to have and be
an equipped professional. It is also not new for us to hear that most young people badly want to
be a boss, manager, or CEO of their own company as this will help earn more money than being
an employee. Leonardo Leviste did not have this kind of view as he is a young CEO who simply
wants to lower the costs of electricity to improve the lives of Filipinos.

Leandro Leviste, the founder, president, and CEO of Solar Philippines, Southeast Asia's
largest developer of solar rooftop power plants, was just 20 years old when he invested in Tesla
and Solar City, two American solar panel manufacturers. Between his second and third years of
politics at Yale, he saw an opportunity back home for cheaper solar-powered energy in his own
nation, as the Philippines has among of the highest electricity costs in Asia. And he was certain
that solar energy could help reduce it.

Solar Philippines began by assisting large businesses in lowering their costs so that they
could pass those savings on to their tenants and customers, with the goal of improving the lives
of Filipinos. With that, Leandro embarked on a long-term journey toward a more prosperous and
environmentally friendly Philippines.

Mr. Hans T. Sy, “who had taken quite an interest in SM being the first to embrace solar
for the consumption of commercial buildings in the Philippines,” introduced Leandro to SM
Prime Holdings. Solar Philippines completed the 5,760 solar panel rooftop installation in SM
City North EDSA in 2014, which was the largest solar-powered rooftop installation on a mall at
the time, not just in the Philippines, but in the globe. "Our relationship has helped not just our
business, but also the rest of the country," he said, "since SM's adoption of innovative green
technology would enable Filipinos to live in a more sustainable environment."

As his business grows, Leandro envisions a time when "every Filipino will profit from
solar energy, whether from their own rooftops or from the electric power grid, due to the
lowering cost of solar energy." He goes on to say that decreased expenses will result in not only
lower prices but also a better and greener Philippines.

As a 19-year-old woman who is currently studying and having a live selling business at
the same time, it is difficult for me to manage my time but as I pour my passion into both of
them, none of the hindrances walls up my dreams. Leonardo Leviste’s journey proved that he did
not want to be a CEO of his own company for the money but to help his fellow citizens through
minimizing the costs of their electricity and to have a greener nation. As he pours his passion
into this, his business keeps growing and growing until it reached other nations. Leviste is one of
the inspiring young CEOs that every goal digger, especially in the field of business, should look
up to as he did not lift himself instead he continuously uplift every Filipino because of his work.