Maritess De Ocampo

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Miko Lucena and family

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782752254438Miko Lucena and Family 3.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Dermtropics CEO Miko Lucena with wife Margaux and son Mateo</em></span></span></span></div><p>If there’s one thing that drastically changes the rules of the game, it’s parenthood. Children come bringing both cuteness and chaos, altering priorities and upending timelines, whilst also making everything more meaningful. The same can be said for <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dermtropics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dermtropics</a> CEO Miko Lucena, whose induction into fatherhood has fundamentally rewritten both his personal life and his executive playbook. “Fatherhood has changed me a lot. You start seeing everyone, especially the people you work with, from a father’s perspective,&quot; he shares. “You learn when to nurture and when to enforce, depending on the situation.”</p><p>Indeed, growing a start-up can perhaps be likened to raising a toddler, both of which Miko and his wife Margaux, have become adept at. The couple have a 3-year-old son named Mateo, and had also worked together to establish Dermtropics from the ground up. The eco-friendly company prides itself on using the best-quality virgin coconut oil in all its products, which was extracted through a wet-milling process that allows all the natural antioxidants and aroma of the tropical fruit to remain intact. Today, they have a curated selection of body and hair care products made without artificial fragrances, sulfates and parabens and which are suitable even for sensitive skin. </p><p>On top of steering their sustainable beauty brand, Miko also manages their farms in Davao, and oversees the development and selling of premium positioned residences. Prior to all this when he was in his 20s, he had also been the CEO of an advertising company. And while entrepreneurship had indeed shaped his managerial instincts, stepping into fatherhood has of late been the most definitive pivot. “Each business comes with different challenges, but fatherhood has given me a deeper sense of purpose and perspective in all of them,” he declares. “At the end of the day, being a husband and father reminds me that success is not just measured by business growth, but by the quality of relationships you build, the values you pass on, and the example you set for the people who look up to you.”</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782752383777Miko and son.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:505px"/></div><p>Fatherhood has similarly transformed the CEO’s leadership framework, anchoring it in an immersive, hands-on philosophy. “The best leadership principle is to be in the forefront, fight with your team. Respect is something that you earn and you earn that by showing your team that no task is far from you,” he says. “Be willing to be placed in difficult situations and solve it with them, this inadvertently trains their line of thinking, and it becomes contagious.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Rooted in Pure Intentions </strong></div><p>Despite the industry being quite competitive, the Lucenas still decided that their vision of bringing wellness to more people was worth fighting for. From a boutique operation that packed orders at home, to a fast-growing Filipino brand, they have certainly come a long way. “A lot of people dissuaded us from doing this particular business,” he recalls. However, instead of being discouraged, they drew inspiration from the patient success stories of Margaux’s mother, a dermatologist.</p><p>According to brand lore, Margaux had grown up seeing how effective her Mom’s simple unscented soap was for her patients. “Many would come back to ask for it again and again claiming how it did wonders for their skin,” Margaux shares on the company’s website. Her mother then let her in on the secret, which was of course the virgin coconut oil the soap was made with. This spark of curiosity led Margaux, with Miko’s help, to dive deep into research — only to realize that the most potent, skin-healing coconut oil was sourced right from the Philippine archipelago. And thus, the brand was born. </p><p>Establishing Dermtropics during a pandemic was a profound leap of faith, but Miko saw the potential, encouraging Margaux to dedicate herself to it completely. “We both agreed that there was still a lot for us to do, and our lives had just started. If we didn’t start now, we will regret it in the future,” shares Miko. </p><p>Nonetheless, the businessman isn’t one to shy away from adversity and even acknowledges how these can lead to welcome epiphanies. “Difficult situations give us the answer. Problem solving is one the major tasks of entrepreneurship,” he declares. In such situations, his role as a Dad sometimes comes into play. “Fatherhood has told me not to be a perfectionist and admire the continued process of solving challenges. We are all works in progress.” He further shares that raising a toddler in this era with all the temptations of technology is its own challenge. Despite that, the young Dad is taking it all in stride and even growing through it. “Learning to stay patient during moments of pressure and chaos has taught me a lot about leadership.”</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782752425436Miko Lucena and family 2.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:531px"/></div><p>Keeping Dermtropics running takes immense work, but Miko and Margaux always carve out time for date nights and creative collaboration. “We work on our marriage the way we work on our business: we fight less and propose more,” Miko says. “We have managed to balance emotion with results.”</p><div><strong>On Sustainability as the Real Bottomline </strong></div><p>While a lot of brands claim to be green businesses, Dermtropics has sustainability woven into its fabric. Their coconuts are ethically farmed and sourced from Mindanao, and grown in nutrient-dense red soil that eliminates the need for synthetic fertilizers. The meat of this versatile fruit is then processed with no bleach, chemicals, or heat, allowing the nutrients to remain fully intact. This sustainable approach is clearly a win-win, honoring the environment while delivering all the nourishing benefits of premium virgin coconut oil to the skin.</p><p>This blueprint for eco-consciousness likewise extends to other aspects of their production. Dermtropics utilizes biodegradable bottles, offers a refill program to minimize packaging waste, and has instituted a plastic-free shipping policy. The bodycare brand further offsets their environmental impact by partnering with organizations to plant trees, thus strengthening their efforts towards carbon-neutrality.</p><p>All this ties in with the values that Miko wants to pass on. “The best businesses are those that provide value, not just to the people who use your product, but to those who also work with you. Businesses that provide these elements should be the norm, let us not allow people to get used to businesses for the sake of profit,” he says.</p><p>He likewise feels that consumers have become more aware, and mindful not only of the things they shop for, but of the ideals companies espouse. Leading a homegrown brand with global ambitions, success for him involves Filipinos fully embracing and supporting the value of local innovation. “It is our firm belief that the Filipino can compete against the best in the world,” he declares.</p><p>As he continues to build a brand with a conscience, Miko is already thinking about the legacy he is leaving for his kids, hoping to impart the wisdom he’s gained as an entrepreneur. When the day comes that his children ask what it is their parents do, he wants to tell them that they are, fundamentally, problem solvers. “We look at the difference we want to be in this world and see how we can help contribute positively to it.”</p>

<p>As Dermtropics continues to champion sustainable beauty, Co-Founder and CEO Miko Lucena shares how fatherhood has transformed both his purpose and his leadership, shaping the way he builds his business, leads his team, and defines success.</p>

As Dermtropics continues to champion sustainable beauty, Co-Founder and CEO Miko Lucena shares how fatherhood has transformed both his purpose and his leadership, shaping the way he builds his business, leads his team, and defines success.

Dermtropics CEO Miko Lucena on why fatherhood is the ultimate business masterclass

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Dermtropics CEO Miko Lucena on why fatherhood is the ultimate business masterclass

Mariane Perez

Published June 30, 2026 01:02 AM PHT

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Updated June 30, 2026 01:06 AM PHT

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Dermtropics

Miko Lucena

Leadership Profile

Parenting

Fatherhood

Work And Life

Wellness

CEO Profile

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