In this episode, we talk with Chef Leah Magallanes, Vice President for Sustainability, Quality Assurance, and Food & Beverage at SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC) in the Philippines.

Chef Leah leads the integration of sustainability into business strategy, operations, and guest experience across SMHCC’s nationwide portfolio of hotels and convention centres, including brands such as Taal Vista Hotel, Pico Sands Hotel, Conrad Manila, Radisson Hotel Group properties, SMX, and Lanson. With over a decade in senior leadership and a multidisciplinary background spanning culinary arts, finance, brand management, and operations, she is widely recognised for turning sustainability ambition into practical, scalable action.

In this conversation, we discuss how sustainability in hospitality is evolving and where the industry still has work to do. Chef Leah shares insights from her leadership at SM Hotels, including initiatives such as Tela Tales and Plate for the Planet, and reflects on how she has helped make sustainability more engaging and actionable at the property level.

We also explore SM Hotels’ journey toward cage-free sourcing over the past three years—what it has taken to build internal alignment, overcome implementation challenges, and reduce costs along the way.

In this episode of The Sustainable Table: Business Leaders Talk Welfare, Elissa Lane speaks with Vicky Yu, Procurement Manager at Ikano Retail, about what it takes to turn sustainability commitments into real-world action. With experience spanning global strategy at Inter IKEA Systems and local procurement across Asia, Vicky offers a unique perspective on how responsible sourcing goals are implemented on the ground.

The conversation explores the realities behind sourcing higher-welfare products like cage-free eggs, from navigating supply constraints to managing cost pressures. Vicky shares how procurement teams play a critical role in driving progress, and why strong supplier relationships and collaboration are essential to achieving meaningful change.

As companies work toward their sustainability commitments, this episode provides practical insights and lessons for bridging the gap between ambition and execution, especially in complex and evolving markets.

How do you get teams excited about sustainability? What does it take to build trust with suppliers and drive real change? In this episode, Anil Viswanathan, Vice President and Managing Director of Mondelez Vietnam, joins Elissa Lane to share how Mondelez is making progress on its cage-free egg commitment in Vietnam.

Anil brings his decades of experience and expertise in marketing, sustainability, and leadership to the conversation, offering insights on:

✅ Engaging teams and fostering a culture of sustainability
✅ Building strong partnerships with egg suppliers
✅ Strengthening consumer trust through responsible sourcing

Tune in for a practical discussion on driving corporate sustainability and supporting local farmers in the transition to cage-free eggs.