Today we’d like to introduce you to Krystl Fabella
Hi Krystl, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in the Philippines and when we immigrated to California I grew up in a tight-knit Filipino community, but I never quite fit in. My family did an amazing job helping us adapt to American culture, but in the process, I lost my connection to my heritage. I wasn’t proud of being Filipino for a long time and was attracted to different paths from the traditional expectations like nursing or medicine. My mom, would get back very late, tired from her shift, and would repeatedly say “think of an idea, learn how to make your own money!” she didn’t realize it but she planting the early seeds of entrepreneurship into me!
After college, I decided against law school, packed up my car and drove up by myself to San Francisco, attracted by the “tech/start up boom.” I had no job stability and slept on an air mattress, but hustled my way into a now-big tech company. There was a low season I found myself questioning my purpose and feeling invisible, insignificant in this world of tech. One night, in an Uber ride home, I started randomly searching on my phone for “empowering Filipino women stories” and found nothing. I was shocked—not only by the lack of representation but by realizing I DID care about my heritage. That moment sparked a mission: to find and share stories of inspiring Filipina women breaking ceilings across industries.
I started a podcast in a closet with my iPhone, cold-messaging my first guests. (this would become the leading podcast!) Being in the Bay, I discovered a vibrant community of Filipinas making waves in tech, arts, and business—it was the perfect starting point. The podcast grew organically, expanding into social media, in-person events with hundreds of attendees, educational content, and even making it on TV coverage a couple times.
Two years ago, I left tech to go all in, and now Filipina on the Rise is the leading platform for Filipina empowerment! We’ve been featured on the news, had on iconic guests, but what I’m most proud of is our tight-knit community. Hearing women say, “This is the community I’ve been searching for; I feel so much prouder as a Filipina,” reminds me why I started. I’ve since lived in SF, Miami, and Austin, surrounding myself with creatives and visionaries.
Now I focus on “Community Engineering,” helping other brand & content leaders build REAL communities, from followers-to-fellowship, like we did with FOTR, something we need in this digitally-burned-out world. My new mission is to help anybody, anywhere, find the community they need. From that first Uber ride… you can say it’s been quite a trip!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
“You are only as good as your systems.” There’s a notion that creators can go with the flow, but we all have systems behind the scenes. When I pivoted from my full-time job in tech to entrepreneurship, I would find it wasn’t diving into a sea of fun and creation, it was actually implementing a lot of structure & discipline. To build a business, team, communities, a media brand. What helped was getting a business coach or program in the first year. If you’re going to take the “leap,” do it with a lead.
One of the hardest parts has been “solopreneurship.” The antidote for it being “lonely at the top” is having your own community, especially if you are a community leader yourself.
I have 3 circles I keep around me that fill different buckets: 1) founders & entrepreneurs 2) like-minded women 3) my church/faith-based family. It helps you stay grounded, and not just survive but thrive!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Filipina on the Rise ?
Filipina on the Rise is a global platform celebrating Filipina excellence through its podcast, events, social media, and membership program. Featuring award-winning guests and spotlighted on CBS, Yahoo, and international news, it empowers women with tools for growth while fostering leadership, pride, and cultural connection.
Krystl Fabella, a Community Engineer, helps brands transform followers-to-fellowship. With years of experience scaling the Filipina on the Rise community, Krystl crafts strategies that build authentic, engaged communities, not just content. Her approach turns audiences into passionate advocates, creating lasting connections that elevate both brand and community.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I heard this metaphor from a successful founder that really stuck with me: treat everything like an experiment lab. Set a goal, test ideas, collect data, and pivot based on what you learn. It’s about being curious and flexible rather than fearing failure or chasing perfection.
When starting something new—a podcast, business, or project—you don’t need all the answers upfront. This mindset keeps you open, listening, and adaptable. As a perfectionist, it’s helped me try new things, pivot quickly, and not overthink. My advice? Just run the experiment. Each step brings you closer to creating something amazing.
If I could go back, I’d tell myself a few things:
1) Find your zone of genius and stay there. Focus on what you’re uniquely great at and delegate the rest as much as possible. Early on, I was good at social media growth and creating content, so I kept doing it, thinking I had to. But I realized it wasn’t something I truly enjoyed, unlike others who seemed to thrive in it. Over time, I discovered my strength was in directing vision, hiring people, and helping them grow in their roles. The more I stayed in that zone, the better things worked for everyone—my team, the brand, and myself.
2. Seek out people who are a few steps ahead of you—those who have achieved where you want to be. Learn from their guidance through coaching or mentorship, and focus on advice from those who’ve walked the path you want to take.
3) Busy doesn’t equal important. It’s easy to get caught up in work that feels productive but only provides short-term gains. I’ve learned to identify what truly moves the needle and focus on that, even if it means doing less. For example, instead of spending hours refining content, I now focus on strategic planning and team growth, which drives long-term impact.
4) Slow down to make better decisions. It’s okay to take your time. There are of course, “real” deadlines, but often the only person pressuring you about deadlines is yourself. Slowing down has helped me make clearer, more thoughtful choices instead of rushing for the sake of progress.
These lessons have been game-changers for me, and I hope they help others starting their journey too!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://FilipinaontheRise.com
- Instagram: http://Instagram.com/FilipinaontheRise
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystlfabella/
