The world is Isabella “Bey” Pascua’s oyster. The multifaceted 25-year-old is not just a singer, songwriter, and host, she is also the operations manager at leading live entertainment company Live Nation Philippines. Her dynamic and passionate interest in entertainment consumes most of her time and inspires her to take on new adventures—literally and figuratively. 

In an exclusive conversation with Metro.Style, Bey talks about her latest project (a travel show called Be Cool), her evolving leadership role at Live Nation Philippines, and her personal journey of growth in leadership and self-discovery amid quarterlife.

Photography by Gail Geriane, courtesy of Universal Records Philippines and GLXY Talent Management

Gen Z leadership

Bey started working for MMI Live (now Live Nation Philippines) as an assistant to the COO in 2019 before becoming the current operations manager of the company, where her mother, Rhiza Pascua, serves as the managing director.

“While I was in that position, I really did my best to be open-minded and learn about the different departments. I actually started by learning how to do budgets, social media, and paying or filing for taxes. I really took the time for those first few years to gather the knowledge I needed so that when I did have to step up, at least it wasn’t coming from the typical nepo baby story of, ‘Oh, it was just handed to me.’ I don’t need to tell people what I’m doing because I know that if I work in silence, I think that speaks volumes already on its own. I really did take the time to be able to learn every step, every nook and cranny just so I could be where I am now, and I really enjoy it too,” Bey shared.

As part of the music industry herself, Bey enjoys discovering and following artists, pitching them the idea of coming to the Philippines, and doing market research. Ultimately, successfully bringing artists to the country for their fans to enjoy and experience their live shows is the part of her job that she finds most fulfilling. 

She also doubles as a project manager and handled two of the biggest shows in the Philippines recently: BTS J-Hope’s “Hope On The Stage” in MOA Arena and Olivia Rodrigo’s “GUTS World Tour” at the Philippine Arena.

As a young leader in her position, Bey also had to contend with the misconceptions that Gen Z or young leaders lack experience or authority to lead effectively.

“I think many people fail to realize that leadership isn't really about age. It's more like, ‘Do you have a vision? Do you have a vision for yourself? Do you have a vision for the company that you're working for? Do you have adaptability? Do you have the ability to inspire the people you're working with and connect with them to make that vision happen?” she started probing, showing the thoughts she puts into her decisions.

Bey also champions support for new perspectives and generational collaboration, acknowledging the inputs and opinions these young leaders can contribute. “Maybe people who are a bit more experienced than they are turn down their opinion because they think, ‘We should work in a traditional way. We should do what we've been doing. If it's not broken, let's not fix it.’ But many industries nowadays are changing so fast to meet all of the needs that came up after the pandemic. And I think, now, people need to be more open to innovation and collaboration, even if they're younger or older. I think a lot of things need to change for everyone to be successful,” she declared.

Describing her Live Nation Philippines work as a very detail-oriented job, she says it's important to be able to handle multiple things and be a problem-solver. Despite her confidence, she’s humble enough to acknowledge that there is still a lot to learn.

“I think I'm definitely still learning how to be a leader on my own. There are still things I need to hone and change about myself. I think when my mom said that I needed to have thick skin or a strong stomach, it's because she knows I'm very sensitive,” she laughed, adding that negative comments make her sad or downright upset.

What constantly uplifts her spirit are opportunities for learning and collaboration. “Always learning is very important to me because I feel like I enter a room with the mindset of ‘I don't know everything.’ I don't know everything that's going on, and I will never know everything, so there's always something new to be learned,” said Bey, who earned her Master’s Degree in Business Administration and graduated Magna Cum Laude at the University of Notre Dame last year.

Artist by heart

Aside from her work in event production, Bey is also a singer-songwriter under Universal Records Philippines. Her songs “Close 2 U,” “Crash Landing,” “Dahilan,” and “nevermind” showcase her flair for music.

While Bey does a delicate balancing act with her workload, she’s eager to return to music and songwriting. “I think I’ve been listening to a lot more OPM recently. I’d love to collaborate with a lot of the artists that inspire me. Locally, an artist I’ve been listening to a lot is Dionela. I love his music, and his voice is really soothing and nice. Internationally? Ariana Grande and Beyoncé have always been inspirations to me. So those two—manifesting!”

As someone passionate about beauty, another dream she’s manifesting is launching her own skincare or makeup brand that’s cruelty-free and environmentally friendly. “That's always been a goal of mine,” Bey said, giving a glimpse into her entrepreneurial spirit. “I've always wanted to have something that I can call my own… I want something I can call my own and be able to work on from conceptualization to when it actually starts up.”

At the time of this interview, Bey was fresh from filming in Bicol, as she hosts Be Cool, a travel reality series slated to air this June, alongside Korean actor Kim Ji Soo, social media star Sassa Gurl, and actor-producer Richard Juan. The show, created in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DoT) and the Tourism Promotions Board, aims to spotlight the Philippines’ hidden gem, starting with the scenic landscapes of Albay.

“Bicol is so underrated,” Bey remarked. “We only explored Albay, but there’s so much more to see. I hope we get to do more seasons and explore other provinces.”

More than just a travel show, Bey sees the project as a chance to reconnect and explore her Filipino roots. She told Metro.Style, “Being born and raised in L.A., I learned about Filipino culture from my parents. But being here, eating with the locals, hearing their stories—it’s a different kind of learning.” 

Learning from her mom

Being Rhiza Pascua's daughter may put some pressure on Bey; still, she chooses to focus on the many valuable lessons she learned from her mom and use them to inspire her own journey. 

“My mom is very ambitious and strong-minded. She knows what she wants, works hard to get what she wants. I see her as my mentor,” Bey began. “Ever since I think I was three years old, and when I started traveling with her, I was her soundboard. I would remember certain life lessons when she would be encountering some kind of challenge, or when I would see her work. She would also kind of just pull me aside and be like, ‘Bey, when you're in this position, when you get older, just remember: these are things that you have to be able to handle. You have to have thick skin. You can't take things too seriously. It's about having relationships, building strong relationships with people. It's about not entertaining negativity.’”

In Gen Z-speak, Bey understood the assignment. “Music is something super fun, right? A lot of people use music to bond with others. Like you're in a concert with thousands—maybe millions of people—and bond with them over the same artist. So you shouldn't let negativity or negative aspects of work or challenges turn around that perspective that you have. Let it always be fun,” Bey wisely learned.

Like what her mom Rhiza shared in an interview, there’s no point in worrying about things you cannot control. And so, although it may be hard, Bey also embraces the art of letting go, such as when another company gets a project she wanted.

“I was told it's okay because we're all in this business. We're all working together to make things happen for the Philippines. But even if you're not able to get the show you want, it's okay. It was never meant to be yours. And we move on. That's okay. Let it go to another person,” Bey said, inspiring with her mature mindset.

Whether she’s singing in front of the camera, managing concerts behind the scenes, exploring the Philippines, or writing her next song, Bey Pascua is carving her own path—one that’s grounded in purpose, passion, and strong values of competency and leadership.

Related: Life Behind the Scenes With Live Nation Philippines’ Rhiza Pascua

Interview by Grace Libero-Cruz

Photos by Gail Geriane, courtesy of Universal Records Philippines and GLXY Talent Management

Special thanks to Brand It