Isa Lorenzo’s story is anchored in three powerful ideas: stay endlessly curious, view failure as timing rather than defeat, and continually rediscover your purpose. She believes curiosity has been the driving force of her life, pushing her to explore new paths, while failure. like her Singapore gallery experience, was not an endpoint but a learning phase that opened new opportunities. Her journey reflects a constant return to purpose, asking not just what she does, but why she does it.

Her career began in medicine, shaped by family expectations and academic strength at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. But during clinical training, she realized patient care did not fulfill her, and a personal tragedy, the loss of her father, became a turning point. With his encouragement to pursue her passion, she completed her degree, became board-certified, and then made the bold decision to retire from medicine.

She moved to New York to immerse herself in the art world, studying at Parsons and working in galleries before founding Silverlens in Manila in 2004. Over the past two decades, she has built a globally recognized gallery representing Filipino, Southeast Asian, and Asian diaspora artists, with locations now in Manila and New York. Her work is deeply relationship-driven, focused on placing artists into global conversations and institutional collections.

Her experience at HBS OPM further shaped her thinking, particularly around hiring exceptional talent, clarifying purpose, and exploring new business models beyond traditional art sales. Ultimately, Isa’s journey is one of courage, structure, and reinvention - proof that taking risks, staying curious, and embracing uncertainty can lead to meaningful impact.

Here are the Top 10 Takeaways from the conversation:

Curiosity is the central driver of Isa’s life. She actively seeks answers and new paths.
Failure is not final; it often reflects timing and can create new opportunities.
Purpose evolves, regularly revisiting “why” is essential to long-term fulfillment.
She pursued medicine due to expectations but discovered it wasn’t her true calling.
A pivotal moment came when her father encouraged her to follow her passion.
She finished medical school for security, then retired immediately after becoming board-certified.
Her medical training still shapes her structured, disciplined approach to business.
Silverlens focuses on long-term relationships and global placement of artists, not just transactions.
HBS OPM taught her to hire overqualified talent and think more strategically about business.
Her advice: enjoy life more, take risks, and remember that success often comes from simply trying.

Books: How to Hide an Empire