Even if Tim Kobe — a design leader, author and founder of the globally recognized strategic and Experience Design firm Eight Inc. — is grateful to have been raised in California, USA, he knew from the beginning he wanted his own children to grow roots beyond their place of birth.

'California, to me, has always been a wonderful place because we're probably the most open to different cultures and ideas and most open to creative thinking and work. So, to me, it was a great place to grow up in if I'm going to be in the US,' Kobe told The Sunday Times Magazine in an exclusive interview during his latest visit to Manila.