‘Fatherhood Has Redefined What Success Means to Me’

By Paulo Campos III

I’ve had the immense privilege of becoming a father in three wildly different ways: through the chosen love of my 24-year-old stepdaughter Gabby, the joyful love of my 3.5-year-old son Quin, and the tender awe of our newborn daughter Catarina. Each one has shaped me—stretched me—and revealed new depths of love I didn’t know existed. 

But before I go deeper into that journey, I need to say this first: Fatherhood begins in marriage: you cannot be a good father without being a devoted husband. My wife Regine faces the world’s biggest challenge on a daily basis.

The author's wife Regine and kids Quin and Cat

And no, I’m not just talking about managing our household—which would already qualify her for sainthood—but about doing so with dignity, wisdom, and strength. She holds the center. Through her, I’ve learned that the core of fatherhood isn’t just found in parenting—it’s built in partnership. She has modeled a kind of strength I aspire to. She’s the heartbeat of our home. And it’s through her love, her partnership, her resilience, that I’ve learned what it actually means to lead a family—not with dominance, but with devotion. 

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Fatherhood three times over

Recently, I’ve been living in the warm glow of newborn fatherhood. Over Holy Week this year, Regine and I welcomed our daughter Ana Catarina King Campos into the world. We call her Baby Cat, and she’s already transformed our lives in profound ways. There’s something extraordinary about a newborn’s ability to quiet the world. In a time that feels uncertain and often perilous, Baby Cat is an anchor that makes the world comprehensible—a purpose that makes everything else make sense.

She’s brought not just joy to our little household but has radiated happiness across our entire extended family—across all branches of our clans. She’s a reminder that amidst all the noise and speed, some things are eternal: life, love, legacy.

Before Catarina, there was Quin—my namesake, Paulo Joaquin Campos IV, born at the height of the omicron surge during the pandemic, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8. He arrived on a holiday of obligation—but quickly became the joyful obligation I never knew I needed.

Quin is cartoon-level cute. And yes, it’s not just a dad’s bias—he’s actually a bit of a viral IG sensation, known for his cuteness and nakaka-gigil-ness. Life with Quin has been a constant flow of laughter and light. In a world that can often feel overwhelming, he’s my daily mood reset. Nothing can drag me down or conquer my spirit because one hug or one minute with my son puts me in a happy mood. Quin has taught me that happiness is not a place you arrive at, but a person you come home to.

He’s the kid who jumps on my back before I’ve had coffee, who asks things like, “Do cars have bones?” during dinner, and who will not accept “because I said so” as a valid answer. And I love him more fiercely because of it. He has taught me that parenting is 10 percent planning and 90 percent improvisation. Quin’s world is full of Octonauts, cardboard ships, and wild stories that don’t quite have an ending—but somehow, neither does my love for him.

And of course, there’s Gabby—my 24-year-old stepdaughter. I didn’t meet her as a baby, or even a toddler. I met her as a 10-year-old already on her way to becoming herself as a confident young woman. Loving Gabby taught me something fundamental: fatherhood doesn’t start with biology; it starts with showing up. It’s not about being loud—it’s about being present. 

Watching her cross the graduation stage, I wasn’t just celebrating a degree—I was celebrating all the quiet wins, the late-night talks, the subtle shifts in our bond that turned a stepdad into a real dad. That moment was its own reward: seeing someone you love conquer something big, knowing you played even a small part in the background soundtrack of their life. She made me a father by choice—and that kind of love is no less deep than any other. 

Different hats

I wear a few different hats in life. One of them is helping build the local startup and technology ecosystem in the Philippines—a space that is burgeoning, dynamic, fast-paced, and on fire. As someone who supports founders and entrepreneurs solving some of the country’s most important problems, it’s easy to get swept up in the work. It’s meaningful. It demands energy, focus, and full engagement.

But fatherhood has redefined what success looks like for me.

Balancing self-belief and professional ambition with presence at home isn’t always easy. But I’ve learned that nothing I do at work—even when the stakes feel existential—can rival the responsibility and joy of raising good human beings at home. Being a venture capitalist is how I earn a living. Being a father is how I make a life.

In fact, I’ve become a better boss since I became a father. I’m more patient, less anxious, more centered. My spirit is calm, because nothing that happens in a boardroom can outweigh what’s waiting for me at home. The biggest startup I’m helping grow doesn’t have a valuation or exit plan — it has a crib, a high-chair, and a drawer full of Spidermen and Buzz Lightyears of all shapes and sizes.

I used to think being a good dad meant having the right answers. Now I think it’s more about asking the right questions. What do you need right now? How can I show up for you today? Who are you becoming, and how do I make room for that? Those are the questions I try to live out—awkwardly, imperfectly, but sincerely.

Growing into a version of myself

At the end of the day, what fatherhood means to me isn’t a fixed set of tasks or traits. It’s a relationship—three different ones, in my case—each one teaching me how to love better, listen deeper, and grow into a version of myself I never saw coming.

Gabby made me a father by choice. Quin made me a father by love. Catarina made me a father again by awe. 

I used to think my job was to teach my kids everything I know. Now I realize it’s just as much about learning from them. From Gabby, I’ve learned the strength of becoming your own person. From Quin, the joy of curiosity and laughter. And from Catarina, the quiet power of new beginnings. 

And through all of this, there’s Regine. My wife. My co-pilot. My compass.

She doesn’t just carry our family—she elevates it. When I’m lost in the mental fog of a long workday or knee-deep in toddler negotiations, she’s there, steady and strong. When I'm uncertain, she offers clarity. When I falter, she offers grace. Her love doesn’t just support me—it teaches me how to love better. 

Fatherhood, real fatherhood, cannot exist in isolation. It begins in partnership. In respect. In devotion. And every day, I learn that to be a great father, I must also strive to be a better husband.

So yes, this is an ode to fatherhood—but it’s also a love letter to my wife, the quiet architect behind this beautiful masterpiece that is our family.

Paulo Campos III is the founding managing general partner of Kaya Founders, a leading early-stage venture capital firm based in Manila, Philippines with over P1 billion in assets under management. He is also the co-founder and former CEO of Zalora Philippines, the country’s largest fashion e-commerce platform.