Meet a future social entrepreneur
It all started in Kindergarten
I was only 7 years old and in Kindergarten when I received my first leadership role. My teacher selected me to be the president of my class, probably because I was the eldest. At home, my Dad consistently reminded me, ‘You must develop leadership skills. Wherever you go, leadership skills will take you places. The television shows my parents allowed me to watch had to be educational or have moral lessons to learn. My Catholic high school focused on building our character and invited us to attend conferences on leadership training. I joined the Rotary Club, a global network of leaders who volunteered their skills to address community needs. Student leaders came together to attend leadership training. In one of the weeks, we ‘became’ government officials of our city and had to develop strategies to address the key challenges of our community. In the first year of my training, I was the vice mayor, and in my second year, I sat as the city mayor. Those weeks of leadership training were the highlight of my high school life.
At the age of 16, I enrolled at the University of the Philippines. My time there opened my eyes to the reality of other people’s lives in the Philippines. I observed some students lived on a very tight budget. I felt humbled at the comfortable life my parents provided me. What do I do with this privilege? I need to do something to help others. So, I did.
Community and International volunteering
At the University, there was a student organisation called UPV DUCES which exposed me to key community issues. Every year, UPV DUCES ran leadership training for its members which involved outreach programs to isolated communities. We climbed mountains to teach people about proper hygiene, such as how to wash their hands properly and brush their teeth. I volunteered with Gawad Kalinga, a foundation that aimed to eradicate poverty and restore human dignity. I assisted in building houses for the Gawad Kalinga community and supervised their gift-giving and feeding program.
In the Philippines today, many people still do not have access to basic needs like clean water and are unreached by government services.
I became president of UPV DUCES in my third year of university, and finances were low. We needed to raise funds. My team and I created and printed T-shirts and cooked food to sell around the university to raise money for our community projects. It was at this point in time that I developed my entrepreneurship skills in sales. I found that I could talk and connect with people easily. I was studying biology at the time, and I knew that in the future, I would not want to work in a laboratory but be out in the community leading teams and running projects.
I volunteered for the ‘No Cold Feet this Christmas Project’ run by the University of St. La Salle College of Medicine, where they distributed slippers and clothes to the homeless. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was a Student Doctor volunteer in Bacolod City for the Medical Mission, Police and Emergency Operations Centre. I initiated a Face Shield Campaign for the Frontliners.
Later, I represented UPV DUCES and the Philippines at International Conferences. I joined the Asian Youth Leaders Travel and Learning Camp (AYLTLC) in Singapore, where I learned about sustainability and how to reuse natural resources.
After I graduated from university, I travelled to the US to join the International Young Leaders Assembly (IYLA) and spoke at the UN Headquarters about the life of Filipinos. I visited the Wharton School of Business, where they talked about social entrepreneurship, which inspired me.
My career path changed
When I came back to the Philippines, I enrolled into medical school. However, in my second year, my Mum passed away, and I wanted to avoid being in hospitals because it would remind me of her pain and mine. Later, the COVID pandemic resulted in classes becoming completely online which, for me, was not conducive to learning. The spark to becoming a medical doctor was diminishing, and I did not want to do my medical internship online. I knew it was time to pursue a different career and go abroad.
During my time at university, I worked in a Digital Marketing Agency in business acquisitions. I reached out to my friend working at Kaplan Business School and attended their information session. I found out that their MBA had specialisations in Digital Management and Entrepreneurship – two areas that I was interested in studying.
I wanted to develop my strategic management and digital skills to later build my own social enterprise. So, I enrolled into the MBA at KBS.
My life at KBS
KBS has a strong focus on the student experience. When I first arrived on campus, the staff were very welcoming, creating a homely environment where I felt comfortable. Every week, there were special events such as Wellness Week, Kindness Week and Multicultural Week which were amazing for our physical, mental and emotional health. KBS wanted us to grow holistically, not just academically. The Student Services team and Academic Success Centre helped me settle quickly into my new learning environment.
After six months at KBS, I have become a Student Ambassador and Peer Mentor. As a Student Ambassador, I am involved in projects that enhance student engagement, such as KBS events (e.g. Orientation), social media content, recruitment activities and Careers workshops. As a Peer Mentor, I help new students feel welcome in Brisbane and adjust better to their new home and learning environment. I was blessed to have had several mentors growing up, and wanted to do the same for others. Being a Student Ambassador and Peer Mentor has allowed me to develop my leadership skills and provided opportunities to help others.
My career goal
After I graduate next year, I hope to work in digital marketing and build up my work experience in business development. My long-term career goal is to build my own social enterprise where I can help women in need earn a sustainable income.
Want to connect with Mariene? Find her on LinkedIn.
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