Passion, Purpose, and Petty Energy: How I Found My Place in the Social Impact Space
Martha Gonzales shares her journey from doubting traditional career paths to discovering her purpose in the social impact space as a Communications Associate at Villgro Philippines.
Reflecting on my journey in the social impact space over the past year, I’m still scratching my head at how I got here. I had always pictured myself working for the government or some do-gooder non-profit dedicated to social progress and regional development — yes, I was that pretentious. Business and entrepreneurship were just never on my radar; those fields seemed like realms of profit, not purpose. Until life decided to switch things up and dropped me headfirst into the world of impact entrepreneurship.
The Poor Misguided Youth
I’ve always wanted a purpose-driven job, one where I could make a tangible impact on people’s lives. In a culture that treats engineering, medicine, and business as the end-all, be-all of career paths, my decision to veer off the beaten track didn’t sit well with the adults in my life and their grown-up jobs and grown-up opinions. Choosing a passion course was one thing, God forbid I actually push through with a career in social development. “Too impractical”, “too naive”, they said. I’m pretty sure their cryptic remarks would get a raised eyebrow from Jose “the youth is the hope of the nation” Rizal himself.
At the time, I didn’t think I was asking for too much. Most of my university peers were on the same wavelength. I ran across an interesting LinkedIn article that showed nearly 90% of Gen Zs and millennials consider having a sense of purpose in their work as crucial for their job satisfaction and overall well-being. I wonder if it was a hallmark of the youth’s tenacity — this belief that we can change the world. What I do know is that if there’s one thing that defines my generation, it’s our relentless pursuit to prove others wrong. Petty? Maybe. Satisfying? Yaaas.
Finding Your Purpose
I wish this rebellious streak had led to a massive turning point in my life, a real ‘lightning bolt from the sky’ moment. Unlike my friends who had their lives mapped out with clear career goals, I found myself behind the wheel without a roadmap in sight and a crippling sense of direction. I was binging the third season of FX’s “The Bear” the other day, and one scene stuck with me. Spoiler alert! There’s this moment where everyone’s chatting about how Carmy is just ‘built different’. Carmy had always known that he was going to be a chef and poured all of his life into mastering the craft. Can you imagine what that’s like? To navigate life with such certainty? Most mornings, I can’t find the motivation to get out of bed.
My unassuming thunderbolt came as a job post in a social development group on Facebook. It was an opening for a Communications Associate at Villgro Philippines, a gender-smart impact incubator. Those keywords sounded promising, even if I had no clue what the job entailed.
The work was far from the glamorous “Day in the Life” TikToks of social media managers with their bedazzled tumblers and Canva templates. Even with the help of my most faithful partner in crime, ChatGPT, that social media calendar didn’t make itself — or so I bitterly remind myself every start of the month. I, at 24 years old, have chronic neck pain from sifting through what felt like hundreds of hours of footage, storyboarding, and editing a series of three-minute videos. But it was thanks to those arduous tasks that I found a deeper sense of purpose — cue in Ritchie belting out to “Love Story”.
Meeting the Heroes of Tomorrow
Through my work, I encountered inspiring tales of impact entrepreneurs. In my first month, I had the privilege of interviewing a few as part of the ISIP Accelerator Program 2023 which sought to upskill and fund early-stage impact enterprises in Mindanao. They were nowhere near the well-dressed, brazenly confident business majors I had imagined. They were ordinary people with extraordinary dreams. Each had unique backstories and motivations but they were united by a single purpose: empowering communities and making the world a better place through market-based innovation. These entrepreneurs proved that changemakers came in all forms, and they didn’t have to wear power suits and capes.
Crafting Narratives of Change
My job was to spin their tales of grit and passion into narratives that packed a punch, stories that could sway minds and spark real change. A campaign that I worked on showcased artisan-based enterprises dedicated to preserving Filipino cultural heritage and craftsmanship. To my surprise and delight, one of the entrepreneurs actually reached out to a co-worker of mine to express their gratitude for the feature. No social media ROI has been so rewarding. It was both validating and humbling to be part of a movement that aimed for something greater than myself. This understanding fueled my passion and reinforced my belief in the power of meaningful work.
From One Dreamer to Another
To those with big dreams and the desire to make a difference, I offer this encouragement: believe in the impact you can make, however small. I’m far from perfect in my role, but every day, I strive to do better and amplify the voices of those who dare to dream big. Here’s to proving the skeptics wrong and finding your purpose!
Looking to start a purpose-driven career? Join Team Villgro Philippines.
Villgro Philippines is a women-led, gender-smart impact incubator and investor. We inspire, fund, mentor, and nurture early-stage enterprises that are building innovative solutions to address the most intractable social and climate challenges. Our small and mighty team works to unlock clarity, connections, capital, and a community to help entrepreneurs scale their impact.
About the Author
Martha Jewel R. Gonzales is the Communications Associate at Villgro Philippines and is the hands-on comms person who ensures that our message reaches its audience. You can reach her at martha@villgrophilippines.org
Behbahani, N. (2024, May 15). Nearly all Gen Zs and Millennials want purpose-driven work but they continue to regularly feel stress at work! [LinkedIn article]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/nearly-all-genzs-millennials-want-purpose-driven-work-behbahani-4bdue?utm_source=share&utm_medium=guest_desktop&utm_campaign=copy
