Walking the talk…
Luan Arbilo shares her journey from burnout to firestarter at Villgro Philippines.
It was only four years ago when my sense of social responsibility started to mature. Before then, I had only been concerned about the thrills of entrepreneurship and technological advancements. However, these thrills had not been enough to sustain my energy and interest and I suffered from burnout.
Of all the advocacies, agriculture and the environment are closest to my heart. And it was this mutual focus that initially drew me to Villgro Philippines. Scouring the organization’s website, I learned about its vision and values as well. It was the dream company for me! By some stroke of luck, I became part of the Villgro Philippines team five weeks after learning about the company.
Having work experience in a corporate setting and in the startup scene, I was very curious about how it was going to be like working for an incubator and investor company.
Since then, I have learned a lot. It was only during my time with Villgro that I learned about impact investing, a concept that I have fallen in love with. By doing some work for our programs, I learned about startups not only in Metro Manila but all over the Philippines and Southeast Asia across various industries and it was very inspiring to learn about their innovative solutions to make the world a better place for all. By attending roundtables, talks, workshops, and contests, I expanded both my knowledge and my network. But most importantly, through my learnings in Villgro, my way of thinking has been challenged, refined, and instilled with empathy.
In a sense, working in Villgro is like working in an early-stage startup. The team is lean, and all my teammates are smart, interesting, and young (or young at heart). Everyone wears multiple hats, which is always fun for those like me who like to learn about everything. There are days when work is stressful and exhausting, but now I have something that I didn’t have before that gives me extra strength and keeps me going: knowing very well that I am doing meaningful work that impacts the lives of many.
About the Author: Luan Arbilo is the Admin and Finance Officer at Villgro Philippines. She joined the team in September 2020 and dived straight into the thick of things. With effortless efficiency, Luan transitioned from newbie to backbone of Villgro Philippines and is now an integral part of various programs such as ShelterTech Southeast Asia accelerator, ReachHealth Innovation Challenge and WE Rise. An avid gamer, Luan’s technical acumen stands undisputed and her zest for life makes her a dream team player. Connect with Luan on LinkedIn.
