John Gokongwei School of Management launches Entrepreneur-in-Residence initiative

On 25 January, Ateneo de Manila University’s John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM) announced the formal launch of its Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) initiative. Ateneo JGSOM’s new EIR initiative seeks to bridge the gap between the academe and the business sector to transform the way entrepreneurship is taught. The new initiative will bring students closer to the frontlines of innovation and entrepreneurship through hands-on mentorship.

“The beauty of this pilot program is that it is extra-curricular, outside of your degree programs. So you are free to ask for any sort of guidance and advice from real-world practitioners in the fields you are hoping to innovate in,” said Dr Roberto Martin N Galang, Dean of Ateneo JGSOM during the initiative’s launch. He added that this initiative would equip students with the skills and mindset necessary to thrive in the business world.

Ateneo’s first two entrepreneurs-in-residence will be Malaya A Laraya, founder of the Ronin Group of Founders; and Noreen Marian Bautista, founder of sustainability startup Panublix.

“What we want to do here is develop the Philippine startup ecosystem,” said Mr Laraya, founder of the Ronin Group of Founders and one of Ateneo’s first two entrepreneurs-in-residence. “Most startups in the Philippines don’t get funded because they don’t understand the Philippine context. That’s what we’re here to provide.” 
 
“My entrepreneurial journey actually started as a student here at the Ateneo School of Management. We didn’t have a program like this back then, so I’m actually a little jealous that you get to build your startups in this space,” said Ms Bautista. “As founders, we are always being fed with learnings from Silicon Valley that just aren’t relevant in the local context. So this is a great opportunity to build more localized playbooks to guide the growth of your future ventures.”

The EIR initiative will also provide program alumni continued access to mentorship and resources to guide the growth of their business ventures beyond the university setting. Student-led startups will also gain access to expert legal advising through Atty Catherine P Gonzales, who has helped guide the legal operations of organizations such as ABS-CBN, the Asian Development Bank, and the World Bank.