Let’s Talk Business

by: Hannah Magdangal, Thames Undergraduate Student

Behind every peso made, product sold, and deal closed are the challenges, risks, and hard work that come with the desire for growth and success. Entrepreneurs know that putting up a business is not easy – but with even just one good idea and the drive to execute, the opportunities can be endless. It can be intimidating, especially with limited experience, but  becoming more knowledgeable about this sort of thing is exactly what the Thames Entrepreneurial Network (TEN) is all about.

Last October 3, 2020, Saturday, TEN hosted a webinar entitled TEN Talks: Business Enterprise Showcase featuring speakers Anela Nicomedes and James Gatlabayan – both of whom are BS Entrepreneurship graduates of Thames International. At the webinar, students and participants alike were able to broaden their knowledge and hone their skills as aspiring business-owners by listening to the stories of how the speakers powered through the challenges brought about by managing their respective businesses – sharing tips, strategies, and the values that keep them driven in times of trial. 

Anela started sketching at the age of seven, and putting up her own couture house has been her big dream ever since. As for James, it was just a few years prior to the birth of his brewery that he built his own equipment and started brewing as a hobby, joining bazaars here and there just for the fun of it. Though they come from two different industries and have different stories, Anela and James had one thing in common: Initiative. They each discovered an opportunity and made the courageous decision to pursue it with eyes fixated not on the roadblocks ahead but on how to thrive with the resources at hand.

With the sudden change of circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Anela and James, like many other business owners, had to adjust accordingly and brave the hurdles in order for their businesses to survive. Now creating pieces for the modern-day, on-the-go professional, Anela has been partnering with non-profit organizations and doing her part in extending help towards those in need during the pandemic. She donates a portion of the proceeds from her upcoming collections to her chosen beneficiaries. As for Santiago Brewery, while drastically restrained by the pandemic that significantly lowered the number of events in the country, they are now again accepting event bookings – by all means following the necessary safety and sanitation protocols – and finding other ways to get by.

“When you start a business, aside from passion, what you need is to ask yourself, “Is there an opportunity in this business?” Kulang ang passion, you need to see opportunity,” advised James. “Most importantly, you need to have persistence and perseverance. “Bale wala ang passion if you can’t handle the grit,” he continued, stressing the difficulty that putting up a business entails. The audience was inspired by the values imparted by the remarkable entrepreneurs whose impact remained powerful regardless of distance.

The grind that makes the successes all the more fulfilling, and the stories of Anela and James can attest to that. To know more about Anela Ohrielle Atelier and Santiago brewery and connect with Anela and James, you may reach them through their Facebook pages: Anela Ohrielle Atelier  and Santiago Brewery and Malthouse .

To connect with Thames Entrepreneurial Network or learn more about business and entrepreneurship, its official Facebook page is Thames Entrepreneurial Network.

Thames International is committed to building a new order for the world by giving talented students and entrepreneurs the tools to thrive and lead the way in a world beset by rapid change. If you’re interested in augmenting your skills and making connections with some of the brightest minds in business education today, please take a look at our future-proof undergraduate degree programs.