Timmy De Jesus today is doing exactly what she wants: filling a role that combines technology, management, and entrepreneurship altogether. As JFDI Asia’s Philippine country manager, the petite, smiley-faced, 26-year old Cebuana stands in the company’s expanding community, writes Crystal Neri
Timmy (seated, center) with JFDI COO, Fannie Kue (seated, right) and the rest of the Cebu team.
“I got into the world of frog via Startup Weekend Cebu,” says Timmy. “We [JFDI] got into talking, then they flew me to Singapore.” In the dynamic hub Blk71that houses JFDI and several other startups, Timmy was impressed by one thing: a mature enthusiasm for entrepreneurship.
She volunteered as one of JFDI’s ambassadors, then shortly after, got offered the job as Philippine country manager. This is not the first time things escalated quickly in Timmy’s life. She graduated with a degree in Computer Science from University of the Philippines Cebu at an unusually young age of 18. At 24 years old, Timmy had eight years of experience in the bag – counting her two years as a student intern – working as a systems analyst.
“It’s very rare to find someone who has all three – process, people and technical skills,” said Hugh Mason, CEO of JFDI. The team worked with Timmy for a grand plan: expand the existing Singapore office to Cebu. The goal is to leverage the Filipinos’ natural warmth, English mastery, and social media skills to represent JFDI’s front act by interacting with early-stage startup founders and delivering the JFDI Discover program.
“What I told myself was: ‘I want to learn how to work with different people and cultures.’ That’s why I signed up for this job,” Timmy said in her usual beaming face. That goal, turns out, is also the biggest challenge as country manager.
I want to learn how to work with different people and cultures. That’s why I signed up for this job.
Everyday at noon, Timmy checks in with the senior frogs at Singapore, then eventually translates their needs to the Cebu office. Timmy steps in the role of middleman and mother duckling. “She’s smart, considerate. She advocates for you,” added Nelia Monet, one of Timmy’s first hires.
These days, Timmy juggles more than hiring and managing the Cebu office, she’s also looking to head several JFDI expansion projects. In her free time, she helps organize Startup Cebu Weekend and The Lemon Collective.
“My parents inspired my entrepreneurship,” quips Timmy. Seeing her parents’ journey, failing and succeeding in several ventures, made her a believer of thisJFDI principle: Being an entrepreneur can be taught. It doesn’t have to be lonely. JFDI.Asia is a Singapore-based accelerator that helps venture-fundable startups. “It’s the number one accelerator in Asia. It’s open-sourced. A very supportive, positive and great place to work,” Timmy adds.
The challenges of working in remote teams, finding a few more good hires – are all shadowed by Timmy’s eminent gratitude and joy. She ends with, “Where will the next billion people come from? Asia. It’s such a good thing to be in Asia and to be in tech industry, right now.”
Crystal Neri is the Social Media and Content Marketer at JFDI. Say Hi to her on Twitter, @nericrystal.