"With my mom returning to the Philippines, I felt the need to do something in the homeland. Even before moving there, I began researching and getting to know some people. My goal was to give back to the community. I felt that my career in the tech industry was shaped by so many people helping me, and I needed to pause and give back in return. I didn’t wake up one day deciding to build a community, but when I returned to my hometown, Cebu City, I realized I knew people from engineering school but no one in the local tech industry. I wanted to understand the tech scene and get to know the people involved. Since organizing events was part of my work, it was something I could easily do. So, I posted on meetup.com: "Tech meetup. If you're working in tech, come to Bo's Coffee, a local coffee shop. I'll buy you coffee, and you can tell me what's happening in the tech industry in Cebu." - Tina Amper, Strategic Director of Geeks on a Beach" - Tina Amper
"There was a lot of uncertainty, but fortunately for me, I had been visiting once or twice a year even before I moved back permanently. So I had an idea of what to expect. I had a personal reason for returning, to take my mom home. It felt like a responsibility, something I had to do, and I would deal with whatever came up in my personal life. But I would say, don't be afraid to come home. The Philippines is a developed country now, and there’s so much you can do there. The younger generation of Filipinos, like my nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews who are 5, 7, 8 years old, speak with American accents and use idioms they’ve picked up from YouTube. The culture is very Western, so your adjustment won’t be as difficult.” - Tina Amper, Strategic Director of Geeks on a Beach" - Tina Amper
"I loved what I was doing, but I was completely burned out from doing the same thing. Tech is amazing, but it’s a 24/7 business, and if you’re not careful, it can take over your life. So, I decided to take a break, a one-year sabbatical. When I went to Cebu to get my family and my mom situated, I started organizing meetups, just like I had been doing in San Francisco. I wanted to connect with the tech community in my own city, where I had never really worked before. How did I get started? I connected with the Science and Technology Advisory Council, a group of Filipino Americans focused on supporting science and tech in the Philippines.” - Tina Amper, Strategic Director of Geeks on a Beach" - Tina Amper
In this episode, Jeremy Au speaks on Geeks on a Beach, the 12M Filipino diaspora reverse culture shock, and burnout to community leader.
Keywords: Tina Amper, Geeks on a Beach, 12M Filipino Diaspora Reverse Culture Shock, Burnout to Community Leader, Philippines, Women, Creators, Founder Story
