Gio O. Tantoco

Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business

“I realized my life is not my own. I try to live for the other.”

Hometown: Metro Manila, Philippines

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I’m a Certified Rescue Scuba Diver and I am more comfortable in water than on land. Scuba diving has become a way for me to care for the environment as well. I do bio cleanups where I help remove the “crown of thorns” starfish: a poisonous invasive species that harm coral reefs.

Undergraduate School and Major: Ateneo de Manila University – BS Communications Technology Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: 917Ventures, Venture Builder

What excites you most about studying in Washington, DC? Washington, D.C., is at the Intersection of business and politics. The resources we have, guest speakers, and exposure to all the opportunities around the area are tremendous. The diversity in D.C. is endless. In my first week here, I met people from eight different countries, none of whom were from the university. I met them in restaurants, buses, shops, and even while grocery shopping.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Georgetown McDonough’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I have been Jesuit educated for the past 16 years. Cura personalis is much more than a mindset to me, it is a way of life. I wanted there to be continuity in my MBA education as well. It is in Georgetown McDonough’s program that I believe I can accomplish maximizing not only my professional capacity. However, I also know I will be a better person because they also capitalize on building your character and forming your soul.  In orientation week, I could not count the number of times the faculty instilled “be good, do good” and “be a man or woman for others.”

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Georgetown McDonough? The Global Business Experience at Georgetown McDonough is unparalleled. Being able to concretely apply the global mindset we have learned in an international setting is a way for us to go out of our comfort zone and experience what we have been learning inside the classroom outside of it. I believe that this opportunity that Georgetown gives us to apply in-class principles in a real-world international setting even before we graduate gives a concrete idea of what to expect when we do graduate and are thrust into these contexts.

Georgetown McDonough programming focuses heavily on instilling a global mindset. Why is exposure to global diversity so critical to business success? In my first job, I traveled to Silicon Valley and met with many successful entrepreneurs, many of whom have exited their companies and were worth billions of dollars. Coming from an emerging market such as the Philippines, where companies such as these are not as common, it opened my eyes to the possibilities of what can happen if you “think big” and solve real problems. I saw the limitless possibilities that were offered just by immersing myself in such professional diversity.

When I studied in Switzerland, I lived with people from 14 different countries. You learn a lot when you work with people from different cultures, let alone when you live with them. This experience made it easier for me to relate with my classmates when I got to Georgetown because I have had many experiences with people from their countries. It was comfortable to work with them and gave me a better understanding of how they think and act. I have learned that with a common goal, unity in diversity is possible and can only lead to success if relationships are nurtured.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I helped pioneer the first cloud kitchen company in the Philippines. We opened 195 restaurants in six months. We hit our two-year target of 1,000 orders per day in the first seven months. It was a formative experience because I realized what it takes to build something from the ground up. I remember pitching to investors smelling like chicken because I slept in the office beside the kitchen. It does not only take skill, knowledge, and patience to get things done. My biggest accomplishment was learning from the bottom up and that humility and resilience were the greatest teachers.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? If I came out a better person than I did when I entered and stayed true to my values, I would consider that a success. If I developed meaningful relationships with my peers and helped them become better versions of themselves, another success. If I can better understand and solve problems, create new products and services that improve society for the better – icing on the cake.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Georgetown McDonough’s MBA program?

1. Spend some time thinking about who you are and what you value. Do your research on the values of Georgetown and see if they align with your own.

2. Be authentic throughout the process. Let your true self come out when you tell your story. See things with new eyes and be receptive to change.

3. Pray!

DON’T MISS: MEET GEORGETOWN MCDONOUGH’S MBA CLASS OF 2025