Mika is currently a part of Dorm Room Fund’s Female Founder Track and will soon be joining LinkedIn as a Product Manager. She was born and raised in the Philippines and studied Economics, Psychology & Data Analysis at Wesleyan University. Professionally, she was previously a KPCB Product Fellow and was the first Product Manager at Ripcord and Kumu. Her mission is to grow the tech & innovation hubs in Southeast Asian markets (starting with her home, the Philippines). She is exploring this through marketplace models that empower the ‘micro-entrepreneur’ and technology that improves accessibility to economic resources. Mika enjoys Latin or hip hop dance, writes occasionally on her blog (mikareyes.com), and loves snacking on almonds.
“The idea that I may not be home for Christmas this year, for the first time ever, makes me really sad. Christmas is a phenomenon in the Philippines; it’s a time for reunion and partying. It’s karaoke season for Christmas songs. It’s food coma. But most importantly, it’s the best time to be with family, immediate and extended. I think a lot about how Christmas can be a pain point for the whole Filipino diaspora. Thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sacrifice being with their families every Christmas so they can provide for them in more lucrative jobs abroad. I’m lucky; I don’t have to carry that weight on my shoulders, and if anything, this would be my first Christmas without my family ever. Imagine all the Filipinas who’ve been separated from their children for years! If my personal sacrifice this season means working for a company that works to provide economic opportunity for people like OFWs, I can hold off the lechon a while longer.”
