Economics and Beyond: Where Your Degree Can Take You

As I prepare for my discussion with the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Arts and Letters - Economics students about “Economics and Beyond: Where Your Degree Can Take You,” I’ve been reflecting on my own journey,

From Economics to Innovation: A Journey of Possibilities

When I graduated from the University of Santo Tomas  with a degree in BA Economics, I had no idea how wide the world ahead of me would be.

Like many students, I imagined the typical paths - banking, finance, government service, maybe academia. But Economics, as I would later realize, is not just about theories, supply and demand curves, or models. It is about understanding systems, solving problems, and seeing opportunities where others see complexity.

I started with a simple question: Where can this degree take me?

The answer, I eventually discovered, is almost anywhere.

My journey began in the corporate world where I immersed myself in sales - learning the fundamentals of markets, customer behavior, and the real-life application of supply and demand beyond textbooks.

From there, new opportunities opened. I moved into strategic network planning, where economics met infrastructure, data, and long-term national development. It was a space where analytical thinking and economic frameworks helped guide major investment and expansion decisions.

Curiosity led me further into new business development, constantly exploring where the next opportunity could emerge. Economics trained me to see patterns, inefficiencies, and untapped potential - skills that proved invaluable in building new ventures.

Later, I found myself leading Facilities Management, where operational efficiency, cost optimization, and asset value creation became the focus. Economics once again proved its versatility, helping balance operational realities with strategic financial decisions.

Along the way, I supported marketing initiatives, understanding how strategy connects with storytelling and market positioning.

My career then expanded into Strategic Partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region, collaborating with diverse teams, cultures, and markets. This was where economics became truly global, understanding regional dynamics, market shifts, and long-term economic trends.

Eventually, my work evolved toward innovation, exploring how organizations can reinvent themselves in a rapidly changing world.

And today, my journey continues as a Technopreneur, providing solutions that combine Artificial Intelligence and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), using technology not just to improve businesses, but to create purpose-driven impact.

Looking back, one thing is clear:

An Economics degree is not a narrow path. It is a foundation for understanding the world.

To the UST AB Economics students, remember this:

Your degree trains you to think critically, analyze systems, and understand how decisions shape economies and societies.

Those skills can take you into business, technology, sustainability, policy, entrepreneurship, or industries that may not even exist yet.

Your career will not be a straight line.

Mine certainly wasn't.

But if you stay curious, keep learning, and remain open to opportunities, your Economics background can take you further than you imagine.