George is the Philippine Country Head of Spenmo, a Y Combinator-backed B2B fintech building an all-in-one payments software for SMEs. He's also the co-founder of Abstract Digital, a tech agency that builds MVPs for SEA's VC-backed startups.

How would you explain your job to someone outside tech? The job really is getting dumped so much information across different topics from legal, sales, hiring, operations, and customer success. Digesting it as fast as possible, throwing back an organized next steps action plan, rallying everyone towards the direction and making sure there is follow-through from each team member involved.

What's something about you or your job that would surprise us? There was a time I became overweight and then lost 28kg in 6 months by running full-marathons and going hardcore vegetarian. On the 6th month, I joined a full-marathon trail run in Banaue Rice Terraces of the Philippines (only when I was midway done did I realize that I could literally die from it.)

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What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far, and why? Building a tech services agency that niched its way into designing and building MVPs for high-growth VC-backed startups in SEA. Collectively, my day 1 clients have raised more than $250m+ in VC capital, 2 have gotten into Y Combinator, and 1 is a Unicorn and another one on the way.

What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year? Being in the B2B space, I'm biased. So overall, I'm watching the growth in B2B tech businesses in SEA.

The capital available for startups in the B2B space is crazy huge. I'm excited to see the business models that will be disrupted and the brick-and-mortar companies getting challenged by the startups. Overall it will be the customers who will be winning.

What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry? Nothing beats experience, and your first boss straight out of school will have a very big influence on your career path trajectory. I got lucky that my first boss challenged me every day, yet at the same time opened doors of opportunities for growth for me. Some bosses never allow you to grow, so you really have to be honest with yourself and ask if your boss is really making you grow.

Building on that, experience will truly improve your instincts, and better instincts = a better career path. So don't skip experience. Work for a high-growth startup and work your way up, or work for someone you truly admire until you reach a point when you're genuinely confident to make the leap because you have "experience".

What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours? Even though I've honestly lost so much money on the stock market, I still find my way back into obsessing over it (perhaps it's my grand calling LOL).

What's your favorite movie/TV show? Breaking bad.

What's your go-to ice cream flavor? Strawberry yogurt ice cream.