ABOUT
HERSTORY
I am a social impact professional based in Hong Kong. I help companies, NGOs and startups meet their social responsibility targets with my 8+ years of program development experience. My passion for sustainability began in 2010 through summer jobs, internships, and non-profit work to continue my education outside the classroom.
At a young age, I received training in science and journalism which made me naturally curious about human development and society.
CONNECT
E-mail: hello@kathleenlargo.com
EDUCATION
The University of Hong Kong 2021
MSocSc Media, Culture and Creative Cities
University of the Philippines 2013
BS Business Administration
PURPOSE
MY VALUES AND COMMITMENTS
I love cultivating ideas and aligning them with sustainability goals. I've spent the last seven years building connections and closing knowledge gaps to provide better support to my organizations and communities. Others describe my leadership as versatile, grounded and reliable. Furthermore, I plan to continue matching groups and individual contributors to resources as partnerships for good.
Respect
Integrity
Compassion
Humility
EXPERIENCE
Senior Executive at AirAsia Foundation
2017 - 2020
I expanded my career to corporate philanthropy and moved to Malaysia, AirAsia Group's headquarters. I managed multiple project cycles of awarding grants to social enterprises applying to scale up their businesses. I enjoyed visiting various cities in Southeast Asia to experience unique cultures, meet leaders and communities, and source products to improve our social enterprise outreach. When I wasn't travelling, my job included providing admin support in retail marketing, staff recruitment, people management and partnerships.
Project Officer at Unilab Foundation
2015 - 2017
I started my corporate social responsibility career in health advocacy at the corporate foundation of United Laboratories, the Philippines' biggest manufacturer of consumer healthcare medicines. Working on projects that improve health literacy and holistic development taught me that companies can thrive while emphasizing the balance of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. I enjoyed the role flexibility as it encouraged cross team collaboration and collective impact towards play interventions for children, inclusion for persons with disabilities, and grassroots community development led by the youth.
Freelance CAREER
2013 - 2015
I spent the years after graduating university doing part-time work projects and volunteer activities, as I explored what types of work I found to be meaningful. I wrote concept notes, project briefs, sponsorship decks and press kits. I evaluated proposals, reviewed budgets, and did research on emerging businesses. I organized learning bootcamps, workshops, weekend markets, and job fairs connecting startups to graduating students. I started my career knowing the value of partnerships in advancing social good, with the help of my peers and friends at the Global Shapers Community where I also served as Manila Hub Curator in 2015-2016.
Articles
Networks
Education doesn't stop after getting a degree. Being part of organizations and leadership networks allow me to learn about topics I normally wouldn't hear about. Because of them, systemic change has earned a human face. I am inspired by my friends who are public school teachers, filmmakers, designers, medical doctors, farmers, scientists, policymakers, and activists. When all these professions work for the common good, no problem is too big that it cannot be solved.
Obama Foundation Leaders: Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific • 2019-present
The Obama Foundation Leaders: Asia-Pacific Program is a one-year leadership development and community engagement program that seeks to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders from across the region. The non-residential program began with a five-day convening of 200 emerging leaders from 33 nations and territories across Asia-Pacific where President and Mrs. Obama, as well as other prominent speakers and thought leaders, joined for discussions around progress and opportunity with a focus on values-based leadership. Obama Leaders are connected to their cohort online for virtual workshops and seminars to foster peer learning and collaborative problem-solving.
Bosch Alumni Network
Southeast Asia • 2019-present
The Bosch Alumni Network brings together former and current fellows, grantees and staff members of the Robert Bosch Stiftung and its partners. Powered by the International Alumni Center (iac Berlin), a Think & Do Tank for alumni communities with social impact established by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the network is clustered thematically and regionally to foster international collaborations and cross-sectoral exchange. In 2020, I served as a Regional Coordinator for Southeast Asia which functions as a local contact point for network members to help connect alumni through activities, events and idea implementation.
ChangemakerXChange
Thailand • 2019-present
ChangemakerXchange (CXC) is a global community which enhances the impact of young social innovators offering a space for human connection, peer learning, collective action and co-creation. Co-created by Ashoka and Robert Bosch Stiftung, the CXC experience kicks off with a 4-day summit away from the hustle and bustle of the city to a beautiful and unique retreat-style location -- no slideshows, no guest speakers, no site visits. It fosters profound and lasting connections, nurtures wellbeing, and enables meaningful collaborations.
Global Shapers Community
Manila HUB 2013-2017 • Kuala Lumpur HUB 2018-PRESENT
An initiative of the World Economic Forum, the Global Shapers Community is a network of inspiring young people under 30. Hubs are self-organized teams to create projects that address the needs of their community. I became a member at the Manila Hub in 2013 after managing Cat@lyst, an ICT-based idea competition for the youth co-created by a leading telecom provider. With more than 7,000 members globally, the Hubs aim to develop and nurture diverse leaders to shape a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive world.
CONTACT
I am open for invitations to write, collaborate, speak, consult or mentor!
