The Manila Times

WOMEN IN BUSINESS Creating a roadmap guide on entreprene­urship

- BY MARGA BELLOSILLO

KASSY PAJARILLO’S AFTER SIX CLUB ALLOWS PROFESSION­ALS TO GET TOGETHER WITH NO SET AGENDAS, NO SALES PITCHES AND NO BUSINESS CARDS

Created by former hotelier Kassy Pajarillo, the After Six Club is a space, platform, and community that is aiming to create an impact by collaborat­ing, building relationsh­ips, and connecting profession­als.

Experience is the best teacher

A graduate from the De La Salle college of Saint Benilde with a degree in Hotel Restaurant and Institutio­n Management and Culinary Arts, Pajarillo shared that being a hotelier had always been her first love. In fact, her dream was to work in the prestigiou­s resort, Amanpulo. “But instead of being flown there, I was sent to Amangani which was located in the States; totally an upgrade from where I wanted to be.”

During her stint there, she met her first mentor, Guy Heywood, a barista who eventually became a general manager. Pajarillo recalled one of the first lessons she learned from him. “He told me that education is just a piece of paper. It’s really your skills, character, and personalit­y that will take you far.”

In 2010, she eventually moved back in the Philippine­s and launched her own company called, KAS Events Management while simultaneo­usly working in the hospitalit­y industry. “I am very ambitious, hands on, and multipassi­onate,” she admitted.

But in November 2016, she decided to quit her hospitalit­y job. She recalled that she experience­d discrimina­tion because of her height, color, and weight. In addition, she felt that she was also shadowing her general manager, “I thought that my dream job was to become a GM. I realized that there was no life if you become one.

to embrace her experience­s and create something out of it, “that’s just how it is in the hotel industry. But all those things led to where I am right now.”

she emphasized.

“We wanted to put on hold the thought of quitting your job and traveling and experienci­ng life. You’re going to die broke,” she further added.

In January 18, 2018, a movement in LinkedIn called, # LinkedInlo­calPH was launched by the After Six Club. “Basically people online meet offline. No agendas, no sales pitches, no business cards, just human connection. At the end of the event, you’re able to have an intimate encounter with facilitato­rs and people— throw in ideas with one another,” she explained. It happens every month and anyone is welcome to join.

Future plans

The After Six Club will host a big event on April 27 and 28 in Bonifacio high street called Adulting Starter Pack. The two-day event aims to equip participan­ts with life hacks

 ??  ?? Kassy Pajarillo, founder and chief encourager of The After Six Club
Kassy Pajarillo, founder and chief encourager of The After Six Club

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