New Beauty: Kelly Go
Entrepreneur and chocolate maven Kelly Go opens up about her business, passion, and pledge to help Philippines’ agricultural industry
‘LIFE IS LIKE a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Cliché as it may be, Kelly Go somehow found herself in this situation, making unexpected turns that led her to where she is today. Born and raised in Manila, Go studied at the International School of Manila and eventually graduated from the University of Chicago, with a bachelor’s degree in political science and international studies. The career path she decided to go on was something unconventional and actually quite surprising for someone with that degree. After graduation, she decided to take culinary studies. She jetted off to Paris to study in the esteemed Le Cordon Bleu, where she received all the proper training to hone her craft in the kitchen. Wanting to combine her love for politics and food, Go established Auro Chocolate. “Now I can say
I’m in the politics of food by doing Auro Chocolate,” Go says.
Auro Chocolate is a bean-to-bar chocolate company that sources local beans from Davao farmers, and Go is co-founder and managing director. “I grew up in a family that has always been in the food business,” Go shares. “I’ve been exposed to both food and also the industry. Although I went to culinary school to explore what it’s like to prepare food, I knew I always wanted to be more involved in the business side.” Since the establishment of Auro Chocolate almost five years ago, Go has made a commitment to source her ingredients locally, uplift the lives of the farmers she works with, and ensure the production of top-quality chocolates for the world to enjoy. “By working with the farmers, we are able to find ways to really improve the quality,” she shares. “If you don’t work hand-in-hand with them, there’s no way you can take concrete steps to improve the quality. I think it’s also a way to shorten the supply chain. We’re able to pay farmers more because we work with them more. We cut a lot of the middle men. We shorten the distance between the farm to the market. We are also able to find ways to improve their lives. To have a deeper relationship with them and find ways we can also impact their community. The change becomes more grassroots.”
Go also believes in the vital importance of loving local and the pledge she has made, to help the agricultural industry in the Philippines. “When we first started this people thought—people really questioned it,” she recalls. “They thought that fine, Filipino, chocolate—those three ideas couldn’t come together. And that’s what we were trying to do.” People have turned their backs on local farmers, produce, and ingredients for so long. But now it’s time for her and the people behind Auro Chocolate to change the game and make an impact—one chocolate bar at a time.
What is your favorite destination in the Philippines? I love the beach, I’m such a beach person. So I would definitely say El Nido, Palawan, or Siargao. They’re becoming a bit more developed and accessible, but still has that unexplored beauty. I tell all my friends abroad that they must visit the Philippines. To see all these wonderful, tropical destinations that we have.
What is your biggest pet peeve? My biggest pet peeve, generally, is when people are too entitled. And you see that so often these days. I think it’s important to know that in anything you do it’s not often glamorous, you have to roll up your sleeves and do the work. And I think if you really put your heart into it, and all your muscle into it, it will pay off. Hard work is necessary to get somewhere. Passion is great, but it’s not enough.
What is the greatest piece of advice you’ve ever received? It’s from my mom: “It’s important to be idealistic but also realistic at the same time.”
Who is the person you look up to the most in your life? I’d say it’s my mom. She is the one who inspired me to start my cacao journey. She has been a working mom—she has been such a boss lady even before that term was current. She was working all throughout my life and I always looked up to her, (admired) strength, and also her resilience, and how sympathetic she is. How much empathy she has for people?
What is your greatest achievement in life, so far? I think it’s the establishment of Auro by far. From just me and Mark, my business partner, now we’re a company and a family of 70. Through the work that we’ve done and how we’ve been internationally recognized, not only for our chocolate but also for our cacao. And the fact that we were able to bring one of the farmers we support—Mang Jose—to Paris to personally receive his award, was really a highlight of my entire life. To be able to give a platform to those who often don’t have a voice, but have amazing produce. They just need to be able to have that opportunity, and I’m glad to have played a part in that.