Dili puedi na mu graduate sa College na walay ma learn.”( One should not graduate from College without learning anything)

Take it from Kimberly Tan Castaneda or Kim, who made sure to equip herself with knowledge for a better chance at life. When asked about the things that she remembers most about her college days, that greatly helped achieve her present success, the 33 year-old co-founder and  Chief Operating Officer of an IT firm and a start-up said she is grateful to SNSU ( then SSCT when she graduated in 2013) for all the things that she had learned as a BS Computer Engineering Student adding that her whole time as a student taught her resilience quipping that, “ Basta Engineering nga course, survival mode man gyud.” 

She recalled a particular class activity where they were asked to run a computer program.  There was timer and she had to hurry because they were supposed to leave for Cebu for an educational tour. Originally keen on a course in Tourism, Kim was excited to explore and found the idea of the not being to board the boat particularly dreadful.  Not really a top student in terms of academics, Kim said she was so surprised because she was the second person to finish the task and go out of the classroom.  She realized that when under pressure, her hidden acumen would come out. 

Kim admits that during her college days, she found it hard to focus on her studies, because she was preoccupied with earning a living so she could provide for her family.  And yes, to this day, she is still the breadwinner while slowly empowering her siblings to earn or invest on their own.

She worked briefly as a student assistant for the dean of Engineering back then and also as a service crew for a famous food giant.  Kim recalled that because of her fair-complexion and chinky eyes, some of her fellow service crew did not really believe that their family was financially hard-up and even told her that maybe, she is a child of owner who spies on the workers.  Back then, Kim could only say, “How I wish your suspicions were true.”  Kim is proud that despite her being a working student, she finished her course within the 5-year time duration.

When it comes to doing well in life, it seems that in the case Kim seemed to have taken a leaf from the late business tycoon John Gokongwei who said that “The most important decision you have to make in your life is whom you’re going to marry.”  Her husband, Joselie Castaneda or JC, is the brains behind their companies Cauld and Clark Information Technology Solutions and Itemcount Technology Inc. Inventory and Sales Management Solutions.  The services offered by the two companies include, Mobile App Development, Software Development. Development Operations (DevOps), Inventory and Sales Management Solutions, and Ordering platform for Franchises. 

Kim and JC met when they were both working in Taganito Claver for a mining company.  She was a local hire and him, a Manila hire.  They became sweethearts in May 25,2012.   Two weeks later he proposed, and 3 months after that, they got married. Among the things that they have in common is them being graduates of Engineering courses related to the field of information technology.  JC, a former DOST scholar was an ECE graduate from Technical University Philippines whose passion was programming, most especially, coding.  Kim describes her husband as someone who is very hardworking and  always loves to learn.  JC, who was hired by SM Retail back then as an IT Manager, was self-taught in term of his love for computer programming, always reading to learn new things, fully aware that the field of Information Technology is fast-changing. 

Their big break came when JC scored an account with an American client.  Soon after, other international and local clients came pouring in.  Kim said that while her husband was the one who develops systems for clients, her role, as acknowledged by her husband, was also an important factor why their two companies grew.  She was the one in charge of their entire household, look after their children, the financial operations, and even item pricing.  She said she had to step in after observing that her husband would easily give in to clients’ request for additional features of a system for free!

Like any other businesses, Kim and her husband did encounter setbacks.  She said that while the IT business offers high returns, the risks are also high. She recalled that in 2022, they had a big client who completely disappeared or became untraceable on the world wide web, costing them big losses in revenues since they had already tapped and paid some programmers to work on the project.  But the difficulties did not discourage them from carving their own path in the IT business, but instead gave them resolve to never give up on what they would like to attain in life to secure the future of their eleven-year-old twin sons, Cauld Xander and Clark Zyreb. Kim is also now more immersed in the business, gaining more confidence in meeting clients and brokering deals with them.  Describing herself as someone who is goal-oriented, disciplined and firm, Kim says it appears that their hard work is slowly paying off.  Not one to buy luxurious things for herself or travel despite earning in 6-digits, ( “Swear to God, waya pay amo travel abroad!”) Kim would rather spend on things that last.  To date, she and her husband are already owners of four homes and a lot, aside from being employers to 10 freelance programmers and 3 non-programmers. She is amazed how God has blessed them financially saying that, “We started with nothing!” Asked about their secret to being happilly married, Kim said she and her husband never quarrel over money. They also both believe that  generosity has a way of coming back to a cheerful giver. Speaking passionately, Kim said she would like advise students to work hard, know their priorities, not to lose themselves, not waste money, and to have faith. 

The years ahead are full of promise, positivity, and purpose as Kim strives to hone her skills to benefit not only herself, but others-something that she has programmed her mind to do.

#SNSU’S FINEST contains inspiring stories of our notable alumni- their humble beginnings, guiding principles, turning points, significant milestones, and valuable contribution to their respective fields, both locally and globally.

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