For many aspiring entrepreneurs, the instinct is to jump into pitching ideas, building products, or securing funding. But for Gina Romero, founder of Connected Women and Mettamatch, the most powerful starting point in business isn’t action—it’s listening.
“What started as a simple idea—to connect women to remote jobs—has now become something bigger,” Gina told Financial Adviser PH. That “simple idea” has grown into a business that trains thousands of Filipina women in AI and digital skills, while also delivering high-quality data services to global clients through Mettamatch.
While the success of her ventures may suggest a perfectly laid-out business plan, Gina is clear that it didn’t begin that way. “We started without fancy tech, without funding, and without a full team,” she says. “What we did have was a strong purpose and a clear problem to solve. That was enough.”
But before anything else, she and her team listened—and that, she believes, made all the difference.
“My advice is this: start with listening. Really listen,” Gina emphasized. “Don’t jump to solutions before understanding the problem. Listen to the people you want to serve. Listen to what’s broken, what’s working, and where the gaps are. Ask a lot of questions, then ask more questions.”
That people-first approach is at the heart of how Connected Women and Mettamatch operate. Instead of creating tech for the sake of innovation, Gina focuses on building systems that solve real problems for underserved communities—particularly women left out of traditional employment models.
Over time, that deep connection to community helped shape a mission-driven, for-profit model. “We didn’t set up a non-profit and a for-profit separately because we believe that all business should be a force for good,” she explained. “Our model is designed to do both: drive profit and create impact. For every cent we earn, we know it’s directly tied to the opportunities we’ve created.”
It’s an approach that not only drives social good—it also delivers results. “Impact isn’t a side project—it’s baked into how we operate. That’s how we serve both our investors and our community,” Gina said. “And we’ve proven that the two can work in harmony.”
But even with a solid model and growing momentum, Gina admits entrepreneurship is never easy. “Be prepared for it to be harder than you expect. There will be days you question everything. That’s normal,” she says. “But if your why is strong enough, it will carry you through.”
When in doubt, Gina goes back to the people she’s building for. “Their progress is the best reminder of why you started,” she says.
Another piece of advice she offers founders? Ask for help. “Build community. Share the load. You don’t have to do it all alone.”
Gina Romero’s journey proves that entrepreneurship isn’t just about innovation or growth—it’s about connection, empathy, and listening deeply before building boldly. In a world obsessed with scaling fast and pitching hard, her message is a timely reminder: the best solutions start with the people you serve.
