Dream Think Act

Manila-born Filipino entrepreneur Yobie Benjamin is the founder and CEO of Goodstorm.com & a partner with Crunchyroll.com.  A progressive pioneer, successful venture investor, innovator and an outstanding Imtrepreneur, Yobie came to the U.S. in 1983 and started his career as a software engineer for Lotus Development Corporation.   

Prior to founding GoodStorm, Yobie was Managing Director at Computer Sciences Corporation, in charge of Business and Technology Risk Management. As a Partner and Chief of Global Strategy for Ernst & Young, he provided incisive business and technology direction to Ernst & Young’s Fortune 500 clientele. He also served as the Chief Knowledge Officer and Director of Risk and Technology for Cambridge Technology Partners.

In a quiet corner of Goodstorm’s conference room, Yobie talked with Edith in this exclusive interview: 

Yobie’s beginning:  

Edith: What brought you here to the United States?

Yobie:  I had no choice.  I married an American.  She didn’t want to live overseas.  We met while I was working in the U.S. refugee program in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.  I ran programs that prepared refugees before coming to the United States. .  After we got married, my wife said she didn’t want to live  in refugee camps overseas I ended up in the United States.  

Edith:  What did you do when you first came to the U.S.?  

Yobie: My first job was with Lotus Development Corporation.  I started as a training assistant and became an engineer.   I didn’t know what I wanted to be, but I knew what I didn’t want to be.   Whether you begin from knowing what you want to be, or knowing what you don’t want to be, I don’t think it is relevant, but you have to know one or the other.  One will drive you to go somewhere.  The other one will drive you not to be somewhere.  My view is that it is important for people to know at least one, but preferably both.  There is a saying in the Philippines that loosely translates to “God will provide.  God will take care.”  I don’t believe in that. I believe I will take care of myself.  I think God is busy.  He’s got a lot of problems and has a lot of things to think about.  He is a little bit busy, so I decided to help myself.   

Edith: As an immigrant, what kind of issues or obstacles did you face when you first came to the U.S.? 

Yobie:  There were cultural issues but they was mitigated because I spoke English.  The English you hear me speak now is pretty much the same English I spoke then.  I always spoke English pretty well.  I had no language barrier.  It was a big advantage that I had.  I had some cultural barriers, but my language capability really helped me to overcome these barriers.   

Edith:  When did you make your first million?  

Yobie: I am not going to tell you when I made my first million.  I did very well with Lotus Development Corporation.  I had the normal stock options and stock purchases.  I sold a lot of my Lotus shares and  bought a lot of Microsoft shares in 1987. My remaining Lotus shares became IBM shares.  Part of it was luck and part of it was my understanding of technology at the time.   

Edith: What are the main cultural differences between Filipinos and Americans?  

Yobie:  Americans are less family-centric. There is no pronounced notions of extended families.  Families are very nuclear. For example, I would never think of sending my parents to a nursing home.  It’s not even an option for me.  On the other hand, I also see and hear that as soon as kids turn 18 – it’s go to college or leave the house and work..  For me, my kids can stay with me forever. I am fine with my kids staying with me.  J  

Yobie’s Success 

Edith: What would you say is your biggest success or your claim of fame? 

Yobie:   I have three good kids.  One is finishing college.  They are healthy and they are fine.   

Edith:  What have been the keys to your success? 

Yobie:   Being centered.  Knowing what is important to you.  Then to go and prioritize what is important.  Money isn’t everything.  The most important things are - your health and your family.  That’s it!     I have a friend who is a billionaire and his daughter is dying from a rare disease.   Would I rather be poor or have a healthy family? In a heart beat, I choose a healthy family. 

Edith: What’s made you so successful? 

Yobie:  To this very day, the strength of what I do is based on my relationships.  I always tell people I stand on the shoulders of others.  I wouldn’t be here today without the help of others.  That’s why I did Goodstorm.  I want to give back.  I have been very very lucky.  Relationships are extremely important.   

Edith:  What made crunchyroll.com successful?     

Yobie:   Luck and a passion for all things anime.  There was no business plan but the passion for anime is clear and people saw that.   There is no clear growth plan but the passion of the community drives growth.  Our growth is the hardest thing to explain to people. How many people run chunchyroll?  Two and a half.  Is it making money?  Yes, it makes money.   It is an interest that a lot of people share so it continues to grow organically.

Click here to continue with Immigrant Success Interview Series: Yobie Benjamin (Socially Conscious Entrepreneur) - Part 2.

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