In this GCI Alumni Interview Series, we feature past participants of the Global Consumer Intelligence program and share their experiences, learning journeys, and career growth after joining GCI.
This article features Iesu Angelo Aedryan Go De Guzman, a Bachelor student at Ateneo De Manila University from The Philippines. Through this interview, Iesu Angelo shares what motivated him to join GCI, the skills and knowledge gained through the program, and how the experience has contributed to his academic and professional journey.
Q1: Please introduce yourself
(In English)
Hi all! I’m Iesu De Guzman from Ateneo De Manila University! I’m a Sophomore currently taking up Computer Science and one of my pastimes is learning about the various histories, cultures and languages of the world! I’ve been trying to pick up Japanese, Mandarin, and Hokkien after my mother tongue English so I’ll try and switch between them as I go along (though I’ll also try to incorporate some tagalog even if it’s a bit rudimentary for my age haha) Ako ay isang Pilipino 19 na taong gulang nag aaral sa Ateneo De Manila University kasalukyang kumukuha ng kursong BS Computer Science sa ikalawang taon.
Q2: What motivated you to join GCI?
(In English)
What made me sign up for the GCI was honestly a mix of intrigue with regards to the subject and at the thought of meeting new people from all walks of life through this online course! I’ve always been enthralled with the world of technology and with the recent but rapid advancements that our society has made in the world of AI and data science, I’ve always wanted to understand more about this realm and how I can one day train and create a model myself that can mimic the human brain to truly unleash technology’s uninhibited potential!
(In Japanese)
データサイエンスや人工知能への興味や、いろいろな人と出会って友達になれることなど、こうした理由から、このコースに参加いたしました！小学の頃から、人間の脳を模倣し、こうした技術の真の可能性を解き放つ人工知能モデルを、いつか自分の手で作りたいと思っていたので、新しい技術の進化や社会での応用、そしてどうすればこうした分野についてもっと深く理解できるのかを調べてきました！
しかし、正直に言うと、参加した後に完全無料の東京ツアーがあると聞いて、そちらも一生懸命頑張る大きな理由の一つになりました、ーまあ、冗談ですけれどもね（笑）！
Q3: What skills, knowledge, or experiences did you gain through GCI?
(In English)
Throughout these amazing 3 months I’ve had with the GCI, I’ve learned so much, including how to better utilize python and its various extensions to read, process and analyze data through software such as mathplotlib, pandas and numpy, learned the basics of what an AI model, how to train them and evaluate their efficacy, and finally how to apply what I’ve learned into various contexts through our competition and final assignments! I’ve also learned so much through the Tokyo Study Tour funded by the GCI as part of being an outstanding student by befriending my fellow students within the Tokyo Tour cohort, the various government officials and JICA members whom I’m so grateful to have met, as well as the various companies who were gracious enough to meet and show us the various advances they’ve made in AI and cybersecurity and data science.
Q4: How has GCI helped you in your academic or professional journey?
(In English)
Through their course, the GCI has helped me gain an advanced ‘overview’ of the subject matter I’m supposed to learn a year or two down the line, while also teaching me more with regards to AI’s applications and building simple, data-processing and analysis models that deal with and comb through huge amount of data, projects which are far beyond my current curriculum’s scope! And because of the certificate I received as part of completing the course, alongside the various people I’ve been able to network with, I also believe that they’ll help me professionally in the future through the credentials I’ve earned in my time here, and through the various future opportunities they keep alumni posted on even after the course has ended!
(In Japanese)
このコースのお陰で、GCIでは、これから1〜2年後に学ぶはずだった内容を先取りして学ぶことができました。それだけでなく、人工知能のさまざまな応用について学んだり、現在のカリキュラムを大きく超えるような、膨大な量のデータを処理・分析するモデルを作ったりする経験もできました！
それに、ここで取得した証明書や、さまざまな人と交流して築いた人脈のおかげで、これからの学業だけでなく、将来の仕事でもきっと役立つものを得られたと思います！
Q5: What was the most memorable part of your GCI experience?
(In English)
Throughout the GCI course, I’d say that the most memorable part of it were the competitions I’ve joined, both onsite in the University of the Philippines Diliman campus and the official online, both hosted by the GCI world for separate occasions. They’re the most memorable to me because these were the first ‘hackathons’ I’ve ever attended in my life and they’ve all taught me various things about being able to firmly grasp and apply the fundamentals of what you’re learning into the more advanced and technical aspects expected from these events. I’ve also been able to glean more about what these events truly are and how to improve with each event that I’ve joined too! Though, if I were to also include the Tokyo tour, I’d definitely place it in its entirety well above the hackathons simply due to the sheer amount of things I’ve been able to do, places I’ve been able to explore and the memories I’ve made with both the GCI, as well as the new friends that I’ve been able to meet all thanks to the trip!
Q6: What would you say to someone considering applying to GCI?
(In English)
If I could turn back time, I would definitely and without hesitation do this all over again, simply because of how much fun I had and how much I’ll miss this course and the memories I’ve made now that it’s over. And if you guys should take away at least one thing from what I’ve just written, it’s that the best things in life are oftentimes a once-in-a-lifetime offer, and the GCI is definitely that! So go follow your heart and take the plunge!
(In Japanese)
もし時間を巻き戻せるなら、迷わずもう一度このコースに参加します。ここで過ごした時間が本当に楽しかったし、コースが終わってしまった今、ここでできた思い出がきっと恋しくなると思うからです。
Thank you, Iesu Angelo, for sharing your GCI experience with us!
Through the GCI Alumni Interview Series, we hope to highlight the diverse stories of our alumni and show how GCI supports students and professionals in developing practical AI, data science, and business skills for the future.
If you are interested in GCI World Program, please check the details:
Please also read others articles featuring our outstanding students:
https://weblab.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/global_expansion/gciworld_alumni_interview/