In 2008, Aya Garcia was home in a small apartment in Queens, New York, caring for her six-month-old baby.
She had recently left her job at an architecture firm, hoping to build something of her own. She began taking on freelance projects, connecting Filipino architectural talent with international firms.
What started in that Queens apartment eventually became MGS Global Group, an international architectural production company with more than 60 team members across the United States, the Philippines, and India. Today, the company serves architecture firms and publicly traded global brands.
Its Cebu operations play a central role in delivering projects worldwide. For Aya, the business also means Filipino architects can build careers working on international projects without having to leave their families behind.
Born and raised in Cebu City, Aya moved to the United States at 19 to study architecture. She earned a degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and did her master’s at Columbia University before pursuing her career in the industry. Her work now takes her around the world, but she calls both Cleveland, Ohio, and Cebu home.
While architecture became the foundation of her career, Aya has never limited herself to one industry. Curiosity, and a willingness to try something unfamiliar, have led her into ventures that might seem unrelated.
In 2010, Aya co-founded Tablea Chocolate Café with her mother in Cebu, hoping to revive the tradition of drinking sikwate, Filipino hot chocolate made from locally grown cacao. She developed the café concept and pitched it to major shopping malls, but no one was willing to take a chance. Finally, a small local mall offered her space for a kiosk. It became an instant hit, showing that an old Filipino tradition could find new life in a modern café.
Chocolate cafés have since been popping up across the Philippines. Tablea remains a family business, now managed by Aya’s brother, while she continues as a co-owner.
Years later, Aya ventured into podcasting. During the pandemic, she launched Architect My Life, highlighting women in architecture. It eventually evolved into Architect My Business, exploring entrepreneurship, leadership, and the business of architecture.
As artificial intelligence began reshaping the profession, she launched the AI for Architects podcast, interviewing business owners, technology founders, and industry leaders. She also authored AI for Architects: Today and Tomorrow, a research report examining more than 50 AI tools for architecture.
Her interest in connecting people eventually extended beyond podcasts. In 2026, Aya co-founded Archicon with Australian entrepreneur Nikita Morell. First held in Melbourne in October 2026, the conference brought together architects, business leaders, and innovators to explore evolving business models and the future of architecture in the age of AI.
For Aya, the thread that connects chocolate, architecture, podcasts, and conferences is a simple one.
“Each venture begins with curiosity and creates opportunities to bring people together, share knowledge, and try something new,” she said.
The Fountain Principle
Behind her ventures is a philosophy she calls The Fountain Principle.
“Give more than you take, and lift others as you grow,” Aya explained.
During the pandemic, as companies laid off employees and uncertainty spread across industries, Aya chose to keep her entire team employed. Rather than cut back on their development, she brought in a technical software trainer to strengthen their skills. When business picked up again, her team was ready to take on new projects.
For Aya, generosity in business is not simply about giving things away. It is about investing in people, sharing knowledge, and building relationships that help everyone grow.
In 2025, Aya was named to the Global FWN100 list of the Most Influential Filipina Women in the World by the Filipina Women’s Network.
This November, she heads to Monaco for the launch of Disrupt, a book that’s a collection of stories featuring FWN awardees. Her chapter explores The Fountain Principle and the experiences that shaped her approach to business and leadership. For her, success has never been just about how far she can go.
“Success isn’t just about what you build for yourself,” she said. “It’s about the doors you open for others.”