JOAHNA TUPAS

A leading expert and advocate of experiential and character education, aside from being a wife and a mother to her 11year-old son, whom she has been raising through intentional parenting and homeschooling, Joahna owes her achievements to her raw beginnings, from being a Psychology student to graduating with a bachelor's degree in Multimedia Arts at De La Salle College of Saint Benilde in the Philippines

Having a heart for the arts, she formed a Multimedia Arts Agency and Productions Company, which garnered notable local and international clients within 10 years She further gained professional expertise in the field, taking roles in marketing, editorial, and social media management for top media companies in the Philippines, such as Bigtop Entertainment, Experience Travel and Living Magazine, and Ritmo Learning Lab, to name a few Thereafter, due to her passion and diligence, she landed consulting and executive positions for companies like Getaround in the San Francisco Bay Area, PeopleBrowsr and My Health Mags in Australia, and Social Metric and Tangy Lab in Singapore

She also lent her experiences and expertise as an entrepreneur for several other clients locally in the Philippines and abroad in Hong Kong and the USA, and through several startups of her own together with trusted friends She had also curated art exhibits for Filipino artists, including Richard Tuason, Nino Hernandez, Ginger de Guia, and Waby Liberia In these times, she dabbled in Performance Arts as a hiphop dancer, street dancer, break dancer, rapper, lyricist, and spoken word artist in various events in the country

In 2010, she accepted a teaching job as a Multimedia Arts college professor for her alma mater, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde In pursuit of her love for Education, Joahna studied Special Education and earned a position as a Special Education Teacher at a Native American school district in Arizona From her desire to meet the constant developments in the field, she has taken up a master's degree in Education Management at Pacific Intercontinental College

Since 2018, Joahna is a District Team Member for Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) and a Community Immersion program designer under her school district's yearly summer enrichment program for junior and high school students with disabilities, and she serves as a member of the Arizona Education Department (AZED) Data Review Committee for the AZ high school science state assessments in 2022 Joahna's passionate pursuits for the love of lifelong learning have led her to be a presenter in the Kennedy Center Office of VSA and Accessibility in 2022, the National Arts Educators Association (NAEA) 2021 Conference, and the Neuroscience in the Classroom Virtual International Conference in 2021, and a professional development speaker for educators and partner parents since 2020 She has also authored and coauthored curriculums for an international school and for the Department of Education in the Philippines between 2010 and 2017

Ms Tupas excels as the founder of School in a Backpack since 2015, through which she created School by the Shore and encouraged students to partake in the environment as part of their educational experience This was followed by Applause Fun Theater, an interactive theater workshop created in partnership with the Curtain Raiser group from Malta in 2017 Joahna owns schINAbp, a brand under travel agencies holding company Inteletravel, wherein she creates experiential education-based travel opportunities in the Philippines, US, UK and around the globe for families, educators, and enthusiasts

As a mother and a teacher, who feels strongly about conscious parenting, Joahna therefore became a Curriculum Director for Parent Led Academy in 2020-2022, and Council Member for the Parent Advisory Council for the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program under the Arizona Education Department (AZED), as well as a co-founder of MrsEverAfter in 2015-2017

With regard to her philanthropic activities, Joahna participated at My Shelter Foundation as a co-director of an International Design Competition for Sustainable Schools in the Philippines in 2006, which exhibited designs from architects all over the world at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a Media Director for Design Against the Elements (DAtE) International Competition in the Philippines in 2010 with an opening event in Malacanang Palace In the mid-2000s, Joahna served as an officer of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) since 2010, a Multimedia Artist volunteer for True Love Waits, an Assistant Photographer volunteer teacher in a Philippines Local Government unit event for youth, a Volunteer Arts Teacher at Nazareth Home by Kaisahang Buhay Foundation, and a Sunday School teacher for elementary grade students since 2001

Most recently, Joahna was made the Executive Vice President for the International Women Artists Inc (IWA) in New York

While Joahna's accomplishments seem full, it is nevertheless far from stagnation, as she aims to finish her own book, called "Courage First", transition her workshops into conference pieces, to create programs that will enhance Socio-Emotional Learning among learners, as well as to write children's books She is launching School in a Backpack in the USA in October 2022, facilitating workshops, talks, coaching services, events, etc through wwwschoolinabackpackcom

Above all these, Joahna is first and foremost an intentional mom and homeschooling parent to her only child, Samuel Her real mission is to raise her son as a confident, courageous, and compassionate individual This motivates her to promote joyful learning, traveling, exploring, and yes, creating

What inspired your start in entrepreneurship?

My parents are both entrepreneurs My dad, most especially, has ingrained an entrepreneurial mindset in me, while my mom emphasized the importance of people in the process of business They were both very supportive in the pursuit of their children's interests, dreams, and ambitions They have also provided several opportunities for us to practice business sense while still young I officially launched my multimedia arts business in 2003 even before graduating college Now in the US, after 5 years of teaching as a certified teacher, I officially launched my business within the education industry in October 2022

What has been your biggest challenge/failure as an entrepreneur? And how do you deal with it?

After a year of doing business on my own, my company catering to multimedia arts freelancers has grown and transitioned into a corporation After another 3 years, the corporation experienced a split at board level The split caused a division in clientele as well I decided to dissolve the partnerships and form affiliates instead with those that were interested to continue with the company This innovation in structure proved fruitful as the company grew in both client numbers AND in affiliate partners in the industry for another 5 years

How do you balance entrepreneurship and Motherhood without experiencing burnout while pursuing your passion?

Having priorities is important, and my family is my priority I officially closed my multimedia arts company when I started a family While raising my son, I worked as a full time consultant for various clients local and abroad in the fields of multimedia, social media, tech, and creative writing As my clients grew, I hired staff to delegate tasks and eventually birthed a grass-roots business catering to virtual assistants in 2012 Aside from having priorities, time management is also important - learning my family's rhythm and creating a routine around it was helpful in making sure that all needs of both family and business were met As my top priority merged with management when I decided to take ownership of my son ' s education This merger brought about the perfect balance between entrepreneurship and motherhood, as well as with the pursuit of my passions to travel, teach, and write -- School in a Backpack, which officially launched in 2015, is all about experiential learning and character education, allowing students to remain curious, keep exploring, and encouraging experiencing life to the fullest by having Courage 1st

What advice do have for moms looking to get started In entrepreneurship?

Be clear with your intention: what is the "why" behind your pursuit? Be purposeful with your planning and your actions: how do they contribute to you, to your family, to society, and to the next generation? Momtrepreneurs are passionate, so do not lose sight of that virtue in you

What does being a Pretty Woman Who Hustles mean to you?

A Pretty Woman Who Hustles is someone who is radiating confidence inside and out She is brave & beautiful, compassionate & courageous, daring, effective, fierce, and a goddess in her own right

What books do you recommend for moms navigating entrepreneurship? Strengths Finder by Tom Rath, 7 Habits of Effective People by Stephen Covey, Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, Start with Why by Simon Sinek, and Grit by Angela Duckworth Also check out Stories of the World's Greatest Speakers under Shawn Fair LET and World Schoolers: Innovative Parents Turning Countries into Classrooms, both books I am a co-author for respectively facebookcom/joahnatupas instagramcom/joahnatupas youtubecom/janaetupas

Social media handles: Website: schoolinabackpackcom tiktokcom/joahnatupas facebookcom/schoolinabackpack instagramcom/schoolinabackpack