By Bianca Gempesaw
It started out like any other workday. Then, in a meeting she had prepared for like any other admin consultation, RJ Garga walked out smiling — newly named as the 2nd AEV GT Cup MVP of the Quarter, recognized by Chief Strategy Officer and Transformation Head John Rubio and Transformation Manager Alyssa Virrey.
As the Manager for AEV Workplace & Asset Management, RJ’s world revolves around structure and precision, ensuring the AEV office runs smoothly. Before most of us finish our first coffee, RJ is already walking the halls, checking corners, greeting guards by name, and making sure the office feels ready to work as hard as its people do.
Now in her sixth year with the Aboitiz Group and second with AEV, RJ has walked the full real estate journey: from business development to project management to workplace and leasing operations. Each role, she says, has deepened her appreciation for consistency – the kind that drives transformation in small steady steps.
One of her proudest milestones is supporting AVP for Workplace & Asset Management Doni Dionisio in leading AEV’s move to Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2, a shift that shaped a smarter, more connected way of working. “We live out openness by engaging experts to ensure readiness, and collaboration by working closely with CSUs, external stakeholders, and BUs,” she says.
For RJ, transformation is the quiet rhythm of doing things right, every day.
From Participant to Purpose-Driven Challenger
At the start of GT Cup’s Q3 run, RJ made a decision: she would not just join; she would show up with purpose.
“I wanted to challenge myself in embracing the values of being purpose-driven and synergetic,” she shares. “And to show others that if we want to, we can. If we want to participate, support, and engage, we can.”
That mindset turned every challenge into growth. Her favorite challenge, Mission AI-possible, pushed her to master prompt crafting for real valuable AI results. What began as friendly competition soon transformed into a new way of working, with each challenge mirroring her real tasks and inspiring smarter solutions.
By the time the quarter ended, RJ had learned to align purpose with consistency, the perfect mix that defined her journey from participant to MVP.
RJ Garga (center) receives her GT Cup MVP of the Quarter prizes from Chief Strategy Officer and Transformation Head John Rubio (rightmost) and Transformation Manager Alyssa Virrey (leftmost).
Mindset Over Metrics: The Real Meaning of Transformation
For RJ, transformation is not about doing more. It is about thinking differently. She hopes future GT Cup challenges continue to push culture and mindsets to evolve.
“While the business side performs well, true transformation starts with how we think,” she says. “We should value the simple things — gratitude, discipline, and doing the small tasks that keep our culture strong.”
Her view of transformation echoes a line from SMA during the SDC that stuck with her, that GT’s success is measured not by numbers but by “the improvement a person has done for herself.”
And when asked what she would tell the next batch of hopeful challengers, her advice is short, sharp, and deeply RJ: “Seize every opportunity and enjoy the journey.”
In a world that celebrates speed, RJ Garga reminds us that true transformation happens quietly through focus and steady progress, one routine at a time.
