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Guill Marc Mariano calls himself a “Filipino by blood, but a citizen of the world.”

Mariano has cultivated his passion for global education and engagement through the international programs at Lehigh University. He was a participant in the Iacocca Institute’s Global Village on the Move (GVotM) last year, which also led to involvement with the Iacocca Global Entrepreneurship Intensive (IGEI) program and Lehigh’s Creative Inquiry office.

Looking ahead, Mariano hopes to return to Lehigh to pursue a Master’s in Public Policy. He credits his experience with these global programs as influencing his future direction, highlighting the university's collaborative environment as a significant draw.

"Being a part of these programs has intensified my belief in the power of diverse perspectives in solving global problems. It’s a lesson I strive to pass on to others," Mariano said.

A Citizen of the World

Born in San Isidro, Philippines, the road to global citizenship for Marino started in an unlikely place: a small town in Arkansas. 

In 2007, as a high school student from the Philippines, Mariano participated in the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, an initiative that connects American and international students. This led to a year-long experience in Morton, Ark., which he called a turning point that broadened his worldview beyond the bustling cities often associated with the United States.

"Before coming to the U.S., my only idea of America was shaped by movies and big cities," Mariano said. "Going to a small town like Morton was eye-opening. It showed me that there’s much more to the world than what we see in popular media."

Mariano was the first exchange student from the Philippines at Morton High School in Arkansas, allowing him to educate his peers about the culture of his home country. This formative experience ignited a passion for global engagement that has continued to shape his career.

In 2022, he reconnected with American Councils for International Education, which facilitates the YES program. American Councils him to Lehigh’s GVotM program, which offers a unique platform for alumni of exchange programs and young business leaders to collaborate on global issues in educational settings.

In 2023, GVotM became Mariano’s opportunity to explore academia in the United States again. During the four months he spent at Lehigh with the program Mariano worked as a consultant with Stone House Group, a energy saving consulting firm in Bethlehem, Pa.

Becoming a Mentor

After completing GVotM, he was introduced to IGEI, another program hosted by the Iacocca Institute. IGEI is an immersive, hands-on program that combines experiential learning and intercultural connection, allowing emerging leaders from around the world to enhance their skills in entrepreneurship, leadership, and global citizenship

 Mariano serves as a mentor in this program virtually from the Philippines, guiding high school students through their summer projects, focusing on innovative solutions for global challenges.

“You could count on Guill to get something done well, thoroughly, and thoughtfully,” said Carrie Duncan, Program Director at the Iacocca Institute. “To stand out from such a big crowd in a virtual environment takes something special. Guill definitely had that.”

Beyond his role with IGEI, Guill expressed excitement about other things happening among Lehigh students as well, Duncan said. “He is not just focused on his own program, but took the time to network and learn about other projects, like those students who went to the Philippines this summer.”

The standout project for Mariano came from Lehigh’s Creative Inquiry office and involved addressing waste management issues in the Philippines, a country grappling with significant plastic pollution, Mariano said. The students’ work resonated with Mariano because of his mentoring as a student and his current works as a Municipal Councillor in the Philippines.

“Because of my job, I was able to connect these students with local government units and politicians in the Philippines,” Mariano said. “Their project on waste management had the potential to make a real difference, and I’m excited to present their proposal to my fellow legislators.”

Applying Lessons to Inspire Change

Eric Obeysekare, Teaching Assistant Professor with the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, worked with Mariano at Creative Inquiry, was responsible for bringing students to the Philippines this past summer as a part of their fellowship to help waste management. Mariano helped connect him with students and local politicians in the country.

“You can just really tell he's a leader, just from watching his interactions with the students that he's with,” Obeysekare said. “He's a very super friendly person, but then also has this passion and leadership that is just very obvious.”

Mariano took what he learned from Lehigh, and applied it to his small hometown to inspire change. With the support of a follow-up grant from the American Councils, Mariano implemented a leadership and capacity-building program in his hometown called “Puso at Talino” (Heart and intellect). 

This program aims to incorporate lessons learned from Lehigh’s GVotM and IGEI by empowering local leaders in the Philippines who are in charge of policy that represent the youth sector.

"Through this program, I was able to bring back the knowledge and tools from my international experiences and apply them locally," Mariano said. "It’s about replicating and multiplying what I’ve learned to create meaningful change in my own community."

Mariano didn’t just take the learning experience as a one-off. Instead, he continuously strengthens and improves his methods, which is really inspiring to see, Duncan said. “It’s great to see him applying these skills in real-time and helping others benefit from what he has learned.”

For those considering international programs, Mariano offers this advice: "Going abroad allows you to see the world from a new perspective and appreciate your own culture in a deeper way. It’s an experience that broadens your understanding and connects you with people and ideas you might never encounter otherwise."