Junie Del Mundo shares how EON became a multi-million peso industry leader as a trusted advisor and thought leader

EON started in 1998 with a modest capitalisation of one million pesos, pooled from five friends, including Del Mundo, Ambassador Romy Manalo, and Jeannie Javelosa (later the curator and director of Yuchengco Museum). The co-founders were on a coffee break in a Parisian café, relaxing after another state visit, when the idea for EON was born.

“We joked that if we could manage state visits and high-stakes diplomacy, surely, we could manage a business,” Del Mundo recalls. Together, they realised and affirmed their skills in project management, strategic thinking, and relationship building. “Diplomatic work is high-pressure, and that camaraderie among us five turned into a shared vision,” he continues.

Upon arriving in Manila, they started with a small company—Del Mundo as its chairman and CEO, a co-founder, and two part-time staff. “It was lean, scrappy, and driven by a bold dream to create something meaningful amidst the Asian Financial Crisis.”

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Del Mundo describes his formative years as a blend of personal and professional milestones. Growing up in a family with a century-old business has instilled in him an entrepreneurial spirit.

“I learnt the importance of gut instinct—trusting my ability to make decisions even without formal business training,” he says.

From the get-go, EON was guided by values of integrity, love for country, and community impact. “Even when we were small, we turned down clients whose ethics didn’t align with ours,” he recalls. “It’s more than just about making money. It’s about creating work that uplifts others. I’ve always believed in doing work with a multiplier effect—what I do should benefit more than just myself.”

Among his mentors, Del Mundo picks out his mother as the one who greatly instilled in him the values of hard work, honesty, and love for family, culture, and God. “She taught me to never rise by stepping on others, a principle I hold dear,” he comments.

Perhaps one of the things that people might find surprising about Del Mundo is that he started with a degree in biology because his mum wanted him to be a doctor. “I wanted to study history, but I was overruled,” he recalls. Eventually, he pursued political science and diplomacy, which led him to government service. “It’s a far cry from medicine, but it turned out to be the right path.”

Deeply ingrained in EON’s DNA are lessons imparted to him by ambassadors Felicidad Gonzalez and Roberto Romulo, whom he has worked with in his early career. “Gonzalez taught me that every negotiation is a battle for the country. She drilled into me the importance of preparation and excellence. Meanwhile, Romulo introduced me to the corporate world. He showed me the best and worst ideas of business and emphasised ethics and high-quality work,” Del Mundo shares.

Envisioned to be a catalyst for change by empowering organisations to tell their stories authentically and impactfully, the EON Group has always been focused on building trust and transforming relationships.

“Trust is the foundation of everything we do—it’s what bridges gaps and creates long-term success,” he explains.

Although it is worth noting that over the course of two decades, EON has grown into a multi-million peso industry leader. But beyond the numbers, its chairman and CEO is most proud of the reputation the company has built—a trusted advisor and thought leader.

“I’m proud that EON has allowed me to continue serving the country through our nation-branding work. Whether as a diplomat or an entrepreneur, I’ve always seen myself as a salesman for the Philippines, and that dual legacy is deeply fulfilling.”

Today, Del Mundo continues to bring pride to Filipinos for being Filipinos by establishing a global brand for the country. “For the past years, I’ve been advocating for a coherent and strategic country branding campaign. I’ll keep pushing for this until it’s realised because I want every Filipino to hold their head high, especially on the international stage.”

But like many companies, the EON Group also faced a fair number of challenges. In its early years, Del Mundo found himself in a steep learning curve as he tried to run a new business, primarily its operational side. Recently during the COVID-19 pandemic, he had to empty his personal savings to ensure payroll was met because he knew families depended on them.

“It was a test of resolve, but it reinforced my commitment to my people and our mission,” he says. “The challenges today are more about maintaining momentum. EON is a well-oiled machine, but we must stay ahead of industry shifts like digital transformation and sustainability communications. The focus is on fine-tuning rather than firefighting,” Del Mundo adds.

The pressures a business founder or leader faces, such as self-doubt, rejection, and burnout, to name a few, are things that Del Mundo deems as part of the journey.

“I’ve always believed in pushing forward,” he says. “I lean on my support system, trust my team, and remind myself why I started. Rejection? I see it as a numbers game—you lose one, you win ten. Burnout? I don’t allow it. Rest, regroup, and keep moving,” he shares as a piece of advice to fellow business leaders.

Instead of letting failures derail his vision, Del Mundo chooses to take the wins. “The best part of being a founder? It is seeing something you’ve built thrive. It’s like raising a child and watching them succeed.”

Now, Del Mundo has entrusted the EON Group’s current plans to its formidable set of leaders: president and COO Malyn Molina and CIO Mori Rodriguez. “I’ve taken a step back from day-to-day operations to focus on mentorship and advocacy,” he says.

What he hopes now for EON is for it to continue leading the charge in trust-building and expanding its influence across Southeast Asia.

“Trust is universal, and I believe EON can be the gold standard in this space,” he concludes.

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