10 Things About Esteban Villanueva & Giving Back Magazine
“The best way to not make it a big deal… is to not make it a big deal.”
Launching GB Magazine in 2007, when many larger and more established publications were closing their doors, Danitza and Esteban Villanueva had a clear vision to launch an outlet featuring the positive on both sides of the border. Alongside a dedicated team, they are proud to publish a monthly bilingual, bi-national magazine featuring events, businesses and individuals who are making a difference in the San Diego and Tijuana community.
#1 I was born in Washington D.C. but grew up in La Jolla. At school, I was known as “Steven” or “Steve” Villanueva because many of my classmates had a hard time pronouncing “Esteban”!
#2 After getting my Bachelor of Science degree at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, I received a Law Degree focused on Entertainment Law at Pepperdine School of Law.
#3 I was the Director of Business and Legal Affairs for a music production company, recording studio and music publishing company. One project I directed was Carlos Santana’s “Supernatural” which won 12 Grammy Awards including Album of the Year.
#4 If I did not live in San Diego, I would choose Buenos Aires, Argentina. The food, culture, people are so warm and inviting.
#5 There is no doubt about it, I am a night owl. I get far more done at night than at any other time of the day; it is quiet, and I have no distractions.
#6 Danitza and I are animal lovers and we adopted Winky about 8 years ago. She is a 100% pure shelter mutt! She is the light in our lives, and we like to say she lets us live in her house.
#7 When I can squeeze in some time for myself, I enjoy restoring antiques or organizing my record collection of 25,000 LPs.
#8 Danitza and I were dating when I presented to her with the idea to launch a publication that focused on the social good of our binational community. 3 years after launching GB Magazine we married, and we are now soon to celebrate 15 years of serving our community as a monthly publication – shining a light on the good of our community.
#9 When the pandemic hit, our team leaned in to showcase how our community came together to help those in need in a time of darkness. Despite all the challenges, GB Magazine continued to share the good in our bi-national community every month.
#10 We have recently upgraded our website so you can now shop for your favorite photo prints, wall plaques, back issues, subscriptions and more!
