I am the founder and executive director of Project SMILE—a multi-awarded, youth-led non-profit organisation whose main advocacy is to uplift the lives of underprivileged and neglected Filipinos, one act of kindness at a time.

What is your greatest strength? 

My greatest strength lies in building genuine connections that transcend borders. Whether through university speaking engagements or interacting with C-Suite executives in multinational settings, I thrive on forging meaningful relationships. This enables me to navigate cultural nuances easily, cultivate collaborative environments and drive impactful initiatives that resonate globally.

What advice would you share with the next generation of women? 

Discover your purpose and use it to equip and empower those around you. Remember, your journey can be a powerful example, encouraging others to pursue their dreams. I came across this saying: “There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise.” I’d like to add: “When a woman rises, she brings her entire community with her.”

I am a classical soprano, studying music in London.

What is the greatest challenge you have overcome? 

It was my habit of being overly humble whenever we presented ourselves to the audience. I realised that I was feeling that and it wasn't helping me in my performance. Overcoming that was freeing; I could send the message through my singing.

Who inspires you, and why? 

Aside from looking up to the greatest singers I hear online and live in the UK, it may sound cliche but my singing teachers inspire me the most. The passion they exert while teaching amazes me—it's so contagious. 

As the Founder and CEO of Kindred, I lead a femtech company dedicated to transforming women's healthcare through technology and holistic care, driven by a social impact mission.

What is the greatest challenge you have overcome?

It’s navigating the complexities of establishing a femtech startup in a traditional environment while ensuring that our mission-driven and innovative approach to women's health stays at the forefront.

Who is your inspiration?

My hero is my mother, who raised me while being a single mum. She continues to inspire me to lead Kindred with the same grit and confidence. My inspiration also comes from my grandmother, whose dedication to compassionate healthcare instilled the values of empathy and service in me.  

I am a trailblazing advocate for emerging technologies such as blockchain, digital transformation and innovation in the Philippines, empowering women and the youth to lead the future of business in Southeast Asia.

Who is your inspiration? 

My greatest hero is my mother, the strongest and most amazing woman I have ever met. She raised me as a single mum and was my role model. Being raised by a woman such as her honed me into the woman, mother and leader I am today. 

My family is my greatest inspiration. My husband has been a steadfast pillar of support, sharing in my dreams and challenges with unwavering love and encouragement. And my children’s curiosity and enthusiasm remind me of the importance of innovation and staying forward-thinking.  

What is your greatest strength? 

I drive digital transformation forward while empowering and inspiring others. My resilience in overcoming barriers in a male-dominated industry, with my commitment to inclusivity and innovation, means I lead with vision and impact. My dedication to empowering women and the youth, fostering a culture of diversity and advocating for progress positions me as a role model for future generations.

I raise awareness and inspire action on maternal mental health, a critical but often overlooked aspect of a family’s well-being.

What impact do you want to make in the next five years?

I want maternal mental health to be on the agenda of every family and organisation. 

As a society, we recognise that the mother is the ilaw ng tahanan (a beacon of the home). Yet, she is often at the unjust end of gender roles, mental load, emotional labour and other inequities. She is often the default caregiver but ironically cares for herself last.

Our work at Beacon emphasises the importance of prioritising and supporting the mother given her pivotal role in the family’s overall well-being. I often say, “Well mothers, mother well.”

What advice would you share with the next generation of women? 

Speak up as if your life depended on it—because it does.

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I am a sex therapist, educator, and researcher dedicated to improving Filipinos’ sexual wellbeing and I do it through therapy, education and my sexual wellness company, Unprude.

What impact do you want to make in the next five years?

In the next five years, I aim to break down the barriers that prevent open discussions about sex and seeking help for their sexual well-being. By expanding my sex therapy app, Unprude, I plan to incorporate free sex education for the youth through AI and provide accessible, credible support to millions of individuals and couples across Asia. 

I also plan to pursue another PhD in Women and Gender Studies to deepen my understanding of the barriers that we encounter. My ultimate goal is to foster a society where sex is not weaponised, but is seen from a place of care and respect. 

What does success mean to you? 

Success for me is to see my two daughters and other girls free from the challenges we as women face in our society right now, and for them to continue helping others. It means creating a world where they can pursue their dreams without barriers, feel confident in every aspect of their lives and live in a society that supports them. Can it happen? We don’t know, but we can try.

I am the co-founder and executive director of Mano Amiga Philippines, a non-profit providing access to high-quality education and sustainable livelihoods for children and women. I am also the co-founder and CEO of She Talks Asia, a women empowerment platform highlighting the need for gender equality and intergenerational wisdom. 

What does success mean to you? 

A good and successful life is one in which I positively contribute to the world and the people around me, especially by providing opportunities to those from underprivileged backgrounds. I deeply believe that God has entrusted us with our unique talents and resources, not for our glory, but to find meaningful ways to make a difference in the lives of others. 

Success also means having the bandwidth to be fully present in each moment and being courageous enough to live according to your values. 

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? 

“My work does not define me.” This wisdom came from my mum during my mid-20s, a chapter in my life when much of my self-worth was based on my productivity. Although I received international awards and recognition, it was happening at the expense of my health and quality time with my family. My mum reminded me that while my work is good for society, it is not the only thing that matters in life. This forever reshaped my definition of success. 

As founder of Lily of the Valley, I empower people to achieve holistic well-being through products tailored to an individual's unique health requirements, including personal, professional and spiritual health.

What advice would you share with the next generation of women? 

It is essential to cultivate a strong, supportive, and meaningful community that will help equip you with the social, emotional, and professional support you need to thrive. Communities connect you to educational and entrepreneurial resources that may not be accessible otherwise.

It’s also crucial to advocate for change. As the leaders of tomorrow, use your platform to promote meaningful shifts in policies, cultural norms, and institutional practices.  

What is your greatest strength?

I recognise and utilise my power to make a difference. Through attentive listening, providing support or enabling others, I strive to empower people to influence their communities, starting with themselves positively. I believe in the transformative power of individual action and I am committed to cultivating an environment where people are empowered to affect meaningful change.

I am a farmer-social entrepreneur and staunch advocate for a sustainable, equitable food system where no one is left behind and the environment is not jeopardised. 

What does success mean to you? 

If we can provide everyone in need the opportunity to flourish, that’s when we will have truly sustainable prosperity. 

Being purpose-driven and intentional is the foundation for this. Here, I find myself in a flow where I deeply connect to my actions and focus on what I want to create from them.  

What is the greatest challenge you have overcome? 

As a woman of colour from the Global South, I experienced a lot of intimidation and racism when I was given a global role by the United Nations and some other organisations. 

I overcame it by boosting my confidence through education, showcasing my work and advocating for women from this half of the globe. I reminded myself that this fight is not for me—this is a fight for many others. 

I am a Filipina artist in service of my community. 

What advice would you share with the next generation of women?

Strive for true independence—financial, emotional and psychological. We mustn't allow our lives to be dictated by the decisions of others. As women, we will face numerous obstacles. But by cultivating this independence, we can overcome them with grace and poise. And when we succeed, we must be outrageously generous, uplifting others on their journeys.

What is your greatest strength?

I can listen with genuine intention and communicate effectively with people from all walks of life. I am not afraid to speak my mind, even if it means challenging the status quo. This makes me an effective storyteller. 

I am a Filipino journalist and humanitarian, committed to public service.

What impact do you want to make in the next five years? 

I aim to see those we help today become empowered advocates and leaders in their communities. 

Who is your inspiration?

My son inspires me to be a better person each day, reminding me of the importance of my work. My heroes are those who came before me and paved the path for future generations through their struggles.

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I am a female leader focused on making a positive impact, particularly through my work at NEO. 

What impact do you want to make in the next five years? 

I aim to help more women achieve their goals by providing mentorship support. My journey began through speaking engagements and roundtable discussions on women's empowerment. I'm dedicated to expanding these initiatives by launching new mentorship programmes to foster professional and personal growth for women.

What is your greatest strength? 

I'm all about challenging the status quo to positively impact my professional and personal life. I love to step out of my comfort zone, embrace change and be open to new ideas to reach my full potential.

I am trailblazing a path towards a more data-driven and AI-ready Philippines by leading groundbreaking initiatives in technology and education.

What is the greatest challenge you have overcome? 

My greatest challenge has been breaking the glass ceiling in a male-dominated field. I spearheaded the first data science programme in the Philippines and now lead the country’s Center for AI Research. Each step involved addressing concerns about robustness and sustainability and overcoming doubts about my capabilities. I am immensely grateful for my tribe's unwavering support, which was essential in overcoming these obstacles.

What impact do you want to make in the next five years? 

In the next five years, I aim to lead initiatives that will help boost our national industries' competitiveness through AI and technology integration. Why AI? It's a transformative force reshaping industries globally, and it has the potential to catapult the Philippines forward in the digital economy.

Building on our success in producing over 250 data scientists now driving DSAI in top Philippine enterprises, I wish to expand this impact. A key part of this mission is empowering more young girls to pursue STEM fields, ensuring diverse perspectives in our tech workforce. My goal is to guide efforts that create more high-value jobs, drive economic growth, and improve Filipinos' quality of life.

As the president and CEO of GCash, I rally my team around the common purpose of Making Filipinos’ Everyday Lives Better—leveraging technology to advance financial inclusion and financial health and wellness, especially for the underserved.

What’s the best piece of advice you have received?

I believe in the phrase “Doing good is good business.” Being a socially responsible corporate citizen is one of the most admirable things any company can do. It builds customer trust in your brand, and more importantly, it is a guiding principle for everyone when making daily decisions.

What does success mean to you? 

Success is using my strengths to help others live their best lives. My purpose, my “why”, is to unlock the potential of the people around me—whether that’s my family at home or my work family.  

I lead Generations Home, a non-profit organisation in the Philippines that responds to the orphan crisis through adoption and foster care, orphan prevention programmes and advocacy work. 

What impact do you want to make in the next five years? 

Our goal is to see more and more Filipino families embracing the beauty of adoption and foster care. While not everyone will be called to adopt, we all have a part to play. That starts with becoming more aware of the brokenness around us. I’ve found that living in a nation like the Philippines, our hearts tend to become calloused. We see so much poverty and pain around us that we sometimes become desensitised to it. 

In the Philippines, there are 1.8 million orphaned children, while millions more are vulnerable, abandoned and trafficked.​ Generations are waiting to come home. While orphanages may provide basic needs such as food, shelter, and education, what every child needs is a safe and loving family.

What advice would you share with the next generation of women?

I believe that no season of our lives needs to be wasted. I’ve also learned that our careers and callings don’t exist in isolation from our personal lives. I never would have thought how profoundly my journey to motherhood would affect my work life: a season of personal pain set me up to start an organisation in an industry I had no experience in. Ultimately, it was my experiences as a grieving mother that qualified me. 

I champion the use of data to solve problems, using analytics and AI responsibly as the president of the Analytics and AI Association of the Philippines, for enterprises as the president of an analytics consulting firm Z-Lift Solutions, as a woman leader in tech co-founding For The Women Foundation to provide data science scholarship to underprivileged women, and as an industry practitioner teaching at the UP School of Statistics’ Professional Master in Data Science and Analytics programme.

What impact do you want to make in the next five years?

I envision a future where we use data analytics and AI to strategise, implement, monitor and evaluate what the private and public sectors are supposed to deliver to improve the lives of all Filipinos, responsibly.  

In the future, we should have more Filipinas in tech leadership positions. This should happen in the country, the ASEAN, and global discussions around responsible AI. I aim to continue to be a voice in this domain but we need to scale with more women from our part of the world to have fair representation in how AI technologies are developed, as most are for global use, commercial or otherwise. 

What is the best advice you’ve received? 

This quote is from Brené Brown: “At the end of the day, I can say I contributed more than I complained.” It’s my guiding principle in everything I do. If you see me resting, that means I have nothing to complain about! 

Since its inception, I have been the top executive decision-maker of the Wildflour Hospitality Group. I lead, manage and oversee day-to-day operations and growth of the entire 1,500-person strong organisation with over 20 restaurants and counting across a diverse portfolio of concepts at the most prime locations across Metro Manila, and soon beyond it.

What is your greatest strength? 

My greatest strength has been my keen intuition and firm decision-making, which I've thankfully been able to develop from multiple decades’ worth of experience in business and entrepreneurship. As a business leader, you are presented with so much information, both internal movements and data, as well as ever-changing external trends from the market and competitors. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by it all. It’s crucial to stay calm in discerning these factors and making decisions that will drive your company forward.  

What does success mean to you?

Personally, success does not only mean achieving goals but doing so in a manner that also uplifts others to succeed with you. None of my achievements would have been possible without the people who inspired me and believed in me. I also couldn’t have done it without my hardworking team that painstakingly put in the time and effort every day to reach these objectives.  

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