Connecting the country to the world

Maria Grace Uy

Maria Grace Uy, cofounder and president of Converge ICT Solutions Inc., is instrumental in expanding internet access across the country. Doing so has become crucial as the world relies on digital connectivity for almost anything—from doing their work to online learning, buying necessities and hailing a ride.

Since 2012, Uy and her husband, Dennis Anthony, have been deploying fiber ports and investing in supporting infrastructure like subsea cable systems and data centers. Such efforts have paid off: The Converge network now covers 16.7 million homes or 77.85 percent of the population. It serves one out of every three fiber broadband subscribers in the country.

In addition, Ookla recently named Converge the fastest internet service provider in the country based on a speed test conducted in the second half of 2023—no small feat as it battles two telecommunication giants.

A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the De La Salle University in 1988, Uy looks after the financial side of the company. Converge was able to make a successful debut at the Philippine Stock Exchange despite launching the offering at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when market sentiment was not generally optimistic. Prior to working at Converge, Uy was accounting manager at IBM Philippines and vice president for finance at Savers Mall Group of Companies.

As a woman in a male-dominated field, she advises women—especially the younger generation—not to be afraid to challenge the status quo.

“Challenge the norm. The youth are supposed to bring new ideas to the fore, so don’t be afraid to show a different way of doing things,” she told the Inquirer in an earlier interview. Uy said women should worry less about what others might think about them. “If change is what’s needed, be the first to make that change,” she said.

She also urges companies to close the gender gap by opening discussions on how the problem will be addressed. Human resources personnel should place gender-sensitive programs in their agenda and not just during Women’s Month, she said, adding that it’s crucial to establish a culture that recognizes the power and intellect of women. For Uy, that is the true mark of empowerment.

Last year, service media company Jumpstart recognized Uy as of the “5 Women over 50 Who Are Leading the Way in Asia Pacific.” The media company paid tribute to women deemed as “inspiring role models who have broken barriers and achieved incredible success.” Uy is certainly an exemplar in that regard. INQ