Women are wielding power, but more needs to be done

MANILA, Philippines – I’ve been extremely fortunate to have had great role models in my life, as there was never any shortage of strong, capable, passionate women—or men—to look up to.

These incredible individuals all showed me the power of owning your space, and the endless possibilities of building a fulfilling and meaningful career.

My unique perspective as a woman—a daughter and sister, a wife and mother and a female in business—has taught me so much.

Women play a critical role in society—within their own families, organizations and communities—leaving lasting impact and shaping future generations.

Power in choices

In my current role, I have a unique vantage point that allows me to see how women shape the economy through the consumption decisions they make.

There is power in the choices that the modern Filipina consumer makes, especially in today’s era of endless options.

Every decision is a careful discernment of where they want to spend their time and resources.

With women playing a greater role in decision-making for household spending, we can see that women spend more on necessities such as education and essentials, while also showing more comfort to spend on retail, leisure and health.

The modern Filipina consumer is strategic (what others might call frugal). She hunts for deals and promos, looking for creative ways to save more with every purchase.

Female consumers are also driving digital activities and e-commerce, leveraging digital channels for convenience, product exclusivity and discounts and showing stronger inclination toward social media activity, online banking and e-wallets, and use of digital platforms for telehealth, ride hailing and online commerce.

Meaningful change

Women are also driving the switch to sustainable and local products, choosing to vote with their wallets and reinforcing sustainable habits by patronizing more eco-friendly or locally produced items.

Beyond driving these trends and patterns in consumption, I believe in women’s ability to drive meaningful change and seek to support them in whatever way I can.

In the workplace, I believe in the power that diversity, equity and inclusion have in an organization. Including people’s unique perspectives and backgrounds helps us unlock the very best in our people and add value to the communities where we work and live.

In many work environments, women continue to be an underrepresented group, especially as you go up the leadership ranks.

I believe that the roles women play in their individual lives, their families and their communities contribute so much to their world view and their perspectives on problem-solving and decision-making.

Bringing those unique perspectives and experiences to the organizations they are part of will yield tremendous results and hopefully new ways of looking at things.

Even playing field

I consider myself lucky in a sense that the Philippines has a history of many strong, influential and respected women in both the public and private sectors, as well as in both large and small communities.

But I believe there is work to be done in continuing to even the playing field for men and women, as this issue of gender equity is one of national importance.

It is about building an empowered and productive workforce, to be able to maximize on the promise of the country as a whole.

I also believe in the transformative power of education, especially for women and girls to take their future into their own hands.

I am grateful for the opportunity to sit on the board of U-Go, a nonprofit that helps ambitious and promising young women pursue higher education through scholarships.

Our partnership with U-Go will provide 1,000 scholarships for young women in the Philippines this year and I am so excited for what’s in store for them as they take this next step in their life.

As we celebrate Women’s Month, I am reminded of the power of women across all facets of life—in the family, in the workplace, in the economy and in society at large.

May we continue to find female mentors and role models around us to remind us of stepping into our power, owning our space and making a difference in whatever decisions we choose to take. —Contributed INQ

The author is managing director of Ayala Corp.