The 2018 Women in Business Forum " Work Culture and Beyond "

A few days ago, I was invited at the 2018 Women in Business Forum "Work Culture and Beyond" held at Spaces at World Plaza, BGC. The Women in Business Forum with the theme "Work Culture & Beyond" celebrated achievements and progress in promoting gender equality and women empowerment (GEWE); identify what works, what's innovative, and what's best in terms of solutions and strategies in advancing GEWE; and enable professional women and female business leaders to contribute to their workplace. It was a half-day forum and the event also highlighted the challenge of bridging the gap between women in business leaders and "millennial" as the next leaders of the business community.

A number of women CEOs and entrepreneurs in the country attest to the reality of the crucial role women play in the economy and nation-building. The event featured inspirational talks and forums by inspiring women in business and political community;

Senator Risa Hontiveros, Chairperson  Senate Committee on Women, Children, Relations and Gender Equality

Ms. Boots Garcia, Chairperson of Philippine Women's Economic Network (PhilWEN)

Ms. Myrna Yao, Chief Executive Officer, Richprime Global Inc.

Ms. Michelle Garcia, President of People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP)

Ms. Maria-Cristina Conception, President and CEO of BPO International, Inc.

 Ms. Leni Bantiling, VP-Business Development Trends and Concepts Total Interior Solutions,Inc.

Did you know that The Grant Thornton International Limited's latest Women in Business report ranked the Philippines first among 35 countries with more women business leaders than men. According to the 2018 report, 46.58 percent of the Filipino women in business hold senior management roles or 22.44 percent more than the global average. Moreover, the report showed the Philippines as one of only three countries where the number of established business owners among women is higher than that of men.

Diversity in leadership also boosts companies' competitive edge

A more significant impact of women business leaders is the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment (GEWE) in the country. Since 2006, the Philippines is number one in terms of gender outcomes among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, based on the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranking. Also, the country has been consistently in the top 10 and ranked 7th in 2016 in the WEF list of 144 countries.

A company that adheres to a non-discriminatory hiring policy is good PR while expanding career opportunities to women and helping them attain higher level of financial security.

Helping sustain the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment in the country is the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and the Women In Business Committee (WBC) that it created to work with gender advocates in narrowing the remaining gender gap in society.

The ECCP's WBC is also serving as a venue for mentoring and inspiring women and in discussing related issues like discrimination faced by women leaders in the business community, with its annual Women in Business Forum (WBF) and Networking Night at the Spaces in World Plaza, Bonifacio Global City. For more updates, follow European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and ECCP Women In Business Committee on facebook.