100 Most Influential Filipino Women on LinkedIn 2022

Be true to who you are. Not everyone will like you and that’s OK, you can’t please everyone. Do not be afraid to speak up! If there’s no seat at the table, it’s OK, you don’t need a chair, STAND UP and STAND OUT! — Mari Pantoja-Smith

To celebrate women’s achievements and elevate Filipino women’s visibility, we are excited to recognize this year’s 100 Most Influential Filipino Women. This is the 2nd year that we’re putting together in one list Filipino women who are adding value to the LinkedIn community and making an impact on their own communities, niches and industries.?

This project is in collaboration with?Gina Romero ?of Connected Women .

These influential women are from various industries including:?

• Education and training
• Professional coaching and consulting
• Healthcare
• Retail and commerce
• Banking and finance
• Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)
• Mental health
• Media and entertainment
• Information Technology (IT)
• Marketing and advertising
• Human Resources

Let’s #BreakTheBias by helping elevate the visibility of Filipino women and celebrating their achievements.

Get to know the Top 15 Most Influential Filipino Women on LinkedIn:

#1: Doreen Cooper

Industry: Education & Training

About me:?

I am an advocate for and a firm believer in every individual's capacity to achieve their potential if given a nurturing environment for learning and development. I believe in learning by doing and in being the best I can be so that I can help others be their best.

I also believe in focusing one's eyes on the goal while using every obstacle as a stepping stone and a challenge to reach their goals. My sense of fulfillment comes from seeing the impact of my work in the lives of others.

How do you use your influence to create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

The nature of my work brings me in contact with individuals of various cultures, ethnicities, genders, ages, and interests, as well as of different professional levels from staff to executive level.

My interchange with these individuals from various spheres provide the content for the training work that I do in much the same manner that it is how I am able to enrich their quest for learning and growth.

What's your best advice for Filipino women to thrive in the new normal?

Remember that you are capable.

You are strong, and you can be what you dream of if you put your heart and your mind into it.

Strive for excellence and do your best.

Be happy in what you do.

You are a woman, and you can do all these - and more.

#2: Mari Pantoja-Smith

Industry: Healthcare

About me:?

I was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. I certainly did not grow up “rich”, but I would not be who I am today if it wasn’t for my upbringing in the Philippines. Growing up in the 3rd world country taught me the value of family, hard work, ambition, education and enjoying the little things in life.?

At a young age I saw the good, the bad, and the ugly in life. I treasure every part of those life lessons which certainly served as the foundation for how I approach life each day. As you read the nominations, I’ve been labeled “strong, tough”. Very few know my life story, someday, maybe I can share my story so people would fully understand why “I’m strong and tough” LOL, (maybe it was the hustling I had to do growing up) .

I am very passionate about helping people and certainly passionate about healthcare. My healthcare passion has 3 pillars: global health equity since I personally experienced losing my Lola due to healthcare inequity; healthcare technology for it bifurcates towards clinician efficiency and positive patient outcomes; last but not the least, global clinician shortage because as a nurse, I know the consequence of that.?

I came to the US at 15 years of age and the transition was certainly tough for me. I came from a highly populated city (7 million then to be exact) to a town of 14,000 people. It was then that I first learned what diversity meant, it was then that I experienced how to be included but NOT belong. It was very tough.?

In life, it’s what you make of it. “Things happen for a reason”, for every milestone experience/life lesson, good or bad, I took something out of it and turned a negative situation into a positive one somehow, and leveraged that to strengthen me for the next life wave.

Today, I hold a master’s degree in Nursing Education, and I am currently pursuing my Doctorate in Healthcare Science at Eastern Virginia Medical School. I am a volunteer Board Member for the American College of Healthcare Executive (ACHE) of South Florida and this year, I serve as the first Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging chair.

I also volunteer for Maya’s Hope which is an organization that helps impoverished children in the Philippines necessitating medical and surgical needs. However, to date, my biggest accomplishment in life is overcoming obstacles as a very young mom, enforcing the importance of education to my 3 children. I leave you with this:?

Don’t judge people without understanding their background, upbringing, environmental factors for everyone has a reason why they do the things they do.

How do you use your influence to create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

This is a great question.? As a woman of color, mother of 3 biracial children and as the first ever DEIB chair for ACHE of South Florida, I use my influence by emphasizing, educating and promoting that each letter in the DEIB means different things and to truly achieve value in DEIB, one cannot exist without the other.?

Remember that D-Diversity is seen, E-Equity is fulfillment, I-Inclusion is felt, B-Belonging is acceptance.

In spirit of #breakthebias, we came up with the acronym BREAK for 2022 ACHE of South Florida DEIB goals:

B - Be the change

R - Realize we all matter

E - Embrace our differences

A - Acknowledge our similarities

K - Keep moving forward….

Here’s a quote for you: “Embrace my uniqueness for I bring a different perspective in every situation.”

What's your best advice for Filipino women to thrive in the new normal?

More than ever, “Be true to who you are. Not everyone will like you and that’s OK, you can’t please everyone. Do not be afraid to speak up! If there’s no seat at the table, it’s OK, you don’t need a chair, STAND UP and STAND OUT!?

If something has never been done before, be the first to do it. As women, society tends to have us settle, hide our emotions and apologize profusely. STOP IT, show emotion, do not apologize and reach for the moon, the worse that could happen is you land among the stars.

#3: Aileen Sinay

Industry:? Human Resources

About me:?

Sharing a common passion of helping people with my sons and daughter, we founded MLI to engage in linking people with jobs that are aligned with their own personal passions and aspirations. We are experiencing the fulfillment of turning grief into hope and leading people to better careers extending to their families. Thus, I am dedicating the rest of my career to developing and transitioning careers with our consulting and search firm.

How do you use your influence to create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

As a Headhunter, by influencing our clients in hiring candidates with diverse backgrounds, promoting diversity initiatives, and providing equal opportunities and treatment throughout the potential employees’ experiences

What's your best advice for Filipino women to thrive in the new normal?

The challenge in the new normal is about mastering the work-home balance. While at home, we sometimes continue to wonder how we can fit even more activities into our busy work schedule. It’s sometimes the source of stress – we have too much to do and too little time.

If you’re married with children, combining both work and family can be very fulfilling, it can also be quite stressful as you attempt to succeed on all fronts. Perhaps one of the hardest things a working mother has to deal with is guilt. Working takes time away from being with your children, or spending time together in the evening because you must work all day.?

What works well for me is I do plan to spend some time with them each day when I sit down and really listen to their concerns. Scheduling “children’s hour” works as well. It helps if you can lovingly and patiently address their concerns and be with them emotionally and they know it.

The goal is to balance. If you have the support and comfort gained through loving relationships, you are free to achieve the mastery you seek in the workplace and vice-versa. Feeling good about yourself on the job allows you to feel self-confident and able to attend to your family better.

#4: Aileen Zalameda

Industry: Retail & Commerce

About me:?

Perseverance, patience, knowing what you want, made me the person I am today.?

I graduated as an Industrial Engineer but I have a heart to serve people. Started my career in the academe. Been in the academe for 7 years (my childhood dream becoming a teacher/professor) then while in college aside from being an Engineer I also wanted to be in the field of Human Resources.?

That dream became a reality when I left the academe and joined one of the biggest organization in the Philippines and became a HR Officer (HR-Plans and Programs) without any experience in Human Resources. From then on I was able to climb the ladder of success in the field of Human Resources.?

I joined big and start-ups companies in different industries for the past years. Been doing HR consultancy and headhunting services as well. I became successful in People Management and managing whole Human Resources functions. Served and helped companies in starting up and building their Human Resources Department.?

I do believe that if you want to grow as a person and you want to achieve something, you have to strive harder, be open to new learnings and do not be afraid to explore opportunities. To fuel your passion, enjoy what you are doing and believe that you can do it.

How do you use your influence to create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

Since I am a Human Resources practitioner, my answer will be based on what we do in our workplace. I can use my influence to create a world of diversity, equitable and inclusive. Let’s start with our workplace. Involving our people in all our company activities from a different social, ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc.?

Let our people join employee engagement activities, create a room of transparency, make them feel that they belong in the organization. Accept our differences and embrace each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Do not judge, accept everyone’s beliefs and values. We are all equal and we are not perfect. All of us have flaws. Let’s use our influence to empower the people around us, believed in what they can do and you can do as a team

What's your best advice for Filipino women to thrive in the new normal?

As a WOMAN we have to speak up, share our thoughts, feelings and beliefs. Do not be afraid, be spontaneous, be confident, empower yourself, show empathy in all you do, accept change because change is everywhere in the new normal. Remember, Women can do what men can do. We are all unique in our own ways, continue challenging ourselves in the new normal and make ourselves successful.

#5: Mariel Tablan

Industry: Banking & Finance

About me:?

I am a firm believer of purpose, passion and life-long learning. Since college, I have always felt that my purpose is to help people. Back then, I wanted to be a clinical psychologist and have my own clinic.?

When I was exposed to coaching, I immediately fell in love with the process. It is amazing how conversations can change a mindset or a perspective and this can create ripple effects on a person's being - both the coach and the coachee.?

I am passionate about developing people through coaching, training and mentoring - three key ingredients in intentionally unleashing one's potential. Lifelong learning is a part of my DNA. I have sought guidance from various mentors for 20+ years and they have been so much a part of who I am today - both in life insurance and in professional coaching.

How do you use your influence to create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

I use it by creating an avenue to have clarity first so that we respond rather than react to any given situation and then inspire courage by listening to people's perspectives, allowing them to share without editing and then come to a resolution together.

What's your best advice for Filipino women to thrive in the new normal?

Leverage on your strengths. You don't need to be anyone else but yourself to influence others to be better. Come from your core and always be led by your purpose. Learn and master your craft by always seeking to be one percent better everyday

#6: Penny S. Bongato

Industry: Education & Training

About me:

My values are respect, integrity, lifelong learning and love for God, country and family. I am passionate about helping people, especially Filipinos reach their highest potential and be the best that they can be. As a Filipino race with our historical culture, we have always been of service having been colonized for so many years. I know that we can excel and be a first world country if we all will it and I want to help teams and individuals be the best not only at work but in their holistic life. I believe in the goodness and greatness of the Filipinos. And I know we can achieve what other countries (first world) have achieved if we set our hearts and minds to it.

I also believe in giving back to others. I have been blessed and it is in giving that we receive. I want to give my knowledge, wisdom and experience to those who need it and want it. It's time to always share with others.

How do you use your influence to create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

All of us are one - one human race, no matter what the gender, religion, ethnicity, age. We are one. I have made my posts for everyone to be inspired and be the best version of themselves.

I remember a friend of mine when I was assisting in the Canfield program and he was asked by Jack as a volunteer for an exercise. And when asked what he was "afraid" of, he said, he realized that he was the only "black" in the group. I didn't see him as "black". I saw him as a friend and that is what I'd like to share with others. We are one.

What's your best advice for Filipino women to thrive in the new normal?

Be the best YOU. Not just because we are women we should settle for second best. We can do what men can do (maybe not physically) but in other things - career, relationships, financial, health, we can be equal or even better if we wish to be.

Gone are the days when women stayed home just because they are women. Women now stay home because it's our personal choice. We, women, are responsible for the outcomes of our lives. Let's make sure the response to every event provides the outcome that we so desire.

#7: Kurly de Guzman

Industry: Professional Coaching and Consulting

About me:?

I love learning, growing, and supporting others in their learning and growth as well. I strive to bring my curiosity with me in whatever I do as this allows me to stay grounded, humble and open to the abundant possibilities and blessings in this world.?

I love deep heartfelt conversations, especially those with my kid. I enjoy exploring ideas and activities, because I know we're never too old or too young to try and learn something new.

How do you use your influence to create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

My work as a Leadership and Career Coach, an HR/OD Consultant and a former corporate employee in a multinational company allowed me to meet and collaborate with people from different walks of life.?

Though I am not perfect, I always strive to create a space for trust and respect in every interaction I have. Though I share my ideas and stories through social media, speaking engagements or trainings, we all know that actions speak louder than words.?

I believe that it is when you treat other people with integrity, kindness, and respect, it creates a ripple effect that encourages them and those around to do the same.

What's your best advice for Filipino women to thrive in the new normal?

Practice self-compassion and recognize your worth. Women juggle so many roles and serve the family, community and organization so selflessly. We deserve love, care, trust and respect. If we'd like others to realize our worth and what we are capable of, we must be the first to recognize our own worth and value. If we'd like others to care for us and love us, we must learn to love ourselves first.

Let's start with ourselves. Let's start by learning to give ourselves respect, to value what we do, to value who we are.

#8: Michelle Morales

Industry: Media Content; Training and Consulting

About me:?

I am a Psychology Major, Certified HR Professional, Master of Industrial Relations, Certified Management Consultant, Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt and a Registered Psychometrician with extensive experience in the field of Human Resources in various industries.

My passion for HR continues by being a freelance HR consultant where I am assisting companies in setting up their HR system. I am also a freelance Trainer where I consistently facilitate learning sessions to various industries, both in the public and private sectors.

My advocacy of giving back to the community includes being a partner organizer of ROI PH by Dee and Michelle, a community that is supported by ROI Institute that aims to provide free learning sessions on process improvement, HR transformation and ROI. I’m also a core volunteer of various well-known HR community groups in the Philippines namely: HR Group (PHRG), ASEAN HR Leaders Circle Philippines (AHRLCP) and HR CaLaBaRZon.

My life’s mantra is #livelearnshare. I believe that we exist because we have a mission to fulfill; to ourselves, to other people, to our organization, and to our country.?

How do you use your influence to create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

For me, diversity, inclusion, and equity are like dancing. We may have different moves and genres, and yet we all groove to the same tune and rhythm.

My contents may be different from the others and that’s okay because I believe that through my contents at least one person who may have read it may be inspired or influenced. I may have made a difference for a better change for that one person. Thus, I chose to continue providing a variety of #mventure and #livelearnshare contents on LinkedIn and to my other Social Media accounts.

The same thing with the other people’s contents. I have read a lot of content and I agreed with many of them, and not so much for some of them. And that’s also okay as they may have also inspired and influenced others through their content.

Every pitch may vary, every swing, and yet they all were variations of a familiar theme - to share, inspire, empower other people, and #BreakTheBias. And I chose to be part of this theme, and celebrate and value differences.

What's your best advice for Filipino women to thrive in the new normal?

We are more than enough…

Our life’s calling is sometimes appalling.

We even experienced pun instead of fun.

We are more than enough to overcome life’s hiccups.

Be it old normal or new normal.

Don't let self-doubt hold us back.

We are Filipino women and we are more than enough.

#9: Charlene Lucas

Industry: Mental Health

About me:?

I live to inspire until I retire” a statement that I embody in everything that I do. Life hasn’t been that good to me when I was young, I’ve struggled in all aspects of my life growing up, but somehow my will to survive has always been strong. Back then when I was just starting my career and as I worked my way up to the corporate ladder, I needed to work very hard to the point of sacrificing myself because if I don’t I’ll never escape my situation, and I don’t want my life to remain the same.

I was sleepwalking for almost all of my corporate life, following somebody else’s dream until life finally hit me, and that’s where I started finding my purpose and following my own voice. I am now healing people who were victims of violence and abuse or suffering from trauma, a specialization or work that I’ve never thought before would bring deeper meaning and fulfillment in my life.

I believe that you can always find meaning behind your suffering and you can turn your pain into a blessing to others, as it is not only in line with what I do as a Trauma Therapist but have also experienced and embodies it in my life as well.

How do you use your influence to create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

I use my voice to help people understand that all human beings have the capacity to hurt and be hurt. Divisions were made because we are blinded by our limitations and pain; neglecting to see that we are all the same regardless of gender, race, background, and beliefs.?

When we’re able to see the essence of humanity in everyone, we get to understand that our pain and issues were never different from each other; we all wanted to be connected, to belong, to be heard, and to be understood.

What's your best advice for Filipino women to thrive in the new normal?

When a woman shows courage, strength, and makes a stand, her influence can empower others to believe, fight, and be inspired.

Never underestimate your power to give hope and to inspire.

#10: Wandalyn Tan-Calupig

Industry: Professional Development and Training

About me:?

My top core values are family, love, service, and freedom.

I am passionate about training, coaching, solving problems, and finding revenue gaps and opportunities.

I believe that God has a unique purpose for each life and every burden is a blessing in disguise like how my burnout led me to reinvent my career and my life align with my passion, purpose, and family's needs.?

How do you use your influence to create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

I look forward to helping moms get clear about who they are and find confidence in themselves, so they can positively influence others.

What's your best advice for Filipino women to thrive in the new normal?

For Filipino women to thrive in the new normal, I learned that it is important to:

1. Ask yourself a lot of questions to get clear about who you are and what you are meant to do (your purpose) so you can sleep in peace and wake up in joy

2. Accept what is happening now, let go of the past and dream big so you can live in peace and with effortless ease

3. Act consistently and persistently so your goals will happen and surrender it all to God who has the perfect timing and version of your dreams and prayers.

#11: Katherine Castro

Industry: Banking & Finance

About me:?

I am a passionate Filipina finance professional who is always on the lookout to continuous learning, improve the way we do business and inspire many career-shifters and fellow accountants to pursue their dream lives.

How do you use your influence to create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

It has always been my goal to use the influence I have to inspire and motivate people to pursue their best selves, even if it means going out of the norm, changing careers unrelated to what you finished in college, starting businesses regardless of background or credentials. We can break the ceiling of age, gender, traditions, stereotypes and standards by leaping out of our comfort zones.

What's your best advice for Filipino women to thrive in the new normal?

Now is the best time for Filipino women to pursue things that make their life meaningful -- whether that means starting a family, being a stay-at-home-mom, juggling a freelance career, climbing the corporate ladder or starting businesses. The new normal has empowered us not by technology, but with the countless opportunities created by our changing world.

#12: Jennette Cajucom

Industry: Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations

About me:?

I've always believed that storytelling has a powerful way to make the people that you want to help and connect to "experience" who you are, what you're passionate about, what you believe in and what you stand for - especially in today's digital world. There is a great need nowadays to be more human as we become even more digital.

My passion for storytelling and helping people tell their story in the most meaningful and authentic way has perhaps been the highlight of what makes me wake up in the morning and what keeps me up at night for the last 5 years or so. There is something about storytelling that connects us to other people, that makes us feel that we are not alone as we struggle in our journey; that there is hope and that our dreams will eventually be realized.

Bringing the element o f storytelling in someone's CEO brand (or personal brand) with the right frameworks brings out and justifies one's brand's identity and core values. I love it when I hear clients share their own raw stories and say, "...and that is probably what made me who I am today" as it sends a hopeful message to a specific target audience that people who are at point A in their journey will eventually reach their point B because of someone else's story.

How do you use your influence to create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

I've always been an advocate of promoting humanness, especially in the recent years where everyone is forced to operate more digitally - to be more visible digitally; to connect and build relationships digitally; and to achieve goals digitally.

Believing in the power of our humanness in a lot of ways encompasses diversity, equality and inclusivity. To be able to promote humanness by sharing stories of other people and by providing a platform (through my podcast and writing) where they can share their stories - how they have struggled, how they have been discriminated against, how they have allowed themselves to be vulnerable, and how they have overcome all of those hurdles - leaves a meaningful digital footprint that sends the message to those starting in their journey that "there is hope" (for a better world) because of the power of these people's stories.

While I know I can somehow be a voice for the voiceless and be able to use my influence, I see more power in setting the stage (in my own little way) for voices to be heard.

What's your best advice for Filipino women to thrive in the new normal?

There is a popular quote that says you have to act like a lady and think like a man to survive and be a boss.

I must say that a woman's superpower is already in her DNA - being nurturing, giving and caring. Top that with the unwavering resilience that's innate in every Filipino woman. all these fuel her to give value to the people around her and fulfill her own dreams.

So I say, just unleash those superpowers and TELL YOUR STORY if you want to thrive in this new normal. The technical side of things can be easily learned.

#13: Grace Kagahastian

Industry: Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)

About me:?

I am an HR Professional turned a full time Professional Organizational Coach and my mission is to empower leaders to their untapped potential and to offer clarity on demand.

Aside from that, I also enjoy mentoring coaches from around the globe and multiply my impact ten times more. I also love partnering with start-ups to build their brand through their people and see where they can harness their power.

How do you use your influence to create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

I dream to be a light for others and build a community of self-made leaders to be more mindful and intentional while pursuing their aspirations

What's your best advice for Filipino women to thrive in the new normal?

Dress up, show up. Find your niche and do it scared.

#14: Mae Cuison

Industry: Podcast Industry

About me:?

The podcasting landscape in the Philippines is massively growing. In fact, Spotify, a podcasting giant is tapping local content creators after seeing the increase in demand. There's power in podcasting! I want to be part of it.

Podcasting turned my life around and I can't wait for it to transform people's lives, too. From a teenager suffering from inferiority complex, extremely afraid of showing up and speaking up to being a podcast producer/host enjoying the benefits of meeting C-Level executives and business owners and helping them communicate their message and change the world.

How do you use your influence to create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

One of the goals of podcasting is to make people's voices be heard. For great messages to be shared. You never know how telling your story or getting heard can create an impact. Podcasting is a great tool to promote diversity, equity and inclusivity.

What's your best advice for Filipino women to thrive in the new normal?

Be laser-focused on your goals. Distractions are everywhere. You are your greatest cheerleader. No matter how many rejections you get, never never give up! Don't forget to celebrate small wins, be grateful and live in the moment.

You have your own momentum. Do not compare yourself to others. You don't really fail, you learn. Greatness doesn't happen all at once. One step at a time. Let the Lord lead you and guide you in the way you should go.

#15: Roselle Munsayac

Industry: Banking & Finance

About me:?

I consider myself a spiritual human being. To be in this state of love and peace is one of the best blessings I have come to know and enjoy. I praise God for letting me reach this level of consciousness. To understand that the only way to achieve bliss is to start from ourselves, take the power from the mind, and understand that living life fully is realized by accepting and understanding life as it happens, never judging or identifying anything as good or bad, but just part of aliveness.?

I am a women empowerment and mental health advocate, I compose poems to inspire and encourage women to have faith in themselves, muster that confidence to be the best and live the lives of their dreams. I am also an author of my very first eBook about love.. where I discussed ways to achieve true unconditional love. I post a series of poems in LinkedIn, the latest of which that I started in January 2022 is about soul searching.

How do you use your influence to create a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

I always said, if I can touch even one soul, then I would have lived my purpose. Everyone has the ability to influence others through his or her words so I choose what I say, write or think from a clear and positive mind, in the realm of the only thing that should guide us which is love.?

When I inspire others to live from the perspective of love for all, an unbreakable connection is formed, making love the only norm,. And when that happens, we will embrace diversity, that however distinct we are as individuals, no race nor color nor religion nor age can?

What's your best advice for Filipino women to thrive in the new normal?

To always use their power of presence: to know that we can turn our lives around by managing our thoughts; by choosing those we allow to enter our being and converting negatives to positive ones. Choosing only those that will serve our purpose to integrate such into our emotions, actions and see how it changes our mood, our day and ultimately our lives.?

This will make women survive and thrive in the new normal, because whatever circumstances they face, they can handle the best way, because they know they have the power.

Check out the complete list of the 100 Most Influential Filipino women 2022 here:

100 Most Influential Filipino Women on LinkedIn 2022

Acknowledgment

To all the women who made this project a success, thanks so much!?Rianne de los Reyes , Joana Ericka Simon , and Marra Malonzo of Connected Women ; and Bless Baluyot of VB Consulting . And of course, thanks so much to Gina Romero , for this meaningful collaboration!?

I’m also grateful to all the women who participated in this initiative and to all who took the time to nominate Filipino women they look up to and they follow on LinkedIn.?

Again, congratulations to this year