BELIEVE!!!
Short, but powerful. This was the message that two high-powered women imparted during an intimate night of mentoring, staged by the Business and Professional Women (BPW) Makati, on the #WomenWednesdays activity, in celebration of International Women’s Day on March 9.
Women’s rights are human rights, impresses Atty. Lorna Patajo-Kapunan. Every person needs to accept this truth, especially women. What women think matters. What women say matters. What women do matters. What women want matters. What women dream or aspire for matters.
Donning a hot pink pantsuit and block heels, Kapunan further underscores that women need not lose their femininity to do their job and to do it well. Trust on your passion, your competence and your integrity. Let your beliefs, your work and your “pink heels” speak for you; and people will remember you. Appreciate what you have in life and use these resources in pushing your careers forward.
The law profession is especially difficult for women. She reveals that her extensive legal experience has been the toughest part of her journey. With 38 years of legal practice, Kapunan founded Kapunan, Garcia & Castillo Law Offices, where she is also a senior partner. She is a distinguished Intellectual Property Law practitioner, leading the Asean Intellectual Property Council at one point. A fierce litigator, a human-rights advocate and an environmental crusader, she has done pro bono legal work for the Philippine National Red Cross, the Stop Trafficking of Filipinos Foundation, the Organization ng Pilipinong Mangaawit, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the UN Women, the Women in Nation Building, the World Wildlife Fund and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, among others.
While she now is embarking on a new chapter, running for a seat in the Senate, she wishes she had started sooner. Women are innately fearless. However, their selflessness has limited the opportunities to get ahead. Emphasizing that poverty is the real divide, her passion for women is what brought her to politics. A mother sharing one pan de sal among five children is no longer acceptable. With almost 50 percent of the population being women, the move to put more women in influencing positions requires a more aggressive approach.
As the first Filipina managing director of Microsoft Philippines, Karrie Capellan-Ilagan pursues her passion for bringing technology and innovation to education, businesses and communities to help transform the lives of Filipinos. A skilled multitasker, she is a prime example of how technology has become a platform for running businesses and households. She believes that every woman should take advantage of current advancements and take better control of our home life and professional life.
Karrie leverages technology to help women innovate. She urges women to disrupt the conventional and create for women. We are an underserved market and there are not enough products or services that cater specifically to us.
To inspire the next generation, Microsoft celebrates women inventors and brings to light how they’ve changed the world in the #MakeWhatsNext project. In their video, they highlight all things “woman made.” The circular saw, windshield wipers, laser cataract surgery, leukemia/HIV/malaria drugs, the first computer algorithm, bulletproof material, satellite propulsion. Who would’ve thought these were made by women?
Further emphasizing the need for women in tech, Karrie discloses that, while women have made headway into the top of information-technology positions, less than 20 percent of companies worldwide have female chief information officers. She cites that women still face pressure to be the primary caregiver or homemaker, thus, stepping down and ultimately getting off the career train. This is something that is consistent even in the developed countries. A member of the audience, who is a former M&A lawyer from Norway, relates how in law school 90 percent of enrollees were women. Yet, in the law firms, only 10 percent were practicing.
Women have worked hard, while men have taken the titles. And women are okay with it. Don’t be! Take your rightful place at the table and let yourself be heard. As Karrie discloses, in the board room, she arrives first to ensure that she gets the best seat. Never settle to be in the sidelines.
The struggles are real, and stereotypes continue to exist. Engaging the men is necessary to bring down gender inequality. Men need to realize that they must take an aggressive role in supporting women’s issues and in recognizing our rights. As global management consulting firm
McKinsey & Co. revealed in their latest research on women executives, it is fundamental economics to remain competitive by increasing women’s participation in the workplace and putting more women in top positions.
The lack of female role models is another issue that desperately requires addressing. This is where BPW Makati hopes to bridge the gap. We recognize the rise of Filipina professionals and entrepreneurs becoming prime influencers in our society. It is our goal to create a community where these women can connect and collaborate, mentor and find mentoring, and engage in activities that support their personal and professional goals. We are about women stepping up and contributing to efforts to level the playing field. Founding Chairman Ambassador Delia Albert often quotes Madeleine Albright, “there is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”
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“Journey to the top” is part of BPW Makati’s leadership series. BPW Makati is a nonprofit organization that is a member of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women, and adheres to the United Nations Women Empowerment Principles. BPW has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and participatory status with the Council of Europe. The network seeks to “develop the professional, business and leadership potential of women on all levels through advocacy, mentoring, networking, skill-building, and economic empowerment programs and projects around the world.”
To know more about BPW Makati and future events, visit “Women Stepping Up PH” on Facebook and @WomenSteppingUp on Twitter, or e-mail bpw.makati@gmail.com.
BPW Makati joins women organizations worldwide in commemorating International Women’s Day to raise awareness around the globe and continue promoting the rights and interests of women collectively. This event is part of international celebrations through the Women’s Interest Network (WIN), Section of International Law of the American Bar Association. WIN primarily focuses on the promotion and preservation of the rights and interests of women globally—through exciting and impactful projects, programs, teleconferences, policy initiatives, publications, communication and outreach channels—within the aims and objectives of the section.
Camille R. Escudero is president of Quality Philippine Export Lingerie and Apparel and founder of Lily of the Valley Period Panties, Active Wear and Breast Care. She supports an export manufacturing company with 400 employees, 91 percent of whom are women. She is a product developer/manufacturer of Great Women Intimates; and is also president of Business and Professional Women Makati.