Strong women lift each other up. The truly great ones give just the right impetus to lead you to pursue your intentions and make you believe you can achieve anything.
Many women are cloaked with fear—of the unknown, of what could be, of the future. In her book Lean In, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg wrote, “Women need to shift from thinking ‘I’m not ready to do that’ to thinking ‘I want to do that—and I’ll learn by doing it.’”
Readiness is the combination of skill and will. Often, women undervalue themselves by rationalizing a lack of training or experience that they never pursue an idea. Even worse, when they aim for something achievable, going for something easy because they are laced with fear of falling and failing. Recognizing this fear is good, but we must learn to embrace uncertainty. Nothing is absolute and nothing is ever sure. We must take action and plan for success. More important, we must value resilience and the ability to bounce back when we make a mistake. It is easier to fall than it is to rise back up. So let’s muster the courage. Let’s take responsibility and create the future we want for ourselves. Strong women lift each other up. When one cracks the glass ceiling, she opens the door and paves the way for others to follow.
There’s an old saying, “It’s lonely at the top;” that the most successful and powerful have very few friends. People at the top have either been placed on a pedestal that people “beneath” them see beyond the title or the success, or have isolated themselves because they are “too” great for others to be close to. But FLOTUS Michelle Obama also once said, “When you have worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.” Those powerful words hold so much truth.
Whether we are entrepreneurs, skilled professionals, amazing mothers, power connectors, life coaches, change makers or influencers, let’s stop intimidating other women but instead encourage them. Let’s rid ourselves of the feeling of inadequacy and learn to value ourselves. Other women’s success, is our success. Fan each other’s flames and use it to light your own way.
Strong women lift each other up. We acknowledge our multifaceted roles in society, which reveal our multifaceted selves, and positively impact those around us, because this is where we find our own purpose and fulfillment. We recognize the importance of building and strengthening bridges of change and progress; that an interconnected and collaborative community will advance our country’s economy.
During the Ateneo de Manila School of Government’s 2015 commencement exercises, Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo shared how an empowered woman “meant knowing when to let go of the limelight and when to step up. It meant knowing when to keep quiet and when to speak. Being empowered meant understanding that not all kinds of strength are visible and auditory. When you know your true value as a woman, you can sit back with secure knowledge that the man [or woman] of your dreams values your judgment because you value yours, and that together, you are working on the same goals. You are not in a contest to be heard; you are working on the same team.”
In Business & Professional Women Makati, we envision women to be true to their own passion, to not second-guess themselves and own up to their choices. And in the fulfillment of our intentions, we feel empowered. However way we choose to lead our lives, we will support and have each other’s backs, because one’s achievement breeds inspiration for others’ own success.
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Camille R. Escudero is president of Quality Philippine Export Lingerie & 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 also president of Business & Professional Women (BPW)-Makati, a nonprofit organization aligned with the United Nations Women Empowerment Principles.