BY AIAN GUANZON
Gender inequality appears less pronounced in the Philippine corporate landscape compared to other regions globally. Discussions during women’s month celebrations and in graduate school classes highlight how puzzling it is that gender disparities persist elsewhere while Filipino women enjoy relatively better representation.
While some countries still restrict women’s access to basic opportunities like education and employment, the Philippines has already elected two female presidents—a milestone many nations have yet to achieve. Does this indicate a more progressive stance?
According to a 2023 Grant Thornton survey, 43.1% of executives in the Philippines are women. Although this figure declined post-pandemic, the overall trend had been positive in previous years
Filipino women’s leadership aptitude stems from traditional strengths: managing households with compassion and care—foundational leadership skills transferable to business environments. Their aptitude for negotiation extends beyond family matters to community leadership, evident in the significant female presence in school organizations and neighborhood associations
Apples Mangubat, Asialink Group Deputy CEO and former Philippine Finance Association president, confirmed this reality during Malaya Business Insight’s “A Ladies’ Night!” panel: “Many presidents and general managers in our group of companies are women, and they are doing an outstanding job!” Nevertheless, she acknowledges that despite women’s significant representation in senior leadership roles, their boardroom presence still needs improvement.
Interestingly, interviews with female executives like Sun Life’s Riza Mantaring reveal that women often voluntarily step back from their careers to prioritize family responsibilities—potentially explaining why female leadership numbers remain below their potential.
If businesses truly value balanced and inclusive leadership, they must implement retention strategies for women executives: ensuring equal pay, providing specialized facilities addressing women’s unique needs (such as breastfeeding rooms), and fostering genuine cooperation from all colleagues, particularly men.
