Filipinas Rise to the Top of the Corporate Ladder

Through the years, women have proven that WE CAN. More and more Filipinas have been dominating the workforce, making names for themselves in what were once male-dominated fields, becoming the breadwinners in their families, or steadily climbing the ranks in many large conglomerates. In fact, the Philippines ranks the highest in Asia in terms of women in high-ranking business positions, coming in with 37 percent.

Filipinas never cease to amaze us with how much they’ve proven they can achieve. Here are some of the successful corporate women in the Philippines we look up to.

Doris Magsaysay Ho

Doris Magsaysay Ho is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Magsaysay Group of Companies which provides shipping, logistics, human resources, marine travel, and tourism services. Doris Ho has bagged notable awards including Global Filipino Executive of the Year in 2012 as well as the InLife Shero of the Year Award in 2019 at the Asia CEO Awards.

As a businessperson, Doris Ho is a force to be reckoned with. She manages 6 different companies, is also Chairman for The National Corn Competitiveness Group, Inc., Chairman for Asia Society Philippine Foundation, Inc., Director-Executive Board at World Maritime University, Member of World Presidents' Organization and Member of APEC Business Advisory Council, and is on the board of 7 other companies. There really is no stopping her!

Myla Villanueva

A true visionary, Myla Villanueva is a founder of five different start-ups and is a pioneer in technology. She heads the esteemed systems integration company MDI (Micro-D International) and is known for safeguarding the integrity of the country’s voting process as the national chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

In 2003, she was recognized as the Ernst & Young Women Entrepreneur of the Year and as one of InLife’s Shero of the Year in 2020 at the Asia CEO Awards.

Myrna Yao

Since she was young, Myrna Yao knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur. Her early exposure to her parents’ copra trading business in Bicol shaped what would be a very bright future for her.

Early on, Myrna Yao would spend time managing their family’s sari-sari store where she noticed women going to the trading center to sell their produce.

“I realized that these wonderful group of women are doing a lot to help their families. At that time, I aspired to help women like them someday so they can have better lives,” she said.

In 1980, Yao and her husband Alberto established Richwell Trading Corp., which we know these days as the distributer of Goodwill tires. Working in a male-dominated industry did not hinder her from slowing down. In fact, it pushed her to expand Richwell’s growth and helped it dominate until it became the top dealer in the country.

Yao did not stop at tires. She saw a significant opportunity in toys, so she decided to take the plunge and bring in the beloved Barbie doll, which proved to be a massive success. Her catalogue expanded, now including shoes, apparel, and toys of every variety.

Yao also achieved her dream of empowering women when she was appointed chairperson of the Philippine Commission of Women during the term of Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Myrna Yao was one of the finalists for Shero of the Year in 2019.

Mailyn Borillo

Mailyn Borillo is the President of OSM Maritime Services. She boasts an extensive maritime background and has the honor of having held several key leadership positions in the industry.

When asked about her climb up the corporate ladder, she remarks “it was never an easy path.”

The maritime industry is a male-dominated field, and Borillo found it extremely intimidating. She claims she was fortunate to have had the mentors she did, as well as the colleagues and peers who believed in her abilities.

Mailyn Borillo was one of the finalists for Shero of the Year in 2019.

Jill Charmaine R. de Jesus

Jill Charmaine R. de Jesus is the VP and BU Leader of CGI Philippines. Under her guidance, CGI Philippines has been recognized as Teletech Diversity Company of The Year, an award de Jesus is especially proud of.

In an effort to foster diversity in their company, CGI Philippines employs 19 different nationalities and is a champion of both gender diversity and PWD inclusivity in the workplace.

She leaves this piece of wisdom to those wishing to follow in her footsteps “be bold and be confident.”

Jill Charmaine R. de Jesus was one of the finalists for Shero of the Year in 2020.

If you ask us if climbing the corporate ladder is worth it, the answer will always be a resounding yes! And these Filipinas more than prove it.