The leading finance super app and For The Women Foundation celebrate first batch of Filipina graduates
The Void is not synonymous with stagnation; rather, it's a fertile ground for exploration and discovery. By understanding and embracing the Void, creatives can liberate themselves from the constraints of expectation and perfectionism. This liberation becomes a catalyst for fresh ideas, enabling a departure from the ordinary and a journey into uncharted territories of innovation.
Navigating the Void requires a willingness to confront uncertainty and silence the noise of external influences. It's a practice in mindfulness and self-discovery—a journey into the depths of one's own thoughts and emotions. In this solitude, creatives often find the raw materials for groundbreaking concepts, discovering connections and patterns that were previously obscured.
The process of engaging with the Void is not about avoiding challenges but transforming them into opportunities. It encourages a shift in perspective, viewing obstacles not as roadblocks but as stepping stones to innovation. By understanding 'the Void' as a realm of potential, creatives unlock the door to their most authentic and impactful work, revealing the beauty that emerges when the creative spirit is allowed to roam freely. In essence, the Void becomes not an abyss to be feared, but a sanctuary where creativity thrives, and our most brilliant ideas come to life.
Continuing their shared mission to advance the role of women in the tech industry, GCash, the number one finance super app in the Philippines, and For The Women Foundation (FTW), recently celebrated the graduation of 31 Filipina scholars who are now equipped to make their mark in fintech. These women from diverse backgrounds recently completed a 14-week Data Science Scholarship Program, allowing them to help shape a more inclusive digital economy.
After weeks of stringent and extensive mentorship-training programs, these women now bring with them comprehensive knowledge and skills in data science and technology, which will help them pursue a career in the tech industry. As the country’s pioneer in inclusive and open finance, GCash undertook this initiative to help empower more Filipinas to join the tech space, which is predominantly a male-dominated industry with only 26.7% of women holding tech-related jobs globally. In the Philippines, women comprise only 35% of the country's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce.
“Together with FTW, we at GCash aim to showcase our scholars as role models for the next generation of young women interested in pursuing or shifting to careers in technology. We hope our new graduates will continue leveling up, grabbing opportunities, and discovering things that help you as a person to be happy and find your purpose,” said GCash chief people officer Robert Conrad Gonzales.
Driven by its vision to empower women in tech, FTW Foundation co-founder and executive director Cara Wilson also expressed support for GCash’s pursuit of establishing an equal and diverse tech industry. “We are honored to partner with GCash as we continue our shared goal of leading the charge to create a community of Filipinas in tech who are empowered to break through the glass ceiling. We hope this is just the start of more meaningful collaboration with GCash in the future,” she said.
The commencement also featured capstone project presentations from each group of scholars who came from various career backgrounds, from accounting to health and dietetics, education, and engineering among others. Through this initiative, the scholars join GCash and FTW Foundation in their efforts to help shape a more inclusive digital economy.
“We are driven by our scholars' inspiring stories as we continue to work towards empowering and enabling Filipinas to join the tech industry. Graduating from this data science program jump starts their journey, hopefully, to lead the future of tech,” said GCash chief data officer Sara Venturina.
For its part, GCash continues to value gender equality, diversity, and inclusion as a strong and integral part of its work culture. The GCash workforce is proud to have 46% women leaders, including its CEO, which is higher than the industry average of 28%. Moreover, this initiative along with its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within and outside the organization, underscores how GCash is steadfast in upholding three United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), namely, Gender Equality (SDG 5), Reduced Inequality (SDG 10), and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), empowering tech leaders regardless of disability, race, age, and sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE).
Anchoring its position as the country’s leader in sustainable and diverse fintech, GCash is a first mover in challenging the status quo and paving the way for aspiring women leaders in the tech space – building a more equal and future-resilient nation.
