What is your advice to working women?

 Women now play a  bigger role in every field, from politics to business, medicine, engineering and entertainment. Gone are the days when it would surprise people to see women working. As we celebrate Women’s Month this March I interviewed successful women from different fields to share with us how they conquered the world that used to be only for men.

Heny Sison, pastry chef, cake decorator, and television host

Focus on what you do. Be passionate and everything will follow. Be open to new ideas and do not compare yourself to others because everyone is different. Hard work and honesty are very important in everything you do to be able to achieve your dreams. Learn to say no when in doubt. Stop worrying and enjoy what you are doing. And learn to balance your career and personal or family life.

Ann See, Caravela.ph/ retailer

Be confident, love yourself and be a better you. Be ready to take calculated risk in work and in life. Empower yourself and find the perfect stability you need.

Rep. Leni Robredo, 3rd District, Camarines Sur

It is true that life is full of tradeoffs but a family life work balance is always doable. When my girls were much younger, I worked full-time during the day but made sure I had time to bring them to and from school, and stay home with them when they were off from school. That meant giving up most of my social life so that I’d have time to tutor them, bring them to music lessons and be with them during swimming lessons. It took a lot of discipline but I was able to do it. Of course, it helped that my husband was a very involved parent who was also as passionate about his work as he was in raising our family.

Jacquilou Blanco, actress

I think the best advice I would give is just to recognize your strengths and work on your weaknesses. Know your priorities and work around them. Always be willing to learn something new and learn from others. Always be the best you can be yet do not beat yourself up when you make mistakes. Be vulnerable and humble in accepting your shortcomings and learn from them.

Gina O. Benitez, CSR head, Leisure & Resorts World

Be an asset to the company and be respectful of your superiors and subordinates.  Always help create a harmonious working environment by being a team player. Most of all enjoy your job and give yourself a break.

Trish Panlilio, nawwTy’s kitchen owner and chef, creative mind behind The Gourmand Market

Always have that passion and stay focused. And while you are at it, don’t forget to have fun.

Rory Quintos, TV and film director

My advice for working women is to find a balance. That balance includes family, work and self. It is very important to spend some alone time in order to reenergize yourself. Find outlets like sports, going out to nature, charity work, meditation… things that will nourish one’s soul. Life balance is very, very important for one to feel happy, fulfilled, energized and empowered. When we have all these, we give our best to the world.

Karen E. Young, pastry chef and owner, Karen’s Kitchen

I learned from a Money Matters seminar that it is helpful to make a written tally to see if the income and overall benefit coming from a job is greater than the costs that arise from having that job (monetary costs such as childcare, work wardrobe, transportation; and non-monetary costs such as marriage, children, life direction).  For a woman in the season of working like myself, I think the best advice would be to do work as unto God. He is the rewarder.  Bosses have other things to do than praise employees; recognition from others is arbitrary; material rewards perish. But God is constant and His rewards are way beyond financial. He is judge as well, and sees beyond CCTV. By His grace, He will help the working woman to work with excellence, integrity, to run away from temptations that lead to the wrong path, and to strive for balance to make a life and not just a living. 

Marife B. Zamora, chairman, Convergys Philippines Services Corporation

Go all out. When you’re in your 20s and just starting your career, it’s important to continually challenge yourself and offer as much as you can. Investing $100 today creates much more value than investing $100 a decade from now. The same rings true for your time, energy and focus. Be patient and persistent.  Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day; apply that lesson to your careers. You may not find your perfect career path immediately, but if you follow your passions and persevere, your chances of landing somewhere exciting and fulfilling are so much greater.  Pleasure in the job puts perfection at work. And if anyone, including that voice at the back of your head, insists you must choose between work and having a family, remember that men routinely assume that they can have both.  You should assume that you can too.  As Sheryl Sandberg said, “A truly equal world would be one where women ran half of our countries and companies and men ran half of our homes.”