Fil-Am businesswomen in DC celebrate Int’l Women’s Day

The panelists (left to right: Precious Lopez, owner of the sewing business Sew Magarbo; Cristina Sison of Compass Realty and President of PACC-Metro DC; Sonia Aranza, President and CEO of the Training and Development Consultant business Aranza Communications; Maia Paglinawan Carney, owner of personal training studio The Worx by Maia; and moderator Joni Rayos Samilin, owner of personal and professional development business Influencer Mindset. CONTRIBUTED

WASHINGTON, D.C.– A panel discussion entitled “Filipinas in Business: Making Mindset Matter” brought together successful Filipino American women in business to mark International Women’s Day on March 8 at the Philippine Embassy’s Chancery Annex.

Hosted by the Philippine Embassy in partnership with the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce Metro DC (PACC-Metro DC), the panel comprised of Precious Lopez, owner of the sewing business Sew Magarbo; Cristina Sison of Compass Realty and president of PACC-Metro DC; Sonia Aranza, president and CEO of the Training and Development Consultancy business Aranza Communications; and Maia Paglinawan Carney, owner of personal training studio The Worx by Maia.

Joni Rayos Samilin, owner of personal and professional development business Influencer Mindset, moderated, with lawyer-entrepreneur Olma Inocentes of OMLLI Group, LLC as emcee.

Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Patrick A. Chuasoto said, “Contributions of women in business are more widely recognized now than at any other time in modern history. And the truth is that when women participate actively in the economy, the rest of society stands to benefit,” said in his opening remarks.

Panel discussion entitled “Filipinas in Business: Making Mindset Matter,” marks International Women’s Day on March 8 at the Philippine Embassy Chancery Annex. CONTRIBUTED

The powerhouse panel shared the inspiration and motivation behind their own businesses, the challenges they faced and how they overcame them, and how they see themselves and their businesses years from now.

Sonia Aranza emphasized the importance of venturing outside one’s comfort zone while Cristina Sison added the value of dreaming big and taking risks in putting up a business.

Maia Paglinawan Carney stressed the key role of mindset and self-confidence, while Precious Lopez underscored the importance of genuinely caring for clients in order to develop a lasting relationship with them.

During the Q&A session, panelists fielded various questions including on how to encourage and mobilize the community into promoting diversity and inclusion in businesses, how to help foster more investments to the Philippines, and what entrepreneurs who are still starting should know. A simple reception followed the discussion and Q&A.

Prior to the panel discussion, Ms. Thrina Lim, Auditor of PACC-Metro DC also delivered brief remarks about the Chamber’s history and mission.

The Philippines celebrates National Women’s Month every March and participate in the worldwide observance of International Women’s Day (IWD).

In 2017, the theme “We Make Change Work for Women” was adopted for the period 2017-2022. It highlights the empowerment of women as active contributors to and claim holders of development.