Myla Villanueva (Photo: Tatler Asia)
Cover Myla Villanueva

Discover the women who fearlessly pushed their way through in their respective fields

“It’s a man’s, man’s world,” says in a famous James Brown song. Most individuals would have sung the piece whole-heartedly and without a care in the world in the past, completely missing its underlying message, but times have changed.

Education is such an empowering force for women today, and the drive it provides toward pursuing ambitions in traditionally male-dominated occupations is notable. And in the last few decades, there have even been significant changes in workplace culture and employment conditions for women, albeit slowly, according to a study on workplace culture by Danny Clarke.

The five women below prove how they not only joined the ranks of these male-dominated industries but also successfully became powerhouses on their own, paving the way for other women everywhere.

In case you missed it: Tatler Philippines editors on women that inspire them: Malala Yousafzai, Leni Robredo, Ophelia Dimalanta and more

Alice Eduardo

Tatler Asia
Alice Eduardo (Photo: Alice Eduardo Website)
Above Alice Eduardo (Photo: Alice Eduardo Website)

Aside from being a well-known philanthropist, Alice Eduardo is also known for being the president and chief executive officer of Sta Elena Construction and Development Corporation (SECDC).

She led her company in a predominantly male-led industry, allowing herself to become a key player in the country’s real estate and infrastructural development sectors. Through grit and wit, she became a powerhouse on her own.

Read now: Tatler Exclusive: A Tour Inside Alice Eduardo’s New Home—Her ‘Sanctuary of Peace’

Margarita Forés

Tatler Asia
Margarita Forés (Photo: Tatler Asia)
Above Margarita Forés (Photo: Tatler Asia)

Although women have long been representing themselves in the food and beverage industry, Margarita Forés took the game one step a notch and was recognised internationally.

The chef was named Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2016. It was the first time Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants gave a Filipina to boot the award.

See more: Flavours of My Youth: Margarita Forés Revisits the Dishes That Shaped Her Childhood

Elizabeth Lee

Tatler Asia
Elizabeth Lee (Photo: Asia CEO)
Above Elizabeth Lee (Photo: Asia CEO)

Formerly the chief operating officer of Universal Motors Corporation (UMC-NISSAN) and president of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI), Elizabeth Lee has had her fair share of leadership roles in the automotive industry.

Now, she has solidified her presence by heading E-Motors Inc., an e-mobility company founded to help alleviate poverty, create jobs, and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Myla Villanueva

Tatler Asia
Myla Villanueva (Photo: Tatler Asia)
Above Myla Villanueva (Photo: Tatler Asia)

Myla Villanueva is a notable figure in the information and technology industry. She is the founder and chairman of the MDI Group, a leading digital transformation partner and technology innovator in the Philippines, representing IBM, Dell, HP, VMWare, Talend, Cloudera, Redhat, Juniper, AWS, Google GCP, and Cisco. She is also the chairman of Novare Technologies, proving that women can handle numerous things at once.

Read More: People by Design: Myla Villanueva

Atty Jean Jacquelyn de Castro

Tatler Asia
Atty. Jean de Castro (Photo: Kanto Creative Corners / Marc Melson
Above Atty Jean de Castro (Photo: Kanto Creative Corners / Marc Melson)

Jean de Castro is a lawyer and serves as chief executive officer of ESCA Incorporated, which provides technology-driven engineering solutions for the built environment for public and private clients across the Philippines and outsourced clients around the world.

Once, in a statement, she shared how she wants to identify how to make the engineering industry an inclusive and safe space for women to thrive and succeed.

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