Actionable insights for the Gender Action Lab: Innovation for Impact, UN Women’s new platform for gender equality, innovation, and private sector collaboration
UN Women, the global advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment, together with GCash, the Philippines’ leading financial super app, and Connected Women, a premier digital empowerment community, recently convened over 70 influential women leaders for the 2025 Women in Tech Summit themed “Our Seat at the Table.” The summit aimed to advance women’s participation in technology and accelerate inclusive innovation.
Held as a high-impact think tank, the summit served as a platform to craft actionable policy insights that will reinforce the implementation of the UN Women Gender Action Lab (GAL): Innovation for Impact, powered by the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Empowering Women Through Voice, Investment, and Innovation
Her Excellency HK Yu PSM, FCPA (Aust), Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, delivered the keynote address, offering a three-part framework to drive real impact:
- Give women and girls a voice. “Create platforms like this where their voices can come through,” she emphasized.
- Invest in women and girls. Ambassador Yu encouraged action at all levels—from government and corporations to individuals.
- Foster inclusive innovation. With women and girls still 20% less likely to own smartphones and 28% less likely to have internet access, she called for “positive bias” in innovation, ensuring products and technologies are intentionally designed with women in mind.
“As leaders, you have the power to make a huge difference,” said Ambassador Yu. “Let’s ensure women and girls not only have a voice but always have a seat at the table.”
Driving Grassroots and Nationwide Change
GCash Chief Strategy Officer Rowie Zamora echoed the call for action, highlighting the responsibility to extend digital access beyond Metro Manila.
“Gone are the days when we’re surprised to see women as tech leaders and CEOs,” she said. “Now, the real work lies in helping more women—especially those outside NCR—become part of the digital economy.”
Multi-Sector Collaboration for Real Solutions
The summit featured five dynamic roundtable discussions, each tackling critical aspects of digital inclusion and gender equity:
- Digital Entrepreneurship & Business Innovation – led by Rosemarie Rafael, Chairperson of WomenBizPH and President & CEO of Airspeed
- Corporate Transformation & Professional Development – co-moderated by Gina Romero, CEO of Mettamatch and Founder of Connected Women, and Ambe Tierro, Country Lead of Accenture
- Technology and Innovation – led by Mylene Abiva, President & CEO of Felta MultiMedia, Inc.
- Education and Skills Development – steered by Linartes Viloria, National Project Coordinator of the ILO’s Women in STEM Program
- Online Safety and Cybersecurity – facilitated by Mel Migrino, Chair and CEO of Women in Security Alliance Philippines
This cross-sector representation ensured diverse voices and perspectives shaped the resulting strategies, promoting holistic approaches to overcoming barriers in tech access and participation.
A Call to Lead the Change
“Technology is not only a tool for women’s empowerment—it’s a catalyst for societal transformation,” shared Antoinette Santos, Programme Analyst for the UN Women Gender Action Lab. “Let us push for policies that uplift, mentor the next generation, and work toward a world where every woman and girl can thrive.”
A Continuing Movement
While the summit marked the culmination of International Women’s Month in March, it also signaled the beginning of GCash’s “Accelerate Action, Accelerate Inclusion” campaign—driving real, results-based initiatives for women in the fintech space.
This effort continues into Women in Tech Month this April, a global movement to amplify recognition and inclusion in STEM fields. As a women-led company, GCash remains steadfast in its commitment to a digital landscape that is inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible to all—ensuring that no woman or girl is left behind.
