Navarro: In general, executives [are mostly] dominated by men. [And for sure, it’s hard to be the only woman with a seat at the table], especially when you’re working for a company on a global scale. Many cultures sometimes believe and assume that women can’t call the shot [and have the power to] decide [for the business]. For almost two decades of my career, I, too, experienced being discriminated, simply because I’m a woman. I felt my thoughts and opinions were unheard, unseen, and invalidated at some point. Eventually, I left to seek a more inclusive space where women could express themselves, feel valued, and be treated as equals. 

Abalos: I started with ITG with a shallow knowledge of technology. I had challenges in every meeting with the different tech jargon and every process of it. But I [was able to keep up] on how [technology and] AI work. I learned to adapt through progressive learning, and the same model as a human brain works by focusing on three cognitive skills: reasoning, knowledge, and self-correction. From there, I found my way, and every day after, I learned something new. 

Villamor: I often find myself as the only woman in a group of men at the ITG Technology office, in partner executive meetings, speaking engagements, or a panel discussion. Since there’s a common belief that men are superior beings to women, there is that feeling of lesser value and lesser opportunity for [many women like] me. But in those years that I worked closely with all men, I thrived by being that woman who worked systematically, structured [in my ways], [and took advantage of] well-thought tools and materials, which also helped me to express my opinions and ideas without any fear.

I recall an incentive trip for the achievers in Japan in 2018 together with our CEO, and I was the only woman in the group.  Instead of feeling inferior and outnumbered by men, I think it was a strategic advantage [for me as a woman] in terms of treatment and privilege.