Coconuts Colloquium Manila: Struggles, rewards, and learnings of Filipina leaders

This one is for the ladies — and everyone who supports them.

We have organized Coconuts Colloquiums in Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Jakarta and this month, we’re bringing it to Manila for a conversation with women leaders in the Philippines.

Coconuts Colloquium is an event series that is part panel discussion, part weekday happy hour. They’re as casual as hanging out with your co-workers after a long day but with riveting conversations with industry leaders.

This edition, to be held in Manila on May 28, Tuesday, is all about empowered working Filipinas and will discuss the topic: Women leaders in the Philippines: The struggles, rewards, and learnings of Filipina bosses.

The Philippines ranks the highest in Asia when it comes to gender equality in the workforce. The country also consistently ranks among countries with the highest number of female leaders and managers — but what does this mean for the everyday lives of working Filipinas? In this panel, we will discuss the different dimensions of this phenomenon — the positives of having so many women leaders, the progress we still have to make towards real gender parity, and unearthing some of the ugly bits that exist beneath the exterior. 

Our panelists:

Carla Yap-Sy Su
Chief Revenue Officer, Rappler

With over 15 years of experience in dynamic industries such as telecom, broadband, tech, media and data, Carla’s strong background in brand communications and marketing strategy has allowed her to build brands and companies that have exponentially hit business and product goals.

She has launched numerous innovations under Smart, pioneered native advertising in media, and built a data insights agency from the ground up. As chief revenue officer of Rappler, she continues to create new business models for the newsroom in a disruptive environment requiring agile pivots with content, data intelligence, user technology, and community strategies.

Jenny Chua
Head of Partnerships and Communities, Rappler

Jenny spent a decade in the telecom industry, mastering brand equity and marketing, and has been a mompreneur since 2008. She has applied her marketing and product development knowledge in growing communities and revenue channels in one of the most challenged industries: journalism.

She is the head of partnerships and communities in Rappler where she is responsible for collaborating with advertisers and creating movements that matter. She also launched the first paid membership model in Philippine media to push its communities towards action.

Denise Haak
CEO, QUIDDITY

Denise Haak is the Chief Experience Officer at QUIDDITY, a firm that specializes in end-to-end user experience design and consultancy, which means building and improving digital products that are grounded on usability principles. Prior to QUIDDITY, she held the role of agency business lead in Google, which she joined in 2012 as part of the inaugural team that was to eventually launch the Google Philippines office.

Marla Darwin
Creative Director, Natural Selection Design
Co-founder, Grrrl Gang Manila

Marla is a graphic designer, feminist, writer, and parent. Her love for clean typography and Scandinavian aesthetics can only be matched by her desire for inclusive workspaces and universal healthcare (with a focus for reproductive support).

The discussion will be moderated by Coconuts Manila‘s Managing Editor Therese Reyes.

Like other Coconuts Colloquiums, there will be free-flowing drinks and food during the event. After the panel discussion, attendees will also get the chance to mingle and hang out in our venue Dulo MNL, in Poblacion, Makati City.

COCO+ Members, including those on free one-month trial memberships, are welcome to join the event free of charge.

Not yet a member? You can join COCO+ for the price of one coffee per month to get unlimited access to fresh, original and award-winning content plus the chance to join more regular events like this one.

• This event is free for COCO+ Members, including those on a free trial. If you’re a member, RSVP to membership@coconuts.co by May 27, Monday. 
• Admission for non-members is PHP350 via Eventbrite until 27 May, or PHP450 at the door.