The International Women’s Day 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme seeks to get the world talking about why “equal opportunities are no longer enough.” It seeks to move past advocating for equality and start embracing equity, which means sharing the passion and excitement that comes from valuing and supporting everyone’s differences to create a more inclusive world.
To celebrate the strength and tenacity of Filipina women, Lactacyd and Buscopan Venus held the #IamWoman event featuring the Femme Council, where it gathered women frontrunners in their respective fields.
To provide insight on “leading by example,” TV host and co-founder of She Talks Asia Bianca Gonzalez along with the first half of the Femme Council, Shawntel Nieto (Sustainable PH President), Sam Corrales (sports producer and host), Dr. Kaycee Reyes (dermatologist), and Marga Tupaz (Modern Parenting Editor-in-Chief) talked about their experiences gaining leadership in their industries and what it took to earn a seat at the table and make a genuine impact for women.
Bianca noted from the discussion that as women leaders in their respective industries, the progress they are pushing for is more than just women’s representation; it is being able to create more spaces for their fellow women to thrive and reach their maximum potential.
She also highlighted that to earn a seat at the table, women must look within and allow themselves to flourish to attain their full potential.
With the talk on representation, the conversation moved forward to women in media, particularly the double standards, living up to impossible expectations, and the constant scrutiny women get from the public.
To expand on the topic, Bianca, along with the second half of the Femme Council—TV actress and model Chesca Kramer, content creator and entrepreneur Ayn Bernos, and licensed professional teacher and co-founder of Queer Safe Spaces Roanne Carreon—talked about their lives on-screen and off-screen and the pressures and responsibilities they carry as women of influence.
Gonzalez underscored that the most crucial role as women of influence is becoming responsible role models to the next generation of women and paving the way to allow them to thrive in a safer and more inclusive world.
Meanwhile, as the new face of Lactacyd and the voice of the youth, Kendra Kramer, through a video created specifically for the event, also shared her experiences of growing up in the spotlight and how good role models influenced how she views the world.
Closing the event is Tupaz acknowledging women’s individualities as what makes them unique and resilient and emphasizing the importance of fostering a sense of community where women can be better together.
For Lactacyd and Busocpan Venus, the goal of celebrating women’s day is to uplift and help women become the best versions of themselves inside and out. It was also for this reason that the Femme Council was created, to bring together powerful women who can motivate aspiring Filipinas to be the women they envision themselves to be.
“Brands like Lactacyd and Buscopan Venus exist to help women be the best versions of themselves amidst the challenges that life throws at them on a daily basis,” said Vanee Gosiengfiao, General Manager for Sanofi Consumer Healthcare PHHKTW. “We want women to realize that we are here to listen, we understand what they’re going through, and we are here to enable them through their journey in whatever way we can.”
“Embracing equity is a formidable but not entirely impossible task and celebrating our own and each other’s differences brings us one step closer to it,” she added.
