meet our founders

The Filipina CEO Circle owes its existence to the passion and vision of its founders, Marife Zamora, Carol Dominguez, and Sharon Dayoan. While these women had already made their mark as leaders in their respective fields, they were drawn together by a shared goal to strengthen the ranks of Filipina corporate leaders across the country.

Through their own experiences on the road to success, our founders saw the need for a supportive community where aspiring female CEOs could connect, learn, and grow. Their empowering vision and dedication to excellence remain at the heart of everything we do.

founders’ perspectives

Marife Zamora

On the inspiration behind our advocacy

While I have always considered myself sensitive to gender issues in the workplace, I realized then that I have not consistently walked the talk. I felt a compelling sense of urgency to make the progress we haven’t made, to encourage women to lead.
At that time, just 14 percent of the CEOs at Fortune 500 companies were women. Here in the Philippines, it was half of that.

In interviews, when I tried to talk women into taking my job, they'd say, “But I have a family to take care of. I'm fine where I am.” An answer that I never heard from the men. That's when I realized that the Filipina CEO Circle will be the role model for women in the workplace – who can be both strong leaders and great mothers.

Carol Dominguez

On our vision for women in the workplace

Women are natural drivers of progress and change. We have seen that firsthand in our own careers. That's why we advocate for the inclusion of women in teams and decision-making processes—because we know that having a woman on board brings a unique perspective and determination that moves us all forward.

Sharon Dayoan

On our community of Filipina leaders

When we conceptualized the Filipina CEO Circle, we envisioned a community of women who broke the glass ceiling, rising through the ranks by virtue of merit and performance. This was an intentional choice because we wanted to help other women in the corporate world who are going through the same career journey. In this respect, it was important for us that our members are equally passionate about our advocacy. We are all busy women, so we want active members who are energized by the cause and are willing to put in the work to truly make an impact and difference in the lives and livelihoods of other women