MANILA, PHILIPPINES — This year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 comes with a rallying cry that’s impossible to ignore: Accelerate Action. It’s a reminder that while we’ve come a long way, full gender parity is still heartbreakingly distant. The World Economic Forum projects that true equality may take until 2158 – five generations from now.
But what if we didn’t wait?
together with Monette Iturralde-Hamlin,
the founder and chairperson of TeamAsia
TeamAsia, an award-winning strategic marketing agency, holds policies, which ensure equal opportunities based on talent and skill rather than gender. The company implements comprehensive employee benefits, including maternity and paternity leave, as well as flexible work arrangements to support childcare and senior care. It also upholds a strict zero-tolerance policy for workplace violence and fosters an inclusive culture through its people programs.
Beyond internal initiatives, TeamAsia actively supports women’s organizations such as WomenBizPH, with its leadership serving as speakers and thought leaders in industry events, advocating for gender equality and empowerment. TeamAsia was also recognized as an SME Champion for Gender Inclusive Workplace by UN WEPS in 2022, strengthening its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
At TeamAsia, inclusivity isn’t just a policy—it’s embedded in the company’s DNA.
And for Bea Lim, President and CEO of TeamAsia, the journey towards gender equality is both personal and deeply rooted in history. Her great-grandmother, Pilar Hidalgo-Lim, was a trailblazer who fought for women’s suffrage in the 1930s and co-founded the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.
Bea’s mother and TeamAsia founder and chairperson Monette Iturralde-Hamlin is also passionate about women empowerment. She has received numerous international recognitions for actively leading and breaking the glass ceiling, such as the Outstanding Women Entrepreneurs Award 2018 by the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network (AWEN) in Thailand; the Philippines Women Leadership Awards 2018, and the Leadership Award 2022 from the Global Women Club in the UK, among others. She was also part of the panel for the APEC Pathways to Gender Inclusion in Chile, where they tackled the role of technology in bridging the gender gap, and what the governments and business sectors can do to support women in the digital economy. She currently heads the Institute of Corporate Directors’ Board Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Because of women like them, generations of Filipinas have been empowered to pursue education, leadership, and civic participation. Yet, as Bea reflects, the work to create and sustain an inclusive world is far from over.
Bea shares five ways to accelerate action in everyday life, reflecting on her mother’s words: “When women support women, great things happen.”
Learn and share
“Learn more about the issues that surround inclusivity and the lack of it. Be curious about it and look at your own spaces, your own circles of influence and see what you can do to change it,” said Bea. By learning more about these issues and sharing them with others, individuals and communities can come together to create programs that address these situations in meaningful ways.”
For example, she adds, if you notice a lack of representation in leadership roles at your workplace, advocate for mentorship programs that support diverse talents. If your community lacks accessibility for people with disabilities, push for more inclusive policies and infrastructure such as wheelchair ramps, accessible public transport, barrier-free buildings and more inclusive experiences and communications.
Keep talking about it
Hold discussions or conversations about women’s rights, equity and equality, and inclusivity, until you achieve progress, Bea advised. These discussions can take many forms, such as hosting panel talks with industry leaders to share their insights or organizing community forums where people can openly discuss gender-related challenges and solutions.
Beyond raising awareness, these events can also spark meaningful partnerships that drive real change. For example, Bea moderated a panel for Digital Marketing Association of the Philippines (DMAP) in 2023 which inspired a collaboration among the panelists: UN Women, TeamAsia, KadaKareer, and the OCBFF Corporation. Together, they organized the “Abante Babae Hackathon” to find solutions that will help mothers to pursue their careers while balancing parenting and household responsibilities.
“It has been more than a century since the IWD started, and there is still a lot of work to do. The only way to move forward is to keep talking about it, and to act on it. Walk your talk,” said Bea.
Call out stereotypes
She pointed out that harmful, petty, and even seemingly harmless stereotypes should be called out because they reinforce limiting beliefs. For example, the idea that girls are more emotional or that boys must always be strong and fearless ignores the reality that everyone, regardless of gender, experiences fear, vulnerability, and a full range of emotions.
Moreover, the issue extends beyond women—it impacts people of all identities, ethnicities, and backgrounds. These are deeply rooted societal conditions, and they will continue to grow and thrive unless you call them out. “Changing narratives one social circle at a time will make a huge difference. Challenge stereotypes with confidence – the more we do, the faster change will come,” said Bea.
Be proud of who you are and speak your truth
In your journey of healing, growth, or simply becoming more confident, remember that you only have one life. “Do not fit a mold someone else created for you. You were put on this earth to be authentically yourself. When you own your truth, you become confident in your own skin, and that confidence opens doors to opportunities for growth,” said Bea.
Embracing who you truly are empowers you to break barriers and challenge expectations. The more you stand in your truth, the more you inspire others to do the same, she said.
Create a space for others
“While paving your own path, make sure you create a space for others,” said Bea. “You want to inspire and encourage people to think, feel, and act inclusively. That means going beyond gender equality, ensuring equal and open chances for everyone no matter their age, gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs, personal values, or background.”
“We are here today because of people who stood their ground, who kept talking, who kept learning, who kept their eyes and ears on the ground, who called out stereotypes, who were confident in themselves to actually look for opportunities for growth,” said Bea. “Now the work is up to us to accelerate growth for an equal and open world where the next generation will have even more opportunities to live life unapologetically.”
