Hyundai PH CEO: Value of women to ASEAN immeasurable, cites education as key to empowerment
WE LIVE in volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (V.U.C.A.) times but, just like a bag of tea, you’ll never know how strong you are until you’re dipped in hot water. This was Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) President and CEO Ma. Fe PerezAgudo’s homage to the strength of women in the face of persistent gender issues that beset ASEAN member states.
Agudo joined peers in the C-suite at the ASEAN Business & Investments Summit (ABIS) 2017 forum, “Unleashing Women Economic Power and Human Capital Development (Investing in Education, Global Competencies, Women and Affirmative Action)” to discuss the critical role of women in driving inclusive growth in ASEAN.
Moderator Chloe Cho, Presenter and Executive Producer of Channel News Asia (Korea/Singapore), had the Hyundai Philippines chief, SM Investment Vice Chair and ASEAN BAC Council Member Teresita Sy-Coson, UN Under-Secretary General Dr. Shamshad Akhtar (representing Pakistan), SME Corporation Malaysia CEO Dr. Hafsah Hashim, and Sinouk Coffee Managing Director and ASEAN Women Entrepreneur 2017 Sirina Sisombat-Hervy (representing Laos) share their personal journeys to success and insights on accelerating the participation of women in the digital ecosystem.
The panelists were one in declaring that ASEAN is a frontrunner in women’s participation in the economy, and that, given equal opportunities, women’s skills and competence can match those of men in running an enterprise. However, they also observed that much work remains to be done to shatter ill-conceived sociocultural perceptions of women, which can only be addressed through policies that put both sexes on equal footing in terms of access to education, finance, and the all-important digital connectivity.
Agudo underscored the education as key to empowerment. “The challenge is to reframe social expectations and attitudes towards women and women leaders through long-term efforts in education.” She also called on Government and Business to solidify collaboration in creating new value for all. “As regards the operational environment, we need to enhance financial literacy and the nurturing of talent to run businesses. As regards an enabling environment, we need to explore ways to collaborate— share best practices, even the most disruptive and unconventional ones—in order to learn and benefit from digital disruption, in order to contribute in a relevant way to the region’s sustainable development goals.”
Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, is the third top-ranking automotive firm in the country. Hailed four times as Hyundai’s Asia-Pacific Distributor of the Year (2005, 2006, 2008, and 2013), and Hyundai Global Distributor of the Year in 2010 and 2016, HARI boasts of a 42-strong dealer network, superior after-sales, dealer and customer relations support, and an enviable roster of best-selling vehicles.