As part of its continuing commitment to empowering the workforce in a rapidly evolving digital world, the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) of the Philippines held a webinar on May 2, 2024, titled “Future Ready Women: Upskilling in the Digital Age.” The session featured two distinguished speakers—Michelle Alarcon, President of the Analytics & Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines, and Genevieve So, Operating Partner for Data Consulting and Delivery at Thinking Machines Data Science. These thought leaders shared their perspectives on how women can harness the power of digital tools and continuous learning to remain competitive, relevant, and empowered in a tech-driven future.
Understanding the Philippine Labor Market Context
The first speaker, Michelle Alarcon, set the stage by grounding her discussion in the current Philippine labor market context. She highlighted a concerning statistic: only 38% of women participate in the labor force. Even more troubling is the number of women who are neither working, studying, nor receiving any training, estimated at 11.9 million, compared to 16 million who are employed. While these figures may be outdated, she emphasized that the patterns have remained relatively static, revealing a pressing need to tap into digital solutions that can bridge this participation gap.
Michelle also shared a striking statistic: a 29% drop in labor force participation among women after marriage, particularly in urban areas. This, she pointed out, reflects the socioeconomic and cultural barriers women face and serves as a call to action to broaden our lens, not just to support professional women, but also to bring more women into the fold through inclusive digital upskilling.
Freelancing as an Entry Point
One of the avenues to achieve this is through freelancing, where Filipino women already make up 56% of the workforce in this sector. Digital tools and AI have significantly lowered the barrier to entry, especially in fields like content creation, writing, and translation. These flexible, lower-risk opportunities could serve as gateways for more women to contribute economically, even if not in traditional full-time roles.
Michelle acknowledged the paradox: while AI presents new job opportunities, it also automates many of the same tasks women are encouraged to take on. The key, she stressed, is adaptability—not just learning new skills, but embracing lifelong learning as a fundamental competency in an unpredictable job landscape.
Lifelong Learning: Learning How to Learn
Her central message was clear: “To future-proof ourselves, we must learn how to learn.” This goes beyond traditional education. Lifelong learning is not just a process; it’s a mindset. She illustrated this with a simple but powerful insight: learning should not only be a means to an end (e.g., acquiring a degree or certification), but a goal in itself—one that equips us with skills like critical thinking and problem-solving.
But how do we teach “learning as a goal”? Michelle admitted there’s no ready-made curriculum for this. It requires progressive educators, innovative programs, and visionary leaders—whether in schools or corporations—who are willing to champion customized, purpose-driven learning experiences.
As an example, she shared her own organization’s efforts in designing a 14-week upskilling program for women shifting careers into data science. The course doesn’t pretend to teach everything there is to know, especially in a fast-moving field. Instead, it instills the confidence and capability to keep learning beyond the program, empowering women to continuously grow, evolve, and adapt.
Empowering Women and Building Problem Solvers in the Digital Age
Continuing with Genevieve So, she brought a compelling and human-centered perspective to the session, focusing on For the Women (FTW) Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping underserved women with data science skills, many of whom previously had little or no access to training or upskilling opportunities.
At the heart of this initiative is a simple yet powerful idea: give women a leg up, not only to enter the male-dominated technology space, but also to transform their lives. The demand for data scientists continues to grow, and FTW is helping women rise to meet that demand.
The speaker shared the story of one woman striving to become a junior data scientist—a symbolic representation of hundreds of FTW scholars. The program doesn’t just build competencies; it instills confidence. Over a 14-week course, women are immersed in digital learning environments that teach both hard and soft skills essential for success in the workplace.
Launched in 2018 as a fully in-person program, FTW had to pivot quickly when the pandemic hit in 2020. The program transitioned to 100% online delivery, led by the speaker, who had just joined as Head of Learning and co-founder. Despite the upheaval, the foundation stayed true to its mission, leveraging digital tools to continue building both skill and confidence.
Google Classroom, Slack, Zoom, and DataCamp became the backbone of the learning experience. Hackathons, breakout sessions with mentors, and capstone projects ensured that technical skills weren’t just learned—they were applied. And while shifting job-readiness sessions online was a challenge, FTW made it work. From LinkedIn profile-building workshops to mock interviews with real hiring managers, these digital interventions helped bridge the confidence gap for many women entering the workforce for the first time in a tech capacity.
Tracking Impact and Expanding Reach
What’s more, FTW tracks its impact meticulously. Within six months of graduation, scholars often double their previous salaries. Since 2018, over 500 women have graduated, not only from the data science track but from other technology programs as well. These women, many without prior tech exposure, now land jobs they once believed were out of reach.
But the speaker’s passion doesn’t stop at FTW. She also runs Z-Lift Solutions, a consultancy she founded in 2013. Here, the focus is on cultivating problem solvers—consultants who can not only design but also implement and sustain solutions for clients. The challenge? Upskilling this unique breed of professional in a digital-first world.
Purpose-Driven Upskilling at Z-Lift Solutions
At Z-Lift, the approach to learning is purpose-driven. A framework of culture, character, and capability guides the upskilling journey:
🔸 Culture: New hires are introduced to the company’s way of working through structured digital communication (via Teams, WhatsApp, or Slack) and transparent systems like open calendars and regular check-ins.
🔸 Character: Teamwork and mentorship are critical. Despite being fully remote, the company maintains co-working spaces and encourages face-to-face mentoring where possible to build deeper connections.
🔸 Capabilities: Technical training is hybrid and collaborative. Online courses in data science or AI are paired with peer learning, sandbox environments for experimentation, and monthly knowledge-sharing sessions.
For Genevieve, upskilling is deeply personal. She stays ahead of the curve by being intentional with her learning, tracking AI trends, exploring new domains, and constantly refining her leadership and strategic thinking. Her methods vary: podcasts while ironing, webinars timed with life’s natural pauses, and books—yes, real books—for topics that require reflection.
And her favorite digital tool? Calendly. With four calendars—spanning FTW, Z-Lift, AAP, and UP—she uses the platform to streamline her schedule, ensuring every minute counts.
In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, this is a good reminder that learning is not just about content—it’s about context, connection, and confidence. Whether you’re a woman striving for your first data science role or a consultant navigating complex client solutions, upskilling in the digital age is possible. All it takes is a framework, the right tools, and a fierce belief that growth is within reach.
Empower the Future with Digital Upskilling
Ready to support a future-ready workforce? Partner with experts like John Clements Consultants, who help organizations lead with purpose and innovation.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you build inclusive, tech-savvy teams.
