Thirty women scholars have successfully completed their data science training as part of Batch 9 of the FTW Scholarship Program, spearheaded by For The Women (FTW) Foundation in partnership with leading integrated telco network PLDT Inc (PLDT), its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc (Smart) and PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF).
The graduates, who finished 14 weeks of data science training, join the ranks of over 500 FTW scholars who have benefited from this initiative. The program, started by FTW in 2018, is geared to enhance opportunities for women in the tech industry through data science training, and also aims to drive diversity in tech by providing free upskill training to women who otherwise wouldn’t have access to such specialized education.
The graduation ceremonies held recently at the Smart Tower in Makati City featured PLDT and Smart Chief People Officer Gina P. Ordoñez and broadcast journalist Karen Davila, who delivered inspirational messages for the graduates.
“We are happy to have partnered with FTW in this initiative. I have seen the ratio of women and men in organizations across different levels, particularly in telco, healthcare and banking, which have been historically dominated by men. This gap is even more emphasized in STEM. For this reason, the vision of FTW to bring out the best in women, and surface opportunities where women can rise above and lead is essential,” Ordoñez said.
Congratulating the graduates, Davila shared her journey as a veteran broadcast journalist and lessons she has learned along the way. “My mother once told me: A hardworking person will always beat a lazy, smart person. You need to be the hardest working woman in the room, because you are doing it for yourself. You need to be your own cheerleader. You are your biggest asset; you are the gift,” she said.
Marking this milestone, the graduates also presented their capstone projects before a panel of judges consisting of Gilbert Gaw, FVP and Head of Information Technology and Transformation Office, Smart, Audrey Oliva, PLDT VP, Strategic and Advanced Analytics, and Sherwin Pelayo, Executive Director of Analytics & Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines (AAP), who evaluated their presentations.
Also gracing the ceremonies were FTW Co-founder and Executive Director Cara Wilson, FTW Co-founder Michelle Alarcon, PSF President Esther O. Santos, FTW Trustees Marife Zamora and Lizzie Zobel de Ayala, and FTW and PLDT-Smart executives.
PLDT and Smart recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion in driving innovation and growth, and are committed to fostering a more inclusive tech ecosystem where women are valued and empowered to excel.
This partnership aims to enable PLDT, Smart, PSF, and FTW to contribute to UNSDG #10: Reduced Inequalities by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all.
