While the real estate industry has always been dominated by men, women have risen to the top as the years went by. Juggling their homemaking responsibilities and community work, many Filipino women have managed to make it big in real estate through their tireless efforts and groundbreaking accomplishments. From brokers and realtors to CEOs of real estate firms, we're spotlighting these women and their journey in the field.
The Female Pillars of PH Real Estate
Powerful and influential women in the local real estate scene deserve to be celebrated. As gen Z would put it, they do a lot of kween tingz like charity work and efforts for sustainability while continuing to inspire and pave the way for future female leaders in the industry.
1) Sheila Baylon
She is the Chief Partnership & Revenue Officer & Co-Founder of PropertyAccess, a Japanese and Singaporean real estate company that provides real estate services all over Southeast Asia. The company currently has operating offices in Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia with transactions amounting to over 80M USD and counting over the past two to three years.
2) Elizabeth Ventura
Boasting a long portfolio of projects all over the country, Elizabeth Ventura is the president of Anchor Land Holdings, Inc. The company has built many luxury condominiums, boutique hotels, and exclusive residences. Among a slew of hotel and resort developments and luxury residential towers, some of her company's notable projects include the Anchor Skysuites in Binondo and the Admiral Baysuites in Bay City.
3) Cynthia and Ivy Almario
Known as the Almario Sisters, Cynthia and Ivy are the inseparable interior design duo that founded and established the design studio Atelier Almario. They are known for designing luxurious residential homes. Cynthia handles the interior decorating aspect of homes while Ivy spearheads the interior architecture aspect when it comes to luxury home interiors.
4) Alice Eduardo
Dubbed as the Philippines' woman of steel, Alice Eduardo is the founder, president, and CEO of Sta. Elena Construction & Development Corporation. Her company is an AAA and Large B firm, qualifying to bid for projects that are worth billions of pesos. Her company has built the SM Mall of Asia Complex, Solaire Resort and Casino, City of Dreams Manila, and Okada Manila, among many others.
5) Emma Imperial
She is the president and CEO of Imperial Homes Group of Companies, a firm developing modern leisure villages, as well as middle and low cost housing projects. Her company is known for developing and building environmentally friendly projects, especially their leisure developments. Some of her company's projects include Solana Verde, the first solar-powered condominium development in the country.
6) Arch. Cathy Saldaña-Siegel
As the CEO and managing partner of PDP Architects, Arch. Cathy Saldaña has been a seasoned figure in architecture for almost 30 years. She focuses on Southeast Asian modern architecture, and has led housing projects that are designed unconventionally. Her company has built Seda Lio in Palawan, Drift Beach Club in Dumaguete, and the I-Land Residences in Cloverleaf, among others.
7) Angela De Villa-Lacson
Having served as the president and CEO of Arthaland, Angela De Villa-Lacson was yet another top-player in the real estate industry. Arthaland is the company behind the top-end residential complex Arya Residences, committing to sustainability and achieving dual green building status.
8) Shiela Lobien
Seated as the CEO of Lobien Realty Group, Inc., Shiela Lobien leads a real estate consultancy firm that specializes in sales, property acquisition, capital investments optimization, and commercial leasing, among other things. Also an advocate of women empowerment, she leads a committee for women in the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines.
9) Atty. Maria Cristina Samson
A seasoned figure in real estate sustainability, Atty. Maria Cristina Samson is currently the chief operating officer of Menarco Development Corporation. Aside from being a lawyer, she is also an advocate of women empowerment whose efforts, initiatives, and breakthroughs in this male-dominated industry are honored and celebrated.
When Women Take The Lead
Women like Sheila Baylon, Elizabeth Ventura, Cynthia & Ivy Almario, Alice Eduardo, Emma Imperial, Arch. Cathy Saldaña-Siegel, Angela De Villa-Lacson, Sheila Lobien, and Atty. Maria Cristina Samson attest to how women can be trailblazers and game-changers in real estate, as well as dedicated wives and mothers, and advocates of the things that they care about.
In today's society, women taking the lead doesn't raise a lot of eyebrows anymore — the female labor force has proven time and again that they can rise to the occasion when there is a need for innovation and step up to the plate when there are hurdles in the way. We've seen how committed these women are in pursuit of their goals and passions, and how they take their visions to the corporate world.
Are Women More Into Real Estate Than Men?
As of recent, more and more women have been buying and investing in properties. Consumer research suggests that majority of those who avail of properties like houses and condominiums are predominantly female. Meanwhile, real estate agents are also mainly composed of women, which is a stark contrast to how things were years ago. A factor that largely comes into play is the rise of women in the workforce, with career-driven female employers and employees climbing higher and higher in the corporate ladder even after marriage and childbirth.
Meanwhile, owning a place of residence especially among women seems to be more commonplace today than it's ever been. Based on the same study, single women are 5% more likely to acquire a property than single men. This is most likely correlated with female corporate headship: since women take the lead in their firms, they tend to earn more in their fields than their male counterparts, which gives them more financial resources to acquire properties.
Another factor could be women focusing on their corporate achievements more than any other endeavor like community work or starting a family. While some female CEOs and employees have families of their own, others tend to focus instead on their jobs and businesses. Either way, it's a win for all women when successful female bosses and workers choose to dedicate their time to what they want to pursue, be it for their marriage and families, for their careers and businesses, or both at the same time.
Do You Want To Be In Real Estate?
Are you a career-driven female who wants to be a top broker or realtor? There are just a few steps you need to take: first, you have to obtain a bachelor's degree. After graduating, get registered at the Professional Regulation Commission to take the real estate licensure examinations. Once you pass, register again with the House Land Use Regulatory Board to be an official real estate agent. From here, you utilize your networks and find companies to work for. Get all the needed documents ready and you're now a step closer to your real estate dreams.
From female real estate employees to leading female figures in the industry, it's safe to say that women are slowly becoming the backbone of real estate. It's not an easy task to break through a male-dominated field, but with passion, dedication, and hard work, you can make a mark in the real estate industry regardless of status, race, and most especially, gender.