Tomorrow is the 4th Women Entrepreneurship Summit and Expo of Go Negosyo happening at the World Trade Center Metro Manila. We are looking forward to seeing another successful event, and hope that thousands will join us for another year of inspiring women and entrepreneurs.

We pooled some of the country’s most respected and successful women, including esteemed GMA7 news anchor Mel Tiangco, noted cosmetic surgeon Dr. Vicki Belo, former Las Piñas representative Cynthia Villar, former regional president of Starbucks Asia-Pacific Maria Mercedes Corrales, and former Isabela governor Grace Padaca to speak, lecture, mentor and inspire during the summit so that they may help Filipinos develop an enterprising mindset as a way to move upward in life. The whole day will feature womenpreneurs, government and civic leaders, social entrepreneurs as well as notable celebrity-entrepreneurs.

We have also finally selected our 2012 Women Starpreneurs, who will be awarded tomorrow. Congratulations to iBus inventor Elma Arboleras, Destileria Limtuaco and Co. president Olivia Aw, The Pastry Bin owner Penk Ching, The Cravings Group and Center for Culinary Arts-Manila president Susana Guerrero, Cabalen president Maritel Nievera, Carolina’s Lace Shoppe owner Lourdes Ragas, Kalinga Brew founder Antuza Refalda, Forever Flawless Face and Body Center CEO Rubby Sy, Mega Publishing Group founder and CEO Sari Yap, and Convergys Corporation managing director for Asia Pacific and EMEA Marife Zamora.

The special awardees are Desiree Duran, co-founder of the Basuit Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative; and Putlih Kumalah Sug-Elardo, chairman of the People’s Alliance for Progress Multi Purpose Cooperative and founder of Sulu Royal Coffee. Both will be given the Woman Social Entrepreneur Award. Likewise, GMB Franchise Developers managing director Erlinda Bartolome will be given the Woman Enabler Award.

To achieve success, these women had their own techniques and strategies to rise to the top. You’ll get to discover this as the Starpreneurs participate in the morning forum tomorrow. Meanwhile, I’ve also asked other women entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs to share their secret or strategy to becoming a top woman:

Realize what talents you have which you can use to start a business; a kind of business that has not quite entered the market, or something the market needs but does not know this need yet. In my case, handmade clothing focusing especially on embellished, beaded and embroidered Filipino wear for both male and female was not readily available back then. So I focused on luxurious, handcrafted, mostly handwoven, one-of-a-kind textiles that are based on traditional lines yet addresses the needs of the 20th century lifestyle. – Patis Tesoro, fashion designer and owner of the Patis Tesoro Shop

First and foremost, dream and believe in your vision. One must believe in something enough to make it a reality but this will not transpire unless you act on it.

The next key factor is to invest in your staff. We have taken our staff – chefs, dishwashers, waiters, cashiers and managers – to restaurants we think are the benchmarks in the dining and service experience in Manila. In doing so, they can experience what it is to have a great time in a restaurant, and in turn, provide the same excellent service and experience back to our clients. When your staff is one with you in the business then everybody is rowing in the same direction.

We also practice self-assessment and personal goal setting, invest in team building, client relations, and leadership training programs (with the help of Mr. Jopet Pedroso.) Through this, our staff has been introduced to the entrepreneurial mindset, and they can use our organization as a training ground for their own future business.

The fourth and most important key to success is to invest in and know your client! We must always remember that we are here because of our clients and know that the top task is to meet or exceed our clients’ expectations.

Success is about investing in the long term; there is no quick formula to it. – Malou M. Fores, owner of Mamou

As an entrepreneur, everything starts with you. You create the vision of the company and plan what direction to take.

A firm commitment to what you are doing is necessary. Hard work and much effort is needed especially in the service industry. You have to believe in what you are doing; like it and enjoy it. There will be mistakes, but have a firm conviction to turn adversities into challenges and opportunities.

Your staff members are your partners. There is a close synthesis between you, your staff and the clients. Create an environment of professionalism and discipline. If you must rule with an iron hand, always use velvet gloves. A happy staff is a motivated staff. This will cause a domino effect to the clients. The better the service they give, the happier the clients will be; when the clients are content, their continued patronage is assured.

An entrepreneur must be open to changes. If there are painful decisions to be made, then they have to be made. If there are new things to be learned, then embrace the change. One can only do one’s best, then leave God to do the rest. – Baby Cruz,

chairperson of Innovations & Concepts, Inc. and franchise holder of Franck Provost Salon Paris and Fabio Salsa Salon

Nothing worthwhile comes easy. If you want something, you work hard at it. Be willing to work harder than your employees. Lead by example. Never be afraid to try new things and make mistakes. Be ready to fail many times.

Practice humility and patience; with both comes learning. Take care of your clients, which include the people who work for you. When you take care of them, they take care of your business.

Love what you do; when you love what you do, you work at it with passion and commitment. Lastly, always have a grateful heart. – Martha Cynthia Tinsay Gonzalez, school administrator of Reach International School and directress of Childstart International