Next month is International Women’s Month. And following tradition, this is also just in time for Go Negosyo’s 4th Women Entrepreneurship Summit and Expo, which is all set to happen on March 2 at the World Trade Center, Metro Manila. The audience can expect an all-women lineup of speakers, mentors, panelists and even entertainers.

We’ve invited some of the speakers and lecturers that Go Negosyo fans avidly follow. For the plenary, we’re bringing in GMA-7 news anchor Mel Tiangco to give a short message of inspiration on how a woman can be a person for others. Tiangco is not only one of the country’s most respected news anchors, she is also known for her philanthropic activities as the executive vice president of GMA Kapuso Foundation. To talk about beauty, health and wellness is Dr. Vicki Belo, the country’s pioneer and expert in cosmetic surgery. Women’s presence in politics has become more prominent today, and former Isabela Governor Grace Padaca tackles the challenges and triumphs in governance, especially for a woman in power. We are also privileged to have the former regional president of Starbucks Asia, Maria Mercedes Corrales, to mentor women on how to be the best woman they can be.

From the Go Negosyo community, we’re asking once more Go Negosyo Angelpreneur, author, and Multiple Intelligence International School directress Joy Abaquin to lecture on how women can nurture children’s strengths. Go Negosyo Davao awardee Myrna Padilla of Mynd Consulting presents a topic entitled “Breaking Barriers, Achieving Success,” as she herself has an amazing and inspiring story about how she hurdled all adversities coming from a very poor fishing village in Mindanao, to becoming a domestic helper abroad, to developing knowhow in the IT field and now is the founder and CEO of her own IT company in the country.

Participants are sure to pick up a lot of insights and new learning as the summit also features two forums, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. One of the key panelists to expect is former Las Piñas representative Cynthia Villar, who will participate in the morning forum. A former government official, active social entrepreneur, civic leader and managing director of the Villar Foundation, Cynthia is really one of the most empowered and established women we know, helping out underprivileged communities. She, together with Pinky Poe, another social entrepreneur from GKonomics, will share their views in planning a woman’s road map to success, while also teaching how to do business with compassion for others, that is establishing a business model that actually helps society.

Pinky is the finance director of GKonomics, a social enterprise development organization that aims to provide jobs to the residents of Gawad Kalinga by teaching them skills to make a sustainable living for themselves. On the other hand, the Villar Foundation, which is founded by Senator Manny Villar and run by Cynthia Villar, provides a variety of programs and projects for Filipinos, such as nutrition caravans, medical missions, repatriation of and providing assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and providing training for livelihood and entrepreneurship, all of which aim to alleviate poverty.

Also joining the morning forum is another social entrepreneur, Honey Sumnad, country director and coordinator for Asia America Initiative Asia (AAI), a non-profit organization dedicated to pursuing peace and development in Mindanao. AAI’s advocacy is also Honey’s own, being a member of various organizations that promote the same such as the Active Catalysts of Tomorrow, Peace Talks, and the Young Moro Professionals Network.

Meanwhile, our afternoon forum will be a star-studded panel featuring the country’s favorite celebrity entrepreneurs. Get advice about doing business and learn from your favorite celebs Vina Morales, co-founder of Ystilo Salon; Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, head consultant of The Parenting Company; Regine Tolentino, founder and owner of RT Studios; Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano, president of talent management company Manila Genesis Entertainment and Management, beauty expert and entrepreneur Fanny Serrano, and model, TV host and beauty queen Miriam Quiambao.

The summit is also the place to meet this year’s Women Starpreneurs. The final 12 Go Negosyo awardees have been selected, with the help of our judges Go Negosyo Executive Director Ramon Lopez, Echostore founder Chit Juan, former Entrepreneurs School of Asia Dean Pax Lapid, and Go Negosyo trustee and founder of Marine Resources Development Corporation Rosalind Wee. GMA Network president and CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon, Isaac Belmonte of the Philippine STAR and I, together with the other Go Negosyo trustees, will present this award to the 12 inspiring and enterprising women.

BPI Family Savings Bank president TG Limcaoco, chief marketing officer Jojo Ocampo, and Ka-Negosyo Loans Division head Cedoy Roces will also be presenting an award to one among the Starpreneurs: the award for Business Excellence, given to an entrepreneur whose business has shown outstanding financial performance. Another Go Negosyo partner Multiply, headed by country manager Jack Madrid, will also be giving the Multiplyneur Award to outstanding women entrepreneurs who have become especially successful with their internet-based businesses.

Events like this summit could not be possible without the kind and full support of our partners and sponsors. This is why Go Negosyo will also be recognizing the efforts and help of our long-time partners: PLDT SME Nation, Smart Communications, Meralco, RFM Corporation, BPI Family Savings Bank Ka-Negosyo, Avon Cosmetics, Multiply, OPMC, Isuzu and LBC. They have made it possible to push for the advocacy and launch programs that empower more and more Filipinos with the entrepreneurial mindset and knowhow, to help them fulfill their dreams and move up in life.

The Women Entrepreneurship Summit and Expo promises to be another memorable and eventful day that will not only be educational but also highly entertaining. The audience can expect a special segment and a mini-variety show from GMA-7, as well as performances by Vina Morales, Francheska Farr, the St. Paul Terpsichore, La Salle Greenhills Air Force and other GMA Network artists.

Women, students and teachers can come in for free. To all business owners, send all your women employees and create an enterprising and winning culture in your organization. Registration is on the day of the event itself, March 2, and you can register as early as 8 a.m. We hope to see you there and join us as we all go negosyo!