For generations, women have been making their mark and raising the bar in different fields all over the world. Women showcase wit, beauty, and talent. More than these, they exude the strength and passion to go as far as just anyone.
This March, we’re celebrating International Women’s Month and giving tribute to strong and beautiful individuals who inspire and empower in all aspects – from fashion to business. Meet Sam Pinto, Chloe Dauden, Josephine de Lucia, Ryza Cenon, and Trude Lizares as they share their stories, tips, and spirit animals in this special NAD feature!
Sam Pinto
While she’s not gracing our TV screens with her captivating smile, Sam Pinto is living the life of a beach lover and being a successful entrepreneur at it. Her love for the ocean became the inspiration for all her ventures – the surf beach resort L’Sirere and her swimwear brands Sirena Swimwear PH and Finn by SP.
“There is something about it [ocean] that makes me truly happy. From the smell, to the heat and the feeling of peace. And I wanted other people to experience this happiness from within, also feeling good and looking good about themselves.”
Of course, staying true to her love for the ocean, her spirit animal – if we can classify it as one – is a mermaid.
Sam experienced the same challenges that every entrepreneur faced, but she managed to overcome them with her tenacity. This is especially true when the pandemic hit. “There’s no way but up from here. I mean, I think we’ve been through so much that we have to keep moving forward and be better for yourself and others.”
She also highlights the need to be visible to your audience as part of how businesses can reach their goals. “Social media is very powerful now. Everyone is always on their phones. And by hiring a digital marketing agency, they know all the ins and outs of marketing in the social media world, which means it’s easier to get to your goals.”
Empowering words for fellow Filipinas: “Just go for it. It’s not gonna be easy and perfect but it’s a learning process along the way. It’s all gonna be worth it. Every success should be an inspiration to another. Just keep cheering and supporting each other.”
Chloe Dauden
Every woman’s secret weapon is a good shade of lipstick, and that’s exactly what Chloe Dauden brings us.
Her journey of being a successful entrepreneur began when she launched her sleepwear brand five years ago. Now, she’s rocking the cosmetic scene with Kyss Cosmetics while also investing in the restaurant industry on the side – what a busy gal!
Her spirit animal? Sara Blakely, the inventor of Spanx and known for being the youngest female, self-made billionaire in the world.
Chloe’s inspiration to start a business came from her childhood aspirations. “Ever since I was young, I would always create or find things that I could sell or resell. I remember going with my mom to Divisoria when I was still in grade school, and I bought these boxes that I designed and played with and sold it as a jewelry box. I guess I still have that drive, but it’s only bigger this time.”
Chloe understands that one of the ways to being successful at what you do is exposure and having the right people to do it for you. “When it comes to marketing, it’s always best to hire experts in the field. As your company or business gets bigger, it would be difficult for you to do everything on your own. Digital marketing requires so much time and effort and it would be best to work with an agency to help you come up with the best marketing campaigns for your social media accounts.”
Empowering words for fellow Filipinas: “Always start with whatever you are passionate about because it will be the one that will inspire you. If you’re unsure of what your passion is, observe the things around you and try to think of small problems that would interest you in creating a solution. Sometimes, great business ideas come from trying to solve those little everyday problems. Never stop learning because your greatest competitive advantage will always be education.”
And one last thing she shares with us, “Don’t give up easily because it’s not an easy climb and lastly, never run out of cash! (No.1 rule in business)”
Josephine de Lucia
We all know that moms are the hero of our homes, and Josephine exemplifies this role. While being a mother of two can easily get anyone’s hands full, Josephine is the exception. As a serial entrepreneur, she still finds the time to run several businesses for the past 22 years. Her current baby is Ava Living Concepts, a brand offering smart and innovative appliances.
Her passion knows no bounds, which gave birth to her different business ventures. “When I get excited about a new product or idea, it’s natural for me to get crazily obsessed with making it work. Passion maybe? As an entrepreneur, you always have to look for opportunities whatever the circumstances may be. You should always be optimistic.”
Josephine is also privy to what gives businesses like hers the edge to be visible in today – having digital marketing experts stand behind your brand. “It’s the digital age! I don’t think any business can survive now without having any presence online. By hiring a digital marketing agency, you can have more time to work on the other aspects of your business.”
Empowering words for fellow Filipinas: “Faith and hard work is key. There is no such thing as an overnight success. It’s ok to fail but what’s important is you get back up and keep on going. Be open with getting advice and tips from other entrepreneurs. Pray.
They always say that you can achieve anything that you set your mind to but after years of being in business I realized that this is missing a key ingredient. I now live by the verse in Philippians 4:13 ‘For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.’ And this, for me, is very empowering.”
Ryza Cenon
She’s known to most as the Ultimate Female Survivor of a reality TV show back in the early 2000s. But what most don’t know is her talent and wit at being an entrepreneur. Ryza Cenon shows us that being what the ultimate female survivor is all about – on screen and off screen.
Her drive to start a business started when close friends Chloe and Erika pitched the idea of starting their own lipstick brand, Kyss Cosmetics. And the rest, you could say, is history. Kyss Cosmetics lipsticks are hot in the market!
Beyond the success of being an entrepreneur, what motivates her to go further is someone dear to her heart. “My son. I’ve always been a goal-oriented person. But being a new mother has brought out an even greater need for me to look for other ways to achieve success.”
Of course, a good product is just as good as how exposed it is to the audience. This is exactly why Ryza believes being digital is essential. “Whether we like it or not, It’s a digital world now. We live in an age where social media reigns supreme. And as an entrepreneur, it’s more important than ever to be visible online and I feel that the best way to do that is to go with a digital marketing agency to handle all my digital marketing needs so that I can concentrate instead on what really matters, which is making our product better.”
Empowering words for fellow Filipinas: “You are stronger than you think. Don’t be afraid to fail and make mistakes. Don’t hesitate to ask for help or advice from other women entrepreneurs – you don’t need to go at it alone. Network and have a clear goal. Learn to accept and process criticism. Most importantly, trust your instincts. You do you. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do based on your gender. Being a woman is a strength and there is absolutely nothing that we cannot accomplish.”
Trude Lizares
Her passion for art and fashion served as her ticket to success. Trude Lizares shows us how creativity can bring you a step closer to your dreams.
Trude has been dedicating herself to her craft for the past 30 years, alongside her team of artisans that produces masterpieces after masterpieces for her fashion line. “I treat this as an expression of myself in that I extend myself to my clients in every piece that I create. I also have inculcated the importance of social responsibility and environmental awareness in my brand. Every piece is made of natural sustainable materials.”
Fashion is not the only thing she is passionate about. Trude makes an effort to inculcate the importance of social responsibility and environment awareness in her brand. The reason she prefers to work with local talents instead of outsourcing abroad is to ensure their labor rights and good practices are upheld.
Behind every successful woman is an inspiration that pushes her to greatness, and for Trude, her father is one to influence her passion. “I’ve always been an artist, having grown up with my dad who was a painter and founder of the art association of Bacolod. I love clothes so my artistic inclinations I have used in my creations.”
She likens herself to an eagle that challenges every storm and soars above the rest. Despite her success, Trude never forgets to look back at her beginnings and remain true to her faith. “With God as my anchor, I have learned to rise above the adversities in life.”
Like any modern entrepreneur, Trude understands how digital is the way to go when it comes to marketing. “With everyone being online, it is best to have a digital marketing agency to handle marketing and social management of the business. Having one substantially increases the efficiency of the business’ social media and marketing strategies. Much more, with Covid when people hardly go out of their homes, being seen and tangible online highly increases the brand’s representation and reach.”
Empowering words for fellow Filipinas: “One has to love and have passion for what she chooses to do. Know your heart and be firm on what you believe in. Work hard at your goals and never tire. While doing so, try your best to get as many people involved in the business and help them along the way. Always practice social responsibility and environmental awareness. Keep your morals high and always give the glory back to God – the ultimate creator from whom all things come.”
Moving Forward Stronger Than Ever
More and more women are carving their own names out there, and we’d love to be a part of their journey.
NAD stands behind every woman entrepreneur in building their business from the ground up with the same level of creativity and passion. If you’re a business owner looking to make your own name in the industry, we’re here for you.
