GCash, FTW Foundation enable women to excel in tech

GCash, FTW Foundation enable women to excel in tech through Data Science Scholarship

The leading finance super app and For The Women Foundation celebrate the first batch of Filipina graduates


Continuing their shared mission to advance the role of women in the tech industry, GCash, the number one finance super app in the Philippines, and For The Women Foundation (FTW), recently celebrated the graduation of 31 Filipina scholars who are now equipped to make their mark in fintech. These women from diverse backgrounds recently completed a 14-week Data Science Scholarship Program, allowing them to help shape a more inclusive digital economy.

After weeks of stringent and extensive mentorship training programs, these women now bring comprehensive knowledge and skills in data science and technology, which will help them pursue a career in the tech industry. As the country's pioneer in inclusive and open finance, GCash undertook this initiative to help empower more Filipinas to join the tech space, a male-dominated industry with only 26.7% of women holding tech-related jobs globally. In the Philippines, women comprise only 35% of the country's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce.

"Together with FTW, we at GCash aim to showcase our scholars as role models for the next generation of young women interested in pursuing or shifting to careers in technology. We hope our new graduates will continue leveling up, grabbing opportunities, and discovering things that help you as a person to be happy and find your purpose," said GCash chief people officer Robert Conrad Gonzales.

Driven by its vision to empower women in tech, FTW Foundation co-founder and executive director Cara Wilson supported GCash's pursuit of establishing an equal and diverse tech industry. "We are honored to partner with GCash as we continue our shared goal of leading the charge to create a community of Filipinas in tech empowered to break through the glass ceiling. We hope this is just the start of more meaningful collaboration with GCash in the future," she said.

The commencement also featured capstone project presentations from each group of scholars from various career backgrounds, from accounting to health and dietetics, education, and engineering. Through this initiative, the scholars join GCash and FTW Foundation in their efforts to help shape a more inclusive digital economy.

"Our scholars' inspiring stories drive us as we continue to work towards empowering and enabling Filipinas to join the tech industry. Graduating from this data science program jump-starts their journey, hopefully, to lead the future of tech," said GCash chief data officer Sara Venturina.

For its part, GCash continues to value gender equality, diversity, and inclusion as a strong and integral part of its work culture. The GCash workforce is proud to have 46% women leaders, including its CEO, higher than the industry average of 28%. Moreover, this initiative along with its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within and outside the organization, underscores how GCash is steadfast in upholding three United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), namely, Gender Equality (SDG 5), Reduced Inequality (SDG 10), and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG , empowering tech leaders regardless of disability, race, age, and sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE).

Anchoring its position as the country's leader in sustainable and diverse fintech, GCash is a first mover in challenging the status quo and paving the way for aspiring women leaders in the tech space – building a more equal and future-resilient nation.

The GCash app is free on Google Play and the App Store.

For more information, please visit www.gcash.com.