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She Talks Asia Summit 2025 Highlights

<div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742825356557she talks asia summit 2025 highlights.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">(From left) Bianca Gonzalez, Pia Wurtzbach, Lynn Pinugu, and Iza Calzado</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>“Think back at the times in your life when you grew the most, learned the most, became stronger, and became wiser. Is it the times when everything went perfectly or is it the times when you made a mistake, when you failed, and when something unpleasant happened?” These were the powerful questions <strong>Bianca Gonzalez</strong> asked the attendees of <strong>She Talks Asia Summit 2025</strong>.</p><p>This year’s She Talks Asia Summit, now in its ninth year, marked Women’s Month with the event theme “<strong>Brave Over Perfect</strong>,” held at The Globe Tower in Taguig City, which empowers women to <em>not</em> fear imperfections.</p><p>Bianca, She Talks Asia co-founder, continued her crusade and encouraged the women in the room during the summit opening.</p><p>“It’s the latter. Those stories [of mistakes and difficult times] are what make us stronger, wiser, better and that’s really the goal. If we know that the hardships, the challenges, and the mistakes make us a better person, why are we so afraid to make it? This theme resonates with us personally and we hope everyone as well. This is something we need to remind each other of. No one’s perfect,” she said.</p><p>She Talks Asia co-founders<strong> Lynn Pinugu </strong>and <strong>Iza Calzado</strong> echoed Gonzalez’s thoughts about the theme and the event.</p><p>“We started in 2017 and it’s really because the co-founders were all going through a difficult time. We said we wanted an experience or access to a safe space where we can receive advice, and gain advice without being judged. She Talks Asia was actually borne out of imperfection and we’re so grateful because this is our ninth year,” Lynn said.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742825620778batch__DRE9297.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Bianca Gonzalez</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742825748861batch__DRE9914.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Lynn Pinugu</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p>Iza promised that the community and the event would continue to deliver fresh perspectives on topics relevant to women. “We ensure that every She Talks Asia Summit continues to foster conversations that inspire and drive change,” Iza stated.</p><p>Making the event more colorful was the introduction of She Talks Asia Summit co-chair and keynote speaker<strong> Pia Wurtzbach </strong>who is also best known as the former Miss Universe 2015, actress, author, and fashion muse.</p><p>“[I’ve been] trying to visualize this day and finally I’m here. I’ve always really looked up to She Talks Asia and the events and summits that you do. I look up to these women and of course, when they invited me to be a co-chair, I was like, ‘<em>Talaga</em>? <em>Ako</em>?’ I was very excited and it’s always fun to exchange ideas with brilliant women who are so real, so authentic, so compassionate, and without judgment. I was already told that this is a safe space and that I’ll have a great time here,” Pia shared, evidently pleased to be a part of the growing community.</p><p>“We are so proud of our co-chair who truly shares our values at She Talks Asia about authenticity, connection, community, and supporting women,” Bianca said as she thanked Pia for accepting the challenging role.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742825696499batch_DSC06343.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Iza Calzado</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742825881621batch__DRE9291.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Pia Wurtzbach</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p>The summit kicked off with a topic on “The Power of Showing Up” featuring the co-chair. Speaking about the subject, Pia emphasized the importance of simply showing up.</p><p>“If I show up, maybe something will happen. If it’s not a success like blinding lights [of] fame, money, or people admiring you, it’s a personal win and it’s still a win,” she began and cited her decision to show up at the summit as an example.</p><p>“I’ve been invited here to talk but I feel like I’m here now with you today because I also need this—to sit down here with you, to show up and to listen to other women’s stories too,” the beauty queen added.</p><p>Pia said there is incredible power in something seemingly simple as showing up. “Whatever it is you’re going through in your personal life—if it’s family, relationship, career or personal and you’re unsure of what to do and you feel like, ‘What? Am I going to start all over again?’—just show up. Just go. You don’t know what’s waiting on the other side. It could look really unfamiliar and scary but then maybe the success isn’t the recognition, maybe it’s the fulfillment inside. Maybe that’s the real power of showing up,” the co-chair declared.</p><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742825976959batch_DSC06186.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Bianca and Pia discuss &quot;The Power of Showing Up&quot;</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p>The She Talks Asia Summit 2025 went on to cover the following topics: “Own Your Timeline: Overcoming the Fear of an Expiration Date” (with Olympic gold and silver medalist/HDWLA co-founder Hidilyn Diaz, beauty editor-turned-content creator Belle Rodolfo, and women’s health advocate/Om Health Hub CEO Anca Griffiths alongside Iza Calzado); “Ignite Your Inner Light” (led by author, journalist and soulful living advocate Stephanie Zubiri); “Rise and Thrive: Lessons on Leadership and Financial Empowerment” (featuring BDO Sustainability Office vice president and head Marla Garin-Alvarez alongside host Riki Flores-Reyes); “Chasing Perfection and Other Failures” (with Save Philippine Seas&#x27; executive director Anna Oposa); “Redefining What It Means to Be a Queen” (RXM Consultancy managing partner Em Millan, marine ecologist and Oceanus Conservation founder Camille Rivera-Roa, and Hyve Sports&#x27; CEO/Women&#x27;s Fitness Asia founder Justine Cordero-Em in a panel discussion with Lynn Pinugu); and “Brave, Graceful, and Unstoppable: Reframing the Aging Journey” (with certified menopause coach and Proage founder Claudine Viquiera and TV/event host Suzi Entrata-Abrera, as moderated by content creator/entrepreneur Ayn Bernos).</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742826504081batch_DSC06287.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">(From left) She Talks Asia co-founder Iza Calzado, Olympic gold and silver medalist/HDWLA co-founder Hidilyn Diaz, beauty editor-turned-content creator Belle Rodolfo, and women’s health advocate/Om Health Hub CEO Anca Griffiths</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742826552540batch_DSC06411.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Author, journalist, and soulful living advocate Stephanie Zubiri</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742826573242batch__DRE9543.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">BDO Sustainability Office vice president and head Marla Garin-Alvarez with host Riki Flores Reyes</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742826590921batch__DRE9608.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Save Philippine Seas&#x27; executive director Anna Oposa</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742826608761batch__DRE9667.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">(From left) She Talks Asia&#x27;s Lynn Pinugu, RXM Consultancy managing partner Em Millan, marine ecologist and Oceanus Conservation founder Camille Rivera-Roa, and Hyve Sports&#x27; CEO/Women&#x27;s Fitness Asia founder Justine Cordero-Em</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742826630959batch__DRE9758.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">(From left) Host Ayn Bernos, certified menopause coach and Proage founder Claudine Viquiera, and TV/event host Suzi Entrata-Abrera</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p>The event’s last segment was an inspiring closing session with She Talks Asia’s Lynn, Iza, and Pia, where they shared their final thoughts on this year’s theme.</p><p>Iza shared, “I have a friend who told me, ‘<em>Grabe</em>, you’re mothering <em>sa</em> Instagram! <em>Parang</em> you’re doing everything!’ Yeah, <em>sa</em> Instagram! <em>Alam mo</em>, <em>ang hirap</em>, <em>lalo na itong pinagsasabay ko</em>. I have a toddler. I want to do so many things. ’<em>Yun kasi ang problema</em>! I want to do so many things. But the truth is, you can’t have it all all at the same time. While it is true that you <em>can</em> have it all, some things would have to take a backseat at some point. Every season of our lives, something will have to take a backseat.”</p><p>Pia, on the other hand, opened up about how she planned her “unconventional wedding,” where it was just her, her husband Jeremy Jauncey, and two witnesses who weren’t even their relatives. She didn’t want to overthink anything and wanted it to be a special moment just between the two of them. But unexpected things happened, and instead of letting those ruin their big day, she told herself, “‘You know what, I’m just going to enjoy myself.’” She added, “&#x27;I just want to be as present as possible and remember this. I just want to imagine this recording through my eyes and with my memory.&#x27; And it was one of the moments in my life where I said, ‘<em>Okay lang kahit hindi na maganda</em>, <em>hindi na</em> perfect, <em>nakapaa lang ako</em>. <em>Okay lang na hindi nasunod ’yung</em> <em>in</em>-imagine <em>na plano</em>. <em>Okay lang</em>. <em>Kasi</em>, to me, it was perfect that way. I think the reason I’m sharing this is because we love to daydream about our dream career, our dream scenario, our dream relationship, our dream happy ending, and it’s something that has been taught to us since we were kids, and maybe it’s something that we also believe in. We’re hopeful <em>na</em> ‘deserve <em>ko ’yan e</em>’<em></em>… but also, there’s beauty in letting go. There’s beauty in just accepting that things aren’t going to be perfect all the time but I’m happy anyway. So, choose that, because that’s a choice.”  </p><p>Lynn showed her vulnerable side as well when she shared that she’s the type of person who usually keeps things to herself. She said, “When we talk about women in leadership, something that doesn’t often get talked about is when you reach a certain position, it also becomes very lonely <em>kasi</em> feeling <em>mo pasan</em><em> mo lahat</em>… But I think something that has really helped me is I have a safe space where I can unravel—for me, first and foremost, it’s my mom.” Lynn further talked about her experience dealing with an eating disorder, sharing that she later got better because she was “certain that no matter what happens to me, someone has my back.”</p><p>Picking up from what Lynn said, Iza shared that at She Talks Asia, she, Lynn, and Bianca always have each other&#x27;s backs, knowing that if and when they “unravel,“ someone will just be a message or call away to help stitch or weave their loose threads back in place.  </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742827230049batch__DRE9923.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">(From left) Lynn Pinugu, Pia Wurtzbach, and Iza Calzado during their closing session</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742827207948batch__DRE9032.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">The women behind She Talks Asia Summit 2025</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">By the end of the event, Lynn, Pia, and Iza also shared a cute collage by <strong>Tofu Creatives</strong>, summarizing the inspiring notes and quotes from the summit. </p><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1744692491883shetalks quotes by tofu creatives.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">Photos by <strong>Point Zero Productions</strong>, courtesy of <strong>She Talks Asia</strong></p><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div>

<p>This Women’s Month, She Talks Asia Summit 2025 unpacked and unlearned the myth that perfection defines worth. </p>

This Women’s Month, She Talks Asia Summit 2025 unpacked and unlearned the myth that perfection defines worth.

'Brave Over Perfect'—Inspiring Musings From the Women Behind She Talks Asia Summit 2025

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'Brave Over Perfect'—Inspiring Musings From the Women Behind She Talks Asia Summit 2025

Grace Diez and Grace Libero

Published March 24, 2025 08:00 PM PHT

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Updated April 15, 2025 12:48 PM PHT

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