Insider Spotlight
The event, titled “Crafting a Legacy,” featured Teach for the Philippines co-founder Elizabeth “Lizzie” Eder Zobel de Ayala and HOPE and PCX Groups founder and chair Nanette Medved-Po. The discussion focused on purpose-driven leadership, philanthropy, and creating impact that extends across generations.
The gathering forms part of UBS’ broader Women and Finance initiative, which seeks to empower women in wealth management, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
Since launching in the Philippines in 2023, the series has convened more than 200 women leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives for conversations on financial empowerment and meaningful career development.
Why it matters
As women increasingly take leadership roles in family enterprises and investment decisions, financial institutions are paying closer attention to how wealth is being deployed not only for returns but also for long-term social impact.
“Through our Women and Finance series ‘Crafting a legacy’, we continue to empower our clients to creating a family legacy. Here in Asia, we are seeing more women taking charge of family businesses, leading innovative startups, and making impactful investment decisions. What is striking is that women tend to approach wealth beyond financial returns,” UBS Philippines country head Robby Go said.
The big picture
Zobel emphasized that meaningful change begins with understanding community needs, citing the work of Teach for the Philippines in addressing educational inequalities.
“At the heart of Teach for the Philippines is a commitment to addressing a systemic problem, and we believe that true change begins with genuinely listening to the needs of the communities we serve,” she said.
Founded in 2012, the organization works to improve access to excellent, inclusive, and relevant education for Filipino children by developing leaders committed to transforming the public school system.
What’s next
Medved-Po shared lessons from building HOPE and PCX, organizations known for advancing education, environmental programs, and plastic responsibility initiatives.
“Our approach from the start was to build a business model that is both scalable and financially sustainable, ensuring that our efforts can create lasting impact,” she said.
“We are dedicated to building a brand that unites everyone in the community around a shared vision of educating one child, constructing one classroom, and ultimately building one school at a time.”
For UBS, the discussion reinforced how legacy-building is increasingly defined by purpose, community impact, and sustainable change alongside financial success. —Daxim L. Lucas| Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
