The PBCWE team, led by Executive Director Abad, poses for a photo with the PwC AC Manila team.
30 June 2025, Pasig City, Philippines — PwC Acceleration Center Manila (AC Manila) reinforced its commitment to building an inclusive workplace with the successful conduct of its GEARS (Gender Equality Assessment, Results, and Strategies) Action Planning Workshop, held at The 30th Corporate Center, Pasig City.
The workshop brought together the firm’s leaders and business unit heads to translate insights from the recently completed GEARS Assessment into clear and focused strategies. Facilitated by Reuben James Barrete, Program Manager of the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE), the session marked a significant step in PwC AC Manila’s continued efforts to embed gender inclusivity into business strategy and organizational culture.
Julia Abad, Executive Director of PBCWE, opened the session by highlighting GEARS as a tool not just for assessment, but for transformation. “GEARS is a blueprint that enables companies like PwC AC to move from intention to impact. It helps align leadership around shared goals, develop evidence-based policies, and foster accountability across the organization,” Abad noted.
Dennis Basilio, Chief Operating Officer of PwC AC Manila, set the tone for the action planning session
Dennis Basilio, Chief Operating Officer of PwC AC Manila, underscored the leadership’s commitment to sustaining a workplace anchored on fairness, inclusion, and performance. “Inclusion is a business necessity. Our growth depends on how well we create spaces where every voice is heard, and every individual can thrive. Inclusion must be part of how we think, how we lead, and how we deliver results,” Basilio stated.
PwC AC Manila’s broader Purpose and Inclusion vision is to become a leading firm where inclusion and belonging are fundamental to success. This strategy supports talent retention, attracts diverse professionals, and fuels innovation. As part of its Women’s Gender Equality commitment, the organization is actively working to improve representation of women in technological and innovation roles—ensuring its workforce is equipped and inclusive for the future.
Amica Laine Francisco, PBCWE’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Manager, presented the key findings of the GEARS Assessment, which confirmed PwC AC Manila’s strong performance in areas such as strategic alignment, leadership accountability, workforce composition, and enabling workplace policies. These results reflect both a robust foundation and a clear opportunity to lead by example in the industry.
Following the presentation, the PBCWE team guided participants through a structured breakout session to identify strategic focus areas and develop action steps tailored to their business units. The activity emphasized internal ownership, reinforced alignment across teams, and clarified next steps for implementation.
As PwC AC Manila sharpens its Purpose and Inclusion strategy, the Action Planning Workshop reinforced a core message: inclusion is not a side initiative—it is central to organizational success. By grounding its plans in data, strengthening leadership accountability, and advancing systemic action, PwC AC Manila is setting the bar for inclusive excellence in the professional services sector.
