Ladies Who Launch Season 3 will be packed full of expert tips, sisterhood, and female empowerment

Sisterhood is sacred across the globe. When women genuinely support one another, networks are strengthened, stereotypes are shattered, and communities thrive, regardless of their location in the world. 

At the Ladies Who Launch Season 3 event on Oct. 4, expect to experience this phenomenon. Full of activities, expert talks, and freebies, this third installment of female-centric conversations organized by Leading Ladies is perfect for women thinking of putting up a business or who are already in the process of growing it. 

This is the exact spirit Leading Ladies co-founders Cat Ilacad and Rache Tan-Stern—the founder and CEO of Posh Nails and the founder of Alphabetsoup, Inc., respectively—want to sustain in their organization.

At the height of the pandemic, the two women were hungry to find a deeper purpose. 

“We thought of doing another venture that would give meaning to our lives,” Ilacad said. “It was during COVID and no one knew what would happen. So I said, ‘Maybe we can form a community’.”

In early 2022, that’s what they did. The friends put up Leading Ladies, a community of female entrepreneurs, leaders, and creators. Two years later, actress and digital content creator Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio joined the team. 

The trio regularly posted on social media to inspire and educate their community. They had tips on time management, balancing life and work, etc. In the first few months of operations, Leading Ladies had 1,200 followers. Today, their community is 11,400 strong. 

A thriving group

Leading Ladies was content to keep their activities online until one member asked, “Wala bang face-to-face [event]?” 

After weighing the pros and cons, Ilacad, Tan-Stern, and Peralejo-Bonifacio decided to organize the first physical event for October 2024, targeting just 50 attendees—tickets sold out in one week. 

The event was so successful, members clamored for another one. In December 2024, Ladies Who Launched held their second event, this time for 100 people. Tickets sold out again. 

Mutual support

“What we’re learning from [our members] is that it can feel very lonely to run a business,” said Peralejo-Bonifacio. “If you’re an employee, you have lots of teammates. But if you’re the business owner, it can get lonely because nobody can really understand what you’re feeling. The people we’ve met here can validate what we’re going through.”

“It makes me feel na marami akong ate. I know na itong mga ‘to, matatanungan ko [ng advice] when it’s time for me to start something,” she added. 

The strong community built by Leading Ladies is new in the Philippine business industry, even with startups. Its strength, said the founders, lies in its members’ generosity and refusal to gatekeep their knowledge and resources. 

“We want to foster the thinking that it’s more of collaboration than competition. We can all have a piece of the pie. We want to be the big sisters. We don’t want them to make the same mistakes we did when we were starting out,” said Ilacad. 

The third season of Ladies Who Launch will have a powerhouse lineup of speakers, including “Xtrapreneur” Rossel Velasco-Taberna, COO at the Taberna Group of Companies, and Anna Magkawas, CEO and founder of Luxe Beauty and Wellness Group.

Business tips

Giving a preview of what attendees can expect at the upcoming event, three entrepreneurs, who are also among the event’s sponsors, gave their top tips on how to run a business. 

“Put up a business in something you’re passionate about. The journey of a business owner is full of ups and downs. During the time when it seems there are just downs, only your passion will get you to continue,” said Germaine Gaerlan, general manager at Alberto Group of Companies. 

“Your business is only as good as your people. Your people will be the ones who’ll scale your business and take care of it. If they’re not taken care of, the business will never grow and flourish. Once you start your business, it’s your people who should be your primary focus. They should love working for you, and they should grow with you,” said Melissa Menes, president at Oasis Home.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes, it’s pride [that makes you say], ‘This is my idea. Nobody else can grow my business better than me.’ It takes a lot of humility to accept that you do need help. Also, know where you’re good at and focus on that. I got a partner who really complements where I am lacking. I’m very creative, and my partner is into finance,” said Arianne Amante-San Luis, founder and CEO at Clocheflame, Inc.