Pinay CEO among Forbes 'Asia’s Power Businesswomen' list
Filipina represent!
Anna Ma. Margarita Dy, Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) president and chief executive officer, made it to this year's Forbes Asia’s Power Businesswomen list.
On Tuesday, the publication said Dy is among the female leaders "pushing forward with new ventures and rising to secure top spots at some of the region’s largest and most prestigious enterprises."
"Her rise comes as the company—the real estate arm of the Ayala group, a conglomerate controlled by billionaire Jaime Zobel de Ayala and his family—accelerates the launch of residential projects to meet surging housing demand," it wrote.
Dy holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in 1996. She graduated magna cum laude from the Ateneo De Manila University’s Economics Honors Program in 1990 then earned her Master’s degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1991, according to the company's website.
The 54-year-old businesswoman served as the company's executive vice president since January 1, 2023, and chief operating officer since April 26, 2023. In October, she became the first female CEO of ALI.
Forbes highlighted Dy's contribution to the company, saying "she oversaw many of the firm’s luxury housing projects as chief operating officer and head of its residential business group."
The list is composed of 20 businesswomen who, as per Forbes Asia, "operated in a broad range of industries including finance and banking, property, technology and commodities."
"Some have moved up the corporate ladder to the top rung—and in many cases becoming the first woman to take on these roles. Others are leading their family businesses to new heights or building their own enterprises," the article wrote.
Aside from Dy, Forbes recognized Michele Bullock, the first woman to helm the Australian Central Bank; Lee Young-hee, who is the first and only woman outside the founding family to hold the rank of president at the Samsung Group; and Makiko Ono, the first female CEO of Suntory Beverage & Food.
The list also includes Jyothy Labs managing director M.R. Jyothy, Perfect Corp. founder and CEO Alice Chang, Dusit International CEO Suphajee Suthumpun, Bank Permata president director Meliza Musa Rusli, and Goldman Sachs head of private and growth equity in Asia Pacific Stephani Hui.
