Singapore – Mang Inasal Philippines, VNPAY, Rewardz, and iWISERS emerged as the biggest winners at the Empowered Women Awards 2025, taking home the coveted Grand Prix titles that celebrated excellence in marketing, agency leadership, and technology innovation across Asia-Pacific.
Held on October 15, 2025, at the Mandarin Oriental Singapore, the awards recognised exceptional women leaders who are driving innovation, inclusion, and progress across marketing and technology sectors in the region.
Marking a highlight moment, three companies — Mang Inasal Philippines, Vietnam Payment Solution Joint Stock Company (VNPAY), and Rewardz — shared the Company of the Year Grand Prix title. The trio were recognised for their strong commitment to empowering women and transforming their industries through innovation and purpose-driven leadership.
Mang Inasal Philippines further cemented its success, with Rose “RJ” Rodillo, digital and PR director, clinching another Grand Prix honour as Woman Marketing Leader of the Year. The company collected a total of six trophies, which included golds for Outstanding Woman-Led Customer Engagement Campaign and Outstanding Woman-Led Integrated Marketing Campaign, along with bronzes for Outstanding Woman-Led Consumer Insights Campaign and Empowered Women in F&B Marketing (for Rose herself).
In her speech to the audience, RJ thanked her colleagues and team members, as well as her family, for their unwavering support throughout her journey.
“I’ve heard that no matter how tools or trends change, the heart of our work stays the same. It’s about connecting with people, uplifting others, being in one movement, and using our voice to make a difference,” she added.
Meanwhile, VNPAY’s director of e-wallet centre Nguyen Thi Thu Huong was named Woman Tech Leader of the Year, in addition to securing gold for Visionary Woman of Technology Leadership and two silvers for Empowered Women in E-Commerce Technology and Empowered Women in Tech Role. The company capped the night with six trophies overall, including a bronze for Outstanding Woman-Led E-Commerce Tech Innovation, underscoring its growing leadership in Asia’s fintech and e-commerce space.
“It’s such an honour for me to be recognised among so many inspiring women tonight,” she said in her speech. “These awards really remind me to keep on learning, growing, and living with purpose. This also gives me more motivation to continue doing what I love to do and to inspire others along the way with me.”
From Singapore, Rewardz — one of the three companies to share Company of the Year — also took centre stage with CEO Jaya Maru winning gold for Female CEO of the Year. The company celebrated additional wins with COO Nicole Seah, who earned gold for Empowered Women in Marketing Technology, and CMO Nishita Lalvani , who received silver for Visionary Woman of Marketing Leadership.
Speaking about her win, Nicole shared, “I’m truly grateful to be recognised as an Empowered Woman in Marketing Technology—and honestly, this is as much about the amazing team behind me as it is about anything I’ve done.”
She also celebrated the achievements of her colleagues, Jaya and Nishita, as well as the company’s Grand Prix victory. “And finally, to Rewardz, Grand Prix Company of the Year — proof that with purpose, collaboration, and a little bit of boldness, we can build something truly special.”
Rounding off the Grand Prix winners was Dr. Shakthi DC, CEO and founder of iWISERS Sdn Bhd, who took home the Woman Agency Leader of the Year title. iWISERS also claimed gold in Empowered Women in Digital Agency, alongside multiple recognitions in leadership categories—including silver for Visionary Woman of Agency Leadership and bronze for Female CEO of the Year.
In her inspiring speech, Dr. Shakti said, “This award isn’t just mine—it belongs to all my people who have stood by me in the past: my founding team, my present band of rebel warriors, and my people, and Person Arif, who I’m certain will stand with me well into the future. For believing in our shared vision to create a space where leaders build leaders.”
She also shared her key takeaway as a founder while addressing the leaders present at the venue.
“A takeaway I’d like to share is that it is not the stage that gives you value; it’s ultimately the way you carry yourself when things fall apart, and every founder has these moments. Today, I do not honour this place by simply standing in it; I honour it by showing up as real, imperfect, resilient, and unapologetically myself despite it all. To all of us keeping it real always, thank you.”
In the travel and hospitality sector, Mildred Ang, associate director of partnerships & affiliates at Klook Singapore earned gold for Empowered Women in Travel & Hospitality Marketing, followed by Angela Soriano, director of sales and marketing at Discovery Primea and Irene Janti, country director brand and marketing of The Ascott Limited – Indonesia, who received silver and bronze, respectively.
Lydwina Deline Suherli, marketing director of PT East Indo Fair Trading (YAVA) also made her mark, winning gold for Visionary Woman of Marketing Leadership and silver for Empowered Women in FMCG Marketing. YAVA additionally took home silver for Outstanding Woman-Led Integrated Marketing Campaign.
Among other standout honourees were Vasuta Agarwal, formerly chief business officer of InMobi Consumer and Performance Advertising, who won gold for Empowered Women in Advertising Technology, and Fe Husaint, managing director APAC at Greenpark, who received gold for Visionary Woman of Agency Leadership, the most competitive category of the night.
Completing the list of individual gold awardees were Mabel Lu Wei, global vice president digital transformation at Danone for Empowered Women in Tech Role and Marian Esperanza G. Magturo, strategy director at Publicis Media for Empowered Women in Media Agency.
The event also recognised exceptional women from the education and SME sectors, including Bipasha Minocha, group chief marketing officer of EtonHouse International Education Group, who earned silver for Empowered Women in Education & E-Learning Marketing, and Dr. (H.C.) Jaslyin Qiyu, managing director at Mad About Marketing Consulting, who took home bronze for Empowered Women in SME.
See the full list of winners HERE.
The judging process was helmed by a distinguished panel of female executives, with Simone Tam, group and creative CEO at dentsu, serving as head juror for the People categories in Marketing and Agencies, and Munas van Boonstra, managing director for Southeast Asia at Monks, leading the People categories in Technology. Tam also chaired the Marketing Campaign categories, while van Boonstra oversaw the Tech Innovation and Special Awards categories.
See the full jury list HERE.
In total, more than 56 organisations and companies across Asia-Pacific were honoured, representing a diverse mix of industries united by their shared commitment to advancing equality, creativity, and innovation.
In his closing remarks, Joven Barceñas, founder and CEO of MARKETECH APAC, addressed the audience and the winners with an inspiring message.
“To all our Empowered Women Awards winners and finalists, thank you for demonstrating what leadership, resilience, and brilliance truly look like. You continue to redefine what it means to be a woman in marketing and technology — not by following paths, but by paving new ones,” he said.
He concluded, “As we close this year’s celebration, let’s carry the spirit of tonight forward — to continue empowering, innovating, and leading with purpose. The future of marketing and technology is bright because of every one of you here.”
Brands, agencies, and martech companies interested in joining next year’s Empowered Women Awards may reach out via [email protected].
