Job-matching start-up bags award at biggest ICT event in Geneva

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino job-matching start-up has bagged an award at an international summit for information and communications technology (ICT) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Connected Women Jobs, a technology-driven social impact start-up, was awarded as champion in the e-employment category in the World Summit for Information Society (WSIS) Forum held at Place des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on April 12.

“It is an honor for Connected Women to be representing the country in the international stage and for being recognized by a panel of global change makers as a solution to improving women’s economic empowerment and gender equality through the use of ICT,” Connected Women co-founder Ruth Yu-Owen said in a statement on Tuesday.

Connected Women executive chairman Michael Yaxley (left) and co-founder Ruth Yu-Owen (right) receives WSIS award from International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General Houlin Zhao (middle) on April 12, 2019 in Place des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.  Photo from: Connected Women

The job-matching start-up was awarded along with entries from Thailand, United Arab Emirates, India, and the United States.

Aside from being the sole Philippine awardee at the WSIS among 1062 nominated projects from across the globe, Connected Women was also recognized for its efforts in accelerating socio-economic progress along with 90 organizations.

Connected Women matches female entrepreneurs from all over the world with Filipino women looking for remote work through a technology platform which uses a unique propriety algorithm to ensure a precise match.

Through the Connected Women website, job seekers can apply for virtual work while entrepreneurs gain access to high-quality, affordable talent.

The start-up’s chief executive officer and co-founder Gina Romero recognized that the technology is a “game changer” for women, providing access to remote and flexible work.

“Technology is a game changer for women and providing access to remote and flexible work means having a choice between staying in the workforce or being forced to drop out,” she said in a statement.

The job-matching start-up also “opens up opportunities to Filipino women” and “aids entrepreneurs globally to achieve work-life balance,” Connected Women executive chairman Michael Yaxley.

“Our vision is to impact the lives of women globally by providing access to technology training, resources and tools to improve businesses, careers and lives,” Yaxley said.

“This not only opens up opportunities to Filipino women but also aids entrepreneurs globally to achieve work-life balance while growing their business,” he added.

The WSIS forum, the largest annual gathering of ICT community, is a global United Nations (UN) multi-stakeholder platform advocating for sustainable development. /muf