Voice of Volvo: Women leaders take spotlight in 2nd road safety forum

Hariphil Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Volvo in the Philippines, gathered influential Filipinas to discuss leadership and safety for the second edition of its Voice of Volvo series.

With the theme “Grace Beyond the Wheel”, the forum took place at the Maria Fe Perez-Agudo Center for Leadership Excellence in St. Scholastica’s College, Manila. The event emphasized how personal safety is vital in enabling individuals to reach their full potential and included participation from selected student leaders of the institution.

Moderated by broadcast journalist Rico Hizon, the all-female panel featured leaders from diverse fields. Among them were:

Maria Fe Perez-Agudo, Vice Chairman, President, and CEO of HARI, who has more than three decades of experience in the automotive industry. Pinky Pe Tobiano, chemist, philanthropist, and CEO known for her advocacy in science education and healthcare innovation. Jacque Manabat, multimedia journalist and media literacy trainer with regional and international experience. Lastly, Angela Lagunzad, broadcast journalist, documentarist, and advocate for women’s and PWD rights.

The panel explored the connection between mobility, security, and women’s leadership, touching on scientific innovation, communication, and the importance of fostering safe environments for personal and professional growth.

“Safety is not a luxury—it’s the bedrock of ambition. When the question of ‘Am I safe?’ is answered, a woman is free to ask, ‘What can I achieve?’” the speakers emphasized during the session.

Closing the event, Agudo highlighted Volvo’s human-centric approach to mobility.

“The Voice of Volvo was designed to be a space for the exchange of bold ideas and brave commitments. When we center humanity in mobility, we don’t just move forward—we move together. It’s a principle that Volvo engineers into its cars and one that we proudly champion in society.”