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Entrepreneur Rosarie Ledesma says women should have their own income. Josh Mercado

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Josh Mercado

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1762046437053image1.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Entrepreneur Rosarie Ledesma says women should have their own income. Josh Mercado</div>Overshadowed by strong men, women entrepreneurs and leaders have long had to struggle for a seat at the table since society expected them to stay at home.Once they were granted a spot, women had to put in twice as much effort and hard work to demonstrate that they were deserving of every chance. Not to bring down men, but women who have ascended the ranks and achieved success have an air of aspiration.In addition to running their businesses, women executives — especially married ones — also care for their children, which makes them even more aspiring in a society that views them as nothing more than accessories.On a calm afternoon, Rosarie &quot;Risa&quot; Ledesma, chairman and CEO of RF Proactive Marketing Global Inc., spoke with ABS-CBN News about the steps she took to achieve her current level of success.Ledesma emphasized that success doesn’t happen overnight, telling ABS-CBN News, “Lahat po ng success talaga is pinaghihirapan. Mas masaya at fulfilling po kapag pinaghirapan. Masasabi mong successful ang isang tao kapag pinaghirapan talaga. Hindi ako fan ng overnight success.”“Proud po ako sa kung anong narating ko. Even though things are moving quickly these days, hard labor still has power,” she added.Married to a former cruise captain, Ledesma also discussed the value of having one&#x27;s own source of income, particularly for women.“‘Yung asawa ko kasi seaman noon. So, kumbaga parang ayaw ko naman na lagi na lang akong naghihintay ng padala noon. Madiskarte kasi talaga ako. Hindi ako umaasa lang sa bigay. So, kahit na kapitan naman ‘yung asawa ko noon, kahit na napro-provide naman ‘yung needs namin noon, gusto ko ay may sariling income ako,” said the owner of RF Proactive Marketing Global Inc., a company that manages the on-ground marketing for some of the largest corporations in the Philippines.She continued, “Importante talaga na may sariling income ang babae. Bata pa lang ako, nagbubukid na ako. So, ‘yung mga ginagawa ng ibang lalaki, kaya ko ring gawin. Importante sa akin na mayroon akong income na hindi talaga ako nakaasa. Nature ko na hindi ako umaasa sa asawa, sa kapatid. Talagang bata pa lang ako, marunong talaga ako sa buhay.”“Nangarap akong umasenso. Tiyaga at lakas ng loob — kailangan ‘yan,” she added.And her drive, focus, and feminine spirit have made her a successful self-made CEO.“Ang empleyado ko, since 2015, sila pa rin. So I think kung masama akong boss, umalis na sila sa akin. Nadadagdagan sila. Hindi nababawasan. ‘Yung dati kong project coordinator, naging supervisor, naging operations manager, ngayon GM na. Binigyan ko ng house. Tapos ‘yung driver ko, binigyan ko rin siya ng bahay,” she humbly shared.Born to a farming father and a mother who worked as a home-based hairdresser, the female boss intends to inspire young women to take their own seats at the table, pursue careers, and achieve financial success.“Dapat gusto mo ‘yung gagawin mo. Gusto mo ‘yung io-open mong business. Kasi kung mag-o-open ka dahil uso, or dahil sinabi lang nila, at hindi mo naman gusto, hindi naman ‘yun magsa-succeed,” she expressed.“And I sincerely hope they fulfill their full potential. They, too, can attain what I have got. Start small and leave a legacy that benefits others. Also, we do a lot as women, therefore we need to treat ourselves. There&#x27;s nothing wrong with wanting more,” added the female CEO, one of the honorees of the upcoming 2025 Philippine Glitter Awards for her entrepreneurial leadership and community contributions.Her company&#x27;s first project was valued at P5,000. Ten years later, RF Proactive boasts a portfolio of national brand accounts.Finding its niche early on, Ledesma manages manpower deployment, in-store activations, conferences, and festivals for these clients, believing that on-the-ground and person-to-person marketing is still the most effective.As a result, RF Proactive has expanded to include satellite offices and a strong network of on-call professionals around the country. Nevertheless, the driving force behind the successful venture remains as active as ever.Having secured her seat at the table, Ledesma ensures that other women feel included by securing theirs as well.

Entrepreneur Risa Ledesma built her company from a P5,000 project into a nationwide marketing firm through grit, faith, and hard work. Now, this CEO champions women’s financial independence, proving that every woman deserves to earn—and define—her own success.

Entrepreneur Risa Ledesma built her company from a P5,000 project into a nationwide marketing firm through grit, faith, and hard work. Now, this CEO champions women’s financial independence, proving that every woman deserves to earn—and define—her own success.

For this self-made CEO, every woman should have her own income

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For this self-made CEO, every woman should have her own income

Josh Mercado

Published Nov 02, 2025 01:15 PM PHT

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