This school year, 2021-2022, CADBE welcomed the freshest teams: Aspiring Women Architects of the Philippines (AWAP) and Environmental Planning Society (EPSoc). The said organizations are led by women: Florence Glaze D. Singson from AWAP and Beatriz Balacy of EPSoc (YES KWEENS!). And now, let us get to know them.
Florence of BS ARCH 2-5 is one of the founders of AWAP and the current president. AWAP is an all-girls academic and architectural organization. It was established during the early pandemic season. Their main goal is to provide a safe space for aspiring women architects. Now, they have started their first chapter, the AWAP-PUP, administered by Ms. Elainah Jacinto.
The ebb and flow of leading made Florence create a strong pedestal for her members. She is trying her very best to build a bond among her co-officers and her members. Self-awareness is one of the values she exhibits since people who call themselves 'leaders' squander the power and authority they have, leaving people behind for their interests. "I believe a good leader means putting your members' best interests first." She also accentuated that being alone during dire straits is tough, so instituted an organization for them. "Being in a very dark place in my life made me realize that I don’t want other people to feel the same way or at least be alone when they experience it. With a program that is as hard as architecture, we are prone to burnouts, and I want AWAP to be there for them."
What was the hardest decision you have taken as a leader? What helped you to prompt the best course of action?
I think the hardest decision I have taken as a leader is bouncing back after doing something wrong instead of fully resigning. Human beings are prone to mistakes, and leaders are no exception. It takes a lot of courage, taking accountability, and working better this time because you are still needed.
As a woman leader, Florence looks up to our Former Vice President Leni Robredo. "Former VP Leni Robredo inspired a lot of people with very few resources and the platform she has. As I look at the television, I wonder how strong her mental and emotional strength must be to be that resilient with all that defamation and fake news she encounters every day. By her words, she inspired a lot to volunteer, to step up and be kind and aspire to be that kind of leader one day."It shows how women greatly influence leadership in society. Hindi babae LANG, kundi BABAE.
The rising department of CADBE has a freshly baked organization, the Environmental Planning Society (EPSoc). "We're playing a part in building up the identity of environmental planning, something that is lacking in our country despite the efforts of those in this career. It's young with a lot of aspirations, and I hope the spark won't die down." Bea of BSEP 2-1 took the risk of administering the new institution with empathy, accountability, and communication ethics.
Growing up, Bea had been surrounded by women that shaped her now as a leader. "I am the way I am..." She observed how women resolve problems, converse, and conduce. And now, she is the president of her organization despite the rollercoaster ride of commitment to lead.
What was the hardest decision you have taken as a leader? What helped you to prompt the best course of action?
It is not necessarily with the organization but knowing when to let go. As much as you would want to keep everyone afloat in your team, you have to look at how some things or circumstances are affecting the rest of the members.
How do you motivate an underperforming team member?
I know that everyone has their thing going on, so I try not to be quick to judge how they're handling their responsibilities. What I find myself doing is looking for ways to empower them. I try to talk with them and ask how they are, to see where they're coming. With that given, I can make better decisions on how to help them. Something that I've done before breaks down the task to that member into "bite-sized pieces," because then it's easier to see what exactly needs to be done. It's not so overwhelming, and they'd get that sense of accomplishment from those smaller tasks.
One person that greatly influenced Bea is Ar. Jocelyn Rivera-Lutap, Dean of CADBE. Hands down to our Dean! Bea is a student assistant, and she said that working with Dean is beyond her expectations.
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