via GRAPHIC PLUS — Across global boardrooms, gender representation remains uneven.
While women now occupy roughly one-third of global senior management roles per Grant Thornton’s 2024 report, the real estate sector continues to lag. A specialized study by media company Bisnow of 100 top-tier commercial real estate firms reveals a persistent “glass ceiling” in the sector. Within these major organizations, female representation thins significantly at the highest levels, dropping to just 27.5% for C-suite roles and roughly 33% for board appointments.
These figures establish the industry baseline and provide a reference point for assessing corporate leadership structures.
At PNB Holdings Corporation (PHC), women hold five of nine seats on the board of directors. They comprise 40% of the management committee, or six of 15 positions, and roughly 40% of the company’s total workforce. In a sector where executive leadership have long observed persistent gender gaps, this distribution places the PHC above reported global averages in commercial real estate.
Leadership composition’s influence on operational direction
Executive committees shape capital deployment, portfolio direction, and development priorities, decisions that influence land use and commercial activity over the long term.
Research has linked gender-diverse executive teams with stronger financial performance. This is evident in PHC’s 2025 performance. The PNB Makati Center and the PNB Financial Center posted a combined 90% occupancy rate in 2025, outperforming industry expectations for commercial leasing despite prevailing market headwinds.
That period also included structural developments within the organization. In 2025, PHC reinforced its governance framework to strengthen compliance, transparency, and accountability across operations as it advanced long-term growth plans.
It strengthened equal opportunity and anti-discrimination standards through its HR Manual and established grievance mechanisms.
As the Philippine property sector advances, governance and leadership composition increasingly define competitive strength. Within that landscape, PHC combines representation at the highest levels with compliance discipline and measurable operating results. This positions the Tan-led company as a stable and forward-moving force in real estate.
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