BY KELSIE SALARDA, GUEST WRITER
In many parts of the world, women in leadership have often been the exception rather than the norm. But there are places that defy the norm—places where women have long been influencing the direction of society, business, and even faith. The Philippines, for example, is a country that has seen women rise to some of its highest offices. With two female presidents in its history and a strong presence of women in executive leadership today, the country demonstrates a unique openness toward female leaders.
When I lived in Cebu City in the Philippines in 2013, working with an international nonprofit there, I met countless women who were doctors, lawyers, led NGOs, and were in the corporate world. It was not an unusual thing! But how has that translated to women being trained as leaders in the church and in their professions?
All that to say, I was eager to speak with Herman Moldez, A3’s National Director in the Philippines, to get a sense for his work and passion towards seeing more women and young professionals equipped through A3’s training and community.
Early Influences
Herman shared how his mother led him to Christ, giving him that early spiritual formation when he was younger. His passion for youth came through service with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, spending 25 years with them. His later work with International Care Ministries gave him a better perspective for mentoring and how to care for the inner life of a leader. He joined A3 in 2017.
Men and Women Leaders
Herman believes that it is the role of men to take the initiative to welcome, invite, and create the space for women to become leaders. As they created A3 cohorts, they were intentional about seeing a good number of women represented in the group. In fact, they found that the cohort had richer, deeper conversation as “women raise the questions that can be very critical. The emotional side of leadership is often stronger when you have women”. This allows both men and women to model mutual submission and respect for one another, demonstrating a leadership that is rooted in the love of Christ.
Redefining Leadership
As we continued our conversation, Herman highlighted the need to redefine what it means to be a leader, particularly in the context of the new generations coming up through the A3 network. Whatever organization structure we build, we need to support the whole development of people. For Herman, mentoring is about more than imparting knowledge; it’s about caring for the whole person—the heart and soul of a leader. It’s about helping leaders recognize their inherent worth and potential, grounded in the understanding that they are made in the image of God. He does that through shepherding, caring, listening, and providing guidance into a deeper relationship with God. Herman has seen firsthand how essential it is to provide a “space of grace” where leaders can make mistakes, learn, and grow without fear of failure. This environment is critical for cultivating the kind of leader who is not only knowledgeable but compassionate, humble, and deeply connected to their faith.
A Sustainable Vision for the Future
This approach not only encourages seasoned leaders to finish well, it also speaks to the new and younger generations who are rising up across the A3 network. In this way the A3 community of men and women, young and old is one that transcends traditional structures, focusing on holistic development—heart, mind, and spirit. Whether it’s in the church or in the marketplace, the work Herman and others are doing in the Philippines is setting the stage for a future where leadership is welcoming, compassionate, and transformational.
Kelsie Salarda
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KELSIE SALARDA is the Executive Director of First Fruit, Inc. (Newport Beach, California), a grantmaking foundation guided by Christian faith that resources leaders and organizations working among the poorest countries of the Majority World. Before this post, she was a Senior Program Officer at First Fruit and formerly worked with the International Justice Mission (Philippines) and Olive Crest/AmeriCorps. For the past dozen years, Kelsie has also been volunteering with the A2D Project (Research Group for Alternatives to Development) and the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force. In addition, she serves on A3’s Women & Emerging Leaders Task Group. Kelsie holds an MA in Organizational Leadership (UMass Global) and a BA in Sociology (Biola University).
Kelsie's LinkedIn profile
More Information
- This article was written by Kelsie Salarda based upon her interview with Herman Moldez.
- Photo credits: Images courtesy of Herman Moldez and Kelsie Salarda
