Meet Infor Manila’s women of impact

In an industry often defined by male representation, it’s fair to ask: Where are the women in tech leadership? At Infor Manila, the answer lies proudly at the forefront. The all-women Cluster Leadership Team is not only shaping great outcomes, they are the ones setting the standard for what impactful, people-first leadership looks like.

This International Women’s History Month, Infor celebrates five amazing women leading key business units and groups across Manila. More than decision-makers, these women are drivers of growth, anchors of accountability, and champions of their teams’ successes. Through their expertise, they ensure our Manila operations remain aligned with global priorities while enabling teams to perform at their full potential.

Bernadette “Nette” Maglaqui, Vice President of Consulting, and SAGE cluster leader, has spent nearly two decades converting complex business visions into sustainable business outcomes. For her, “turning big ideas into sustainable business results starts with clarity.” Every transformation begins with defining the real problem, aligning measurable outcomes, and co-creating solutions alongside customers to build ownership from the start. She also believes that execution should follow a disciplined structure, from pilots to governance frameworks, but Nette emphasizes that implementation alone is never enough. “Achieving sustainable impact requires adoption.” True success, she explains, happens when people embrace change and see themselves being part of the solution.

Her leadership philosophy is the product of multiple experiences rather than one defining moment. “I am the result of every challenge I faced, every choice I made, and every lesson life offered,” she says. Each chapter of her journey strengthened her voice and sharpened her strategic perspective. When she considers what the younger version of her might say today, she believes that Little Nette would be proud not only of the accomplishments, but also of the courage to lead with both strength and empathy. “You didn’t let fear or doubt define your path and helped others along the way too,” she reflects.

She tells aspiring women leaders, “Gender does not define you nor what you can achieve. Don’t let it become a variable in your equation. Know what you want and pursue it with intention. Believe you belong, take risks before you feel ready, seek strong mentors, and use your voice to drive meaningful change.”

Meanwhile, Senior Director of the Information Technology, Connie Cabreros, and EDGE cluster leader, champions women in the IT field. She holds this responsibility dearly being able to lead a passionate global team providing positive end-user experience for Infor employees. “I am motivated by a chance to help build a team anchored on our Principle Based Management (PBM) Values while fostering an inclusive environment,” she says.

For Connie, giving as a leader does more than strengthen teams, it also means building a culture of trust and innovation. “Mentoring others creates a ripple effect,” she says. Because being a supportive leader also reflects how you share knowledge. In her words, “Growth happens when everyone feels valued and encouraged to reach their full potential.”

One of her defining moments in her career was the toughness that comes with leading an international team. “As an Asian woman at the helm of global teams, I faced challenges that tested my confidence. These experiences reinforced the significance of trust, adaptability, and mutual support; such principles that have influenced both my leadership approach and self-assurance in the technology field,” she shares.

To women in tech, she advises, “Believe in yourself and your abilities. Seek out mentors, embrace continuous learning, and don’t be afraid to take risks. Remember, your perspective is valuable. Diversity drives innovation. Support other women, and together, we can shape the future of technology leadership.”

The same commitment to empowering others and building trust across teams is reflected in the leadership of Donna Hicarte, Senior Director of Software Development, and PHOENIX cluster leader.

As a woman leader behind teams developing software solutions at Infor, Donna leads with a belief that confidence is built through action. For her, strong leadership begins with clarity of purpose. “In discussions, I consistently share the bigger picture of how our work fits into customer needs and business outcomes,” she explains, often grounding decisions on real-world impact.

Donna’s leadership journey began with a clear desire to create meaningful value for Infor, an organization that believed in her potential on day one. Starting as a Release Manager at Lawson, she was fortunate to have a leader who invested in mentoring her and shaped the foundation of her leadership today.

As a leader, Donna sees giving as a core responsibility and a catalyst for growth. She believes mentorship and empowerment at Infor create an environment where trust, support, and confidence grow. “It enables us to scale impact, develop future leaders, and develop stronger outcomes together.”

In her success, Donna carries the lessons she learned along the way. “I often waited until I felt fully ready before stepping up,” she reflects. This is why she encourages women to trust their own perspective and speak up even if it feels uncomfortable. “Your experience and voice matter more than you realize. Real growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone. That’s where you learn the most and begin to lead with impact.”

Like our previous leaders, Diana “Diane” Macalino, Senior Director of Support Operations, and EAGLE cluster leader, believes that leadership is defined in the moments when teams must navigate uncertainty together. One experience that shaped her happened during a critical production issue affecting a healthcare customer on Christmas Eve. In collaboration with multiple teams in real time to resolve the situation, this moment demanded not only technical expertise but also coordination and clear direction.

Amid the urgency, Diana stepped in to help organize the situation by encouraging the team to pause assumptions and focus on proper triaging and aligning priorities. Through this experience she gained an important lesson she still goes back to, “That leadership is not about having every answer, it was about creating clarity, listening first, and helping people move forward with confidence,” she shares.

In her role as a leader in support operations, Diane sees accountability in problem-solving as a non-negotiable value when it comes to customer success. She encourages her team to go beyond just giving quick responses, but to take the time validating issues to ensure problems are guided toward right solutions.

Looking back, Diana believes her younger version would be proud not just of what she achieved, but the process that made it possible. “Leading with heart, lifting others up, and staying true to who I am,” she proudly shares. This reflects the same mindset in her advice to women: stay curious, step into opportunities, and trust the impact you can make.

And finally, Senior Director for Software Development and ACE cluster leader, Racquel (Kelly) Pagala, believes leadership begins with the courage to speak up and help others see the bigger picture. Guiding teams that build software, she always brings her people back to their purpose, and how their work makes life easier for customers daily. “We’re shifting from just being a feature-focused team to a value-focused journey,” she shares.

As a result, Kelly helps her team understand that every improvement, whether making systems faster, streamlined, or easier to use, creates a real impact on the people who rely on them. For her, leadership means constantly connecting the team’s daily work to the value it creates for others.

Reaching this role as woman, Kelly does acknowledge that walking to a room full of senior leaders, most of whom men, takes confidence and the willingness to use your voice. She remembers what it was like as a junior leader and shares, “I realized that regardless of your gender, age, or ethnicity, so long as you stand true and firm for what you believe in, it will be perceived as your authentic edge by those who truly know you.”

Today, Kelly carries that lesson forward by encouraging openness, sharing knowledge, and celebrating the growth of the people around her. “Sharing is caring,” she says simply. For her, the success of her team is also her own success.

Together, the stories of these five leaders show that there is no single path in leadership. From guiding teams through challenges to mentoring others and encouraging new bold ideas, they prove that leadership grows when people give generously and lift others with them. Their journeys reflect the kind of environment where women in tech can thrive, take ownership of their growth, collaborate openly, and turn ideas into meaningful outcomes.

As we celebrate International Women’s History Month, their experiences remind us that progress in technology comes not only from innovation but from the women who choose to lead with purpose, share their knowledge and create space for others to rise. For those looking for a career built on growth, collaboration, and impact, their stories offer a glimpse of what’s possible at Infor.