Written by: Hazel Cherry Tabirao
Not every journey starts with certainty
My journey did not start with certainty.
It started with questions.
I graduated with a degree in the field of technology, thinking I had everything figured out. But the truth is, even after graduating, I was still trying to understand what was truly meant for me. I knew I wanted to build something meaningful. I knew I wanted to make an impact. I just did not know exactly how.
From Intern to Community Manager
In 2021, during my third year in college, I started as an intern at ULAP.org. At the time, I was simply looking for experience. I did not expect that internship to shape so much of who I am today.
After my internship, I was given the opportunity to serve as a Community Manager. I said yes, even when I was unsure of myself. Fast forward to 2026, and I am still here. Still volunteering. Still building. Still learning.
Over the years, I have helped organize community events, trainings, and mentorship sessions, and supported two ULAP.org scholarship cohorts. What stays with me is not the number of events, but the people.
The students who once believed tech was not for them.
The scholars who only needed one opportunity.
The chance to help create space for those who are often underrepresented.
Leadership is service
Being part of ULAP.org made me realize that leadership is not about titles. It is about service. It is about showing up consistently, even when no one is watching.
Alongside my community work, I now work at Alon, a workplace equity platform focused on transparency and fair systems. Being part of that space reminded me that equity should not stop in classrooms or communities. It should exist in workplaces too. When opportunities are clear and fair, you feel safer to speak up, to lead, and to believe that you belong.
The quiet pressure to prove yourself
As a woman in tech, there are moments when you feel the quiet pressure to prove yourself. Sometimes it feels like you have to be exceptional just to be considered equal. There are rooms where leadership does not always look like you. There are times when doubt becomes louder than confidence.
But along the way, I learned something important.
I was never the most talented.
I was never the most confident.
I was never the most of anything.
I just refused to give up.
What women empowerment means to me
Women empowerment, to me, means representation and access. It means creating spaces where women are not questioned for being present, but valued for what they contribute. It is not about competing with men. It is about equity. It is about ensuring that talent, regardless of gender, has a fair chance to grow.
I am still figuring things out. I am still growing. But I no longer see that as weakness. Growth is not linear. Purpose is not always loud. Sometimes it is built quietly through small, consistent decisions to continue.
To women still figuring things out
If there is one thing I want to share with women who are just starting or doubting themselves, it is this:
It is okay if you are still figuring things out.
It is okay if you do not feel like the best in the room.
Just do not stop.
Because when you keep going, you give yourself the chance to become someone you have not even met yet.
And sometimes, that is more than enough.
