ICD, NOWCD, KPMG Philippines co-present forum on mastering boardroom communication

Janus Levi S. Castillo

Research and Development Coordinator

Institute of Corporate Directors

The Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), NextGen Organization of Women Corporate Directors (NOWCD), and R.G. Manabat & Co. (KPMG Philippines) facilitated the forum "Persuasive Influence: Mastering Boardroom Communication" on October 12, 2026 at the KPMG Digital Advisory Center, Makati City sponsored by San Miguel Corporation.

The forum tackled strategies on overcoming "manterruptions," non-verbal executive presence, and pre-board consensus building. Mr. Michael H. Guarin (KPMG Philippines Vice Chairman & Advisory Head) and Ms. Debbie Namalata, GICD (Organizing Committee Co-Chair) opened the forum and set the stage respectively. 

Former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairperson Atty. Teresita Herbosa, GT Capital Holdings Independent Director Consuelo Garcia, FICD, and Ayala Land & Manila Water former President & CEO Antonino Aquino, FICD shared insights on cross-gender communication, inquiry-based dialogue, hyper-preparation, and pre-board consensus building. The forum also featured a fireside chat with the panelists moderated by Ms. Monette Iturralde-Hamlin, FICD, (ICD BDI Committee Chairperson) and Atty. Euney Mata-Perez, FICD, (NOWCD Vice President - External) with closing remarks from Ms. Pacita “Chit” Juan, FICD, (NOWCD President & ICD BDI Committee Member).

Atty. Herbosa highlighted the importance of articulation training needed to be undertaken by women directors coinciding with the increasing role of women in board composition, a field particularly dominated by men for the longest time as well as the four common qualities of good boardroom communication which are accuracy, clarity, relevance, and attention.

Meanwhile, Ms. Garcia underscored the rationality of being invited for board directorship, the significance of having a specific expertise in the context of being impactful in the boardroom, and her five-decade professional career defined by crisis periods.

Lastly, Mr. Aquino reflected on his experience working with women directors starting from the water privatization in the 1990s all the way to collaborating with his fellow female board directors in Ayala Land and Manila Water, emphasizing the crucial role of the board chairperson in the women board director’s contribution and the impact of active participation in board committees and end-of-year non-executive directors’ meeting.