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Chancellor Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap Recognized as One of the Most Influential Filipina Women in the World

November 10, 2023

Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, chancellor of Seattle Colleges, recently was named one of the most influential Filipina women in the world by the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN).

FWN recognizes women of Philippine ancestry who they see changing the face of leadership in the global workplace. Rimando-Chareusap was honored under the “Builder” award category that includes awardees who “have demonstrated exceptional organizational impact at a large workplace environment and displayed deep passion for a cause through collaborative initiatives or alliances with institutions, corporations, or nonprofit organizations.”

“It was such an honor to be recognized alongside other accomplished Filipina women doing groundbreaking work in various sectors from around the world,” said Rimando-Chareunsap. “It was humbling, but also incredibly empowering to be among this group. I feel strongly that our work in Seattle Colleges has an indelible impact, not only on our students, but on the communities we each represent, and the expanded circles that radiate out beyond what we touch directly. I certainly felt that expanded impact through this recognition.”

Rimando-Chareunsap received her award at a gala dinner ceremony held on November 1 at the Lobkowicz Palace, a significant cultural location and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Prague, Czech Republic. The ceremony was part of the 19th Annual Filipina Leadership Global Summit. Each year, the summit convenes a select group of Filipina women global leaders, influencers, and public figures from 34 FWN member countries to participate in business meetings, educational sessions, and learning journeys with corporate and community leaders, as well as elected and appointed officials.

Photo of Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap at the FWN awards gala in front of a sign that says FWN Global 100 and pictured with Teresita Batayola, who is presenting the FWN Builder Award to herAbove left: Teresita Batayola (L), FWN Selection Committee member and Seattle Colleges trustee, and Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap (R) at the FWN Awards Gala in Prague, Czech Republic. Above right: Teresita Batayola presents the FWN Builder Award to Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap.

This year’s FWN award recipients were selected from a field of nominees from 10 countries. Nominees undergo a rigorous vetting process conducted by previous global awardees. FWN launched the Most Influential Filipina Woman in the World Award (the Global FWN100™ Award) in 2006 in the United States and expanded its search globally in 2013.

“Each nominee goes through a rigorous multi-stage vetting process by the Global FWN100™ Awards Selection Committee composed of global awardees. The award recipients are selected based on the size and scope of their influence in their industries, communities, board affiliations, and other leadership roles,” explained Teresita Batayola, a selection committee member and former recipient of the award herself. Batayola works and lives in Seattle and also serves as a trustee for the Seattle Colleges Board of Trustees.

The Global FWN100™ Award is a “working award” with a goal of representation: a Filipina woman leader in every sector of the global economy. The awardees are asked to “pay it forward” through their Global Pitch, a two-year short-term project intended to benefit Filipina women where they live. Award recipients pay it forward by mentoring next-generation leaders and women re-entering the global workplace and sponsoring their attendance at the Filipina Summit.

“Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap is now a valued partner helping FWN increase the Filipina community's pipeline of qualified leaders. Her involvement will increase the odds that some will rise to the ‘president’ position in all sectors of the economy," added Benel Se Liban, FWN vice president for membership. "The summit is where smart women share challenges and secrets to success. The 2007-2023 awardees' leadership stories have become part of the largest recorded history of Filipina women in diaspora in modern times."

About the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN)

FWN is a non-partisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing women of Philippine heritage and representation at all levels in the political process, from community service to elected office. It is an organization for Filipina women leaders in the public and private sectors in 34 countries selected every year by their peers from a worldwide search for Filipina women with a track record of accomplishments with a lasting global imprint through their work in their professional fields, industry sectors, and local communities. FWN seeks to increase the influence of Filipina women as leaders and policymakers to increase the odds that more Filipina women advance to the C-suite influential positions in the private and public sectors. Learn more at www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org and www.FilipinaSummit.org.

About Seattle Colleges

Seattle Colleges is Washington state’s largest community college district with approximately 30,000 students enrolled each year and 2,000 employees. It is composed of North Seattle College near Northgate, Seattle Central College on Capitol Hill, South Seattle College in West Seattle, and five specialty training centers across the city. Seattle Colleges offers more than 130 workforce education and training programs including bachelor’s degrees in high-growth industries, associate degrees in various disciplines, and transfer degrees to universities throughout the United States, as well as numerous certificate programs. For more information, visit seattlecolleges.edu.