Yona Signo, Fil-Aus entrepreneur, named finalist for WCW Awards

Filipino-Australian entrepreneur Yona Signo has been named a finalist for the 2024 Women Changing the World Awards under the Woman in Professional Services category.

The prestigious global accolade, awarded by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and women's education advocate Dr. Tererai Trent, recognizes and celebrates women making big and small changes in the areas of sustainability, humanitarian efforts, leadership, advocacy, technology, education, health, and innovation.

Signo is the founder of Kaya Services and co-founder of Vision Outsourcing, where she melds her IT and project management backgrounds to help Australian entrepreneurs scale their small- and medium -sized businesses by connecting them to top-notch Filipino virtual assistants via outsourcing. 

She is also a published author, course creator, and Certified SacredSpace holder. She

"My background provides a unique perspective that enriches our operational strategies with Filipino resilience and Australian work-life balance," she said in a statement. "This cultural synergy not only makes our approach more adaptable and empathetic but also transformative."

With Signo at the helm, Kaya Services and Vision Outsourcing have seen teams comprising mostly Filipino women find meaningful employment from Australian women entrepreneurs. In the past year alone, Kaya Services' clientele went up by 70% whereas its Philippine-based team expanded by 40%.

Last April 15, she took to Facebook to express her gratitude for the nomination.

"I am grateful and honoured to be a Finalist in the Women in Professional Services category for the prestigious The Women Changing the World Awards alongside such inspiring women," Signo began.

So also thanked her Kaya Services team "for demonstrating how 'teamwork makes the dream work'."

"My heart has awaken," she said.

A proud "mompreneur," Signo believes mothers can turn their passions into successful businesses and is committed to continue her work in empowering women globally to be changemakers in their chosen sectors.

The Women Changing the World Awards is an awards program that aims to spotlight women and young girls the world over who are making an impact in their communities and workplaces, including non-profit organizations and social enterprises committed to empowering women and girls.

It is led by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, known for her long-time work as an ambassador for disadvantaged women and children; Dr. Tererai Trent, an advocate of women's empowerment and education; and Australian sisters Peace Mitchell and Katy Gardner, who are also the co-founders of AusMumpreneur, the Women's Business School, and the Women Changing the World Press.

The WCW Awards marked its debut in 2023, with winners under various categories, including business, education, global impact, non-profit, environmental impact, humanitarian impact, gender equality, health and well-being, cultural diversity and inclusion, and more. 

The winners of this year's Women Changing the World Awards shall be announced at the Women Changing the World Global Summit Awards in London, United Kingdom, on May 25.

— Cody Cepeda/LA, GMA Integrated News