Dubai-Based Entrepreneur Lourds Adalia-Evertse Recognised Among the Most Influential Filipina Women in the World™ 2025

The Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) proudly announced Lourds Adalia-Evertse, Dubai-based entrepreneur and Co-founder of Spice Grill UAE, as one of this year’s awardees of The Most Influential Filipina Woman in the World™ (Global FWN100) under the Builder – Architect of Change category.

The prestigious award ceremony was held on October 31, 2025, at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco, California, USA, marking FWN’s 25th anniversary as a global beacon of empowerment and leadership.

Lourds’s recognition as the only awardee representing the United Arab Emirates highlights the country’s dynamic spirit of innovation, inclusivity, and opportunity. Her success story reflects the UAE’s growing reputation as a global hub for entrepreneurship and women-led leadership, where vision, determination and diversity come together to create lasting impact.

The Builder – Architect of Change award recognizes Filipina leaders who drive meaningful progress through vision, resilience, and collaboration. The Global FWN100 Awards, first established in 2007 in Washington, D.C., were the result of strategic scenario planning during the 2006 Filipina Summit in San Francisco. The awards recognize Filipina women who have made a significant global impact through leadership, innovation, and community engagement.

Lourds embodies these ideals through her leadership at Spice Grill. When the UAE, like much of the world, was facing unprecedented lockdowns and economic uncertainty, Lourds and her co-founder Cristine Caringal took a bold step. Instead of retreating, they launched Spice Grill in Sharjah’s Al Majaz Waterfront, opening their doors to the public while many businesses were closing theirs. At a time when countless hospitality workers had lost their jobs, Lourds made it her mission to rehire displaced staff, providing them not just with employment but with renewed purpose and hope.

What started as a single restaurant built on courage and community spirit has since grown into a thriving brand with three branches across Sharjah and Dubai, including locations at Al Ghurair Mall and Burjuman Mall. Spice Grill quickly became known for its generous portions of fresh seafood, sizzling barbecues, and warm, family-style dining experience. Under Lourds’s leadership, the brand has maintained a strong emphasis on freshness, quality, and genuine hospitality, building a loyal following among both UAE residents and tourists.

Her ability to steer a startup through one of the most challenging economic periods in recent history reflects not only her entrepreneurial acumen but also her commitment to people-first leadership. Lourds continues to mentor young professionals and promote inclusive growth within the UAE’s diverse business community, embodying the spirit of resilience and innovation that defines the nation’s vision for the future.

Other Global FWN100 2025 honorees include outstanding Filipina leaders from around the world, such as Dona Taguinod of Australia, Mila Sprouse of the USA, Mayor Vilma Caluag of the Philippines, Jelynn Malone of the USA, and Gwendolyn Baquiran of the USA, all recognized for their remarkable leadership and global impact.

Lourds’s achievement not only celebrates her individual success but also shines a light on the UAE as a place where ambition, diversity, and purpose continue to shape stories of global excellence.