Women in Management (WIM) recently announced the launch of the WIM Top50 Global Conference and Awards under the theme of “Resilience and Reinvention”, scheduled to be held in Dubai on 17 and 18 June 2022.
WIM is a Sri Lankan organisation founded by Dr. Sulochana Segera in 2009, who opened its membership in 2010 with the objective of providing a networking platform for women to realise their dreams and mentor women who have fewer opportunities to succeed in their personal career and business lives. The Professional and Career Women Awards was introduced by Dr. Segera in 2011 with five awards to recognise outstanding women leaders serving in corporates and a plethora of other professions. A decade later, and during its 11th year, the Professional and Career Women Awards has recognised over 520 women for their outstanding leadership and remarkable achievements in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Canada. Today, WIM is ready to recognise women around the world.
Explaining the evolution of her awards concept, which has reached global proportions, at the launch event, Dr. Segera informed the audience that WIM first exported its brand to the Maldives in 2018 and then made inroads to Canada. In 2019, in its quest to go global and provide more women the opportunity to be recognised for their achievements, WIM recently registered its chapters in the US and Australia, which are yet to be launched officially. She shared: “For the last five years the theme of the WIM Top50 Awards has been taking Sri Lankan women to the world. I think it is time that we start swimming with the big sharks.” She further stated that the Covid-19 pandemic has shown how the world is connected and hence, the time is right for WIM to open their brand to the world.
In order to ensure global certification and recognition of corporates to move forward in the business world, Dr. Segera also informed us that WIM has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Global Equality Standards, UK to recognise corporations in terms of diversity and equality.
On the topic of the globalisation of the awards, she shared that under the newly launched WIM Top50 Global Awards, women around the world have the opportunity to apply or be nominated during the stipulated period from 12 March to 31 April 2022. The new award has introduced 50 categories under career, professional, business, and organisational, and as Dr. Segera pointed out, certain categories, like Women in Politics, Transgender/LGBTQ Achiever Award, and the Whistleblower Award, are very unique.
Also speaking at the event was Women Top50 Conference Chair Mayanthi Fernando, who gave us some insight on what to expect at the upcoming conference. She shared: “The conference is scheduled to be held on 17 June and the topics selected transcend beyond the traditional that are regularly spoken of in our conferences.” Fernando added that they include topics ranging from Leadership in Turbulent Times; Harmony and Belonging; Diversity, Inclusion, and Gender Fluidity; Hockey Stick Growth; Superpower Shift Women in Politics and Diplomacy; and No A**holes. She informed us that speakers from nine countries will share their thoughts and experiences at this conference. Further, she commented: “This conference will also provide an opportunity for the first 10 participants to pitch their business proposal to the audience at the conference.”
Joining the discussion, Sri Lankan Business Council (the UAE) Chairman Suren Swaminathan expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to partner with WIM. He shared: “As the partner of the WIM Top50 Global Conference and Awards, we will help in strengthening the Sri Lankan brand for business opportunities while augmenting international networking opportunities for many locals.”
Listing the panel of judges, Fernando noted that they are Roshanie Jayasundera Moraes, who is to be Chair; Global Equality Alliance (UK) Founder and Chairman Dr. Mohan Kaul; Swaminathan; Shehara de Silva, who is currently on the boards of several trusts and companies; Sheikh Ahamed Bin Faisal Al Qassimi’s Private Office Chief Operating Officer Dunston Periera; University of Kelaniya Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies Department of Marketing Management Prof. Ravi Dissanayake; Ambassador of Islamic Affairs and Nation of Yahweh Tribe of YHDH/YON Antiquities Imperial Kingdom Royal Crown Council Senior Adviser Dr. Edna Joyce Santos; Cornucopia Sri Lanka Chairman and director of several companies Dinesh Weerakkody; 25 Point System Inc. Chairman and Co-Founder John T. Baier; IMEC Education and University of Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Prof. Dr. Selvaraj Oyyan Pillay; Ladies in Business Magazine Global Founder/Publisher and Africa Change Movement, UAE Founder Ambassador Adeshola Helen Onadipe; and Dubai Investments PJSC Chief Information Officer, Tech Source General Manager, podcast owner, talk show host, angel entrepreneur, and tech evangelist Venkatesh Mahadevan.
On a conclusive note, Dr. Segera stated that nominations for the Global Awards will be open from tomorrow (12) to 31 April 2022, and it is open for all women around the world.
For information on how to nominate, visit their website on:
www.womeninmanagementawards.org.
