As part of its commitment to advancing women’s empowerment and building a stronger leadership pipeline, Eswaran Brothers Exports (EB), a leading tea manufacturer in Sri Lanka, launched its flagship women’s leadership initiative, She Transforms, a customized six-month leadership development journey. Developed with award-winning leadership expert Senela Jayasuriya and supported by Value for Women, the programme forms a key pillar of the Company's wider gender agenda focused on leadership capacity building, inclusion and long-term institutional change.

Women make up 44% of Eswaran Brothers’ workforce, yet only 23% held senior roles at the time of an initial gender diagnostic conducted with Value for Women and supported by FMO, the Dutch Development Finance Bank. The assessment found that despite their potential, many women faced unclear career pathways and limited structural support at critical life stages.

In response, Eswaran Brothers introduced strategic mindset and policy interventions designed to remove barriers and create a more enabling environment for women to grow and lead. These efforts included mentorship opportunities, enhanced support for employees returning from maternity leave, coaching for managers, and initiatives aimed at strengthening inclusion and career progression across the organization.

The results were significant. Within six months, 20 women were promoted, representing a 2.4-fold increase compared to the previous year, while male promotions also doubled, demonstrating that inclusive systems benefit the wider workforce. Managers and participants reported visible improvements in confidence, ownership, strategic thinking and decision making among female professionals.

According to Nimali Senevirathne, Group Head of HR and Legal at Eswaran Brothers, “Women began leading beyond their titles, showing up with increased visibility, voice and conviction.”

She Transforms was launched to sustain and scale this progress. Built on a structured 10-step journey, the programme combines training, mentoring and coaching to help participants strengthen resilience, influence, self-leadership and emotional agility. Through cognitive leadership tools, role plays, boundary-setting strategies and facilitated group reflection, participants explored practical approaches to leadership and strategic decision making in today's fast-moving business environment.

Commenting on the programme, Senela Jayasuriya said, “Leadership is not something you learn. It is something you live.” She added that the programme was designed to create a supportive environment for self-reflection, growth and experimentation, enabling participants to challenge limiting beliefs, build confidence and strengthen their leadership capabilities through real workplace experiences.

Participants widely described the experience as a mindset shift, helping them focus on what they can control, make decisions with greater clarity and contribute more confidently in their roles. Many reported improvements in time management, delegation, collaboration and communication, while also gaining confidence to engage effectively in traditionally male dominated environments.

She Transforms has become more than a programme. It is helping build a future-ready, purpose-led workforce of decision makers, problem solvers and resilient leaders. Its measurable impact reflects Eswaran Brothers’ commitment to developing leadership opportunities for women while strengthening organizational performance.

As Renée Hunter, Associate Director of Advisory Services at Value for Women, notes: “What Eswaran illustrates is how quickly leadership dynamics can shift when organizations move beyond intention and put practical solutions in place. When expectations, systems and support are made explicit, women’s leadership becomes visible and sustainable.”

Through She Transforms, Eswaran Brothers is demonstrating how targeted leadership development can unlock talent, strengthen organizational capability and create lasting change. As the programme evolves, the Company remains committed to fostering an inclusive culture where women are empowered to lead, contribute and succeed at every level of the business.

Image Caption : Participants of Eswaran Brothers Exports’ She Transforms leadership development programme