The WCIC Women Leadership Forum, the annual flagship event organized by the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) to commemorate International Women’s Day, successfully concluded on March 12 at the Grand Ballroom of Hotel Galadari. The event, structured around this year’s  theme , drew a packed audience eager to engage in meaningful discussions.

In her welcome address, WCIC Chairperson Gayani De Alwis stated, "We are proud to present yet another event with a difference—one that fosters knowledge-sharing and delivers relevant insights for both our professional and personal lives. Today's agenda will highlight the importance of creating safe work environments for all and the significance of Sri Lanka considering the ratification of ILO C190. Additionally, we will introduce TIPS, a new-age profiling platform designed to help businesses identify ideal candidates for their organizational needs. As we approach WCIC’s 40th anniversary in 2025, the first-ever women’s chamber dedicated to supporting women in business, we have planned several impactful initiatives to celebrate this milestone."

The keynote address was delivered by Mano Sekaram, Founder of 99x, on the topic "Accelerate Action for Women’s Economic Impact." He emphasized the opportunities available to those who dare to challenge norms and forge ahead despite obstacles. "Challenges should be approached with a positive mindset, enabling us to find creative solutions," he remarked.

Representing the event co-chairs, Sarrah Sammoon and Tusitha Kumarasingham, Tusitha shared, "When structuring an event like this, we begin with the end in mind—focusing on creating value for participants, stakeholders, and sponsors. We extend our gratitude to Shakunthala Niriella Schott for joining as our strategic partner, Saheli Creations as our Support Partner, HNB as our Banking partner, and Daily FT as our Media Partner."

A key focus of the forum was the deliberation on C190 ratification, essential for ensuring safe workplaces for all. Attorney-at-law Shyamali Ranaraja, who conducted a gap analysis on C190 and its real-world implications, shared thought-provoking insights from her research. Along with the two speakers, Mano Sekaram and Shyamali Ranaraja the panel discussion featured Nilanthi Ranasinghe, a C190 activist, and Bani Chandrasena, Founder of DCLK, both of whom are dedicated to promoting safer work environments.

The forum also featured an innovative and engaging session on TIPS innovation profiles, led by Prof. Detlef Reis (Dr. D), Founder of Thinkergy, an award-winning innovation company. He provided each participant with a complimentary profiling session (valued at $89) as a special offer to WCIC WLF attendees. TIPS is based on the principle that everyone can contribute uniquely to a business and its innovation efforts, depending on their preferred thinking and working styles. Prof. Reis illustrated this concept with the famous analogy, "Albert Einstein once said, ‘If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.’ A fish needs water to swim, a bird needs the sky to fly, and a monkey needs trees to climb. Similarly, individuals thrive when they align their talents, styles, and strengths with their natural inclinations. TIPS helps you identify your profile and craft the best fit for your success."

The interactive workshop captivated participants, providing valuable insights and maintaining high engagement throughout. The WCIC Women Leadership Forum 2024 once again proved to be a transformative platform for dialogue, empowerment, and actionable change in the pursuit of gender equality and workplace inclusivity.