“When women participate in the economy, everyone benefits”. – Hillary Clinton

 

As part of the diversity and inclusion efforts of the institute, the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing has organized a forum for marketers in line with International Women’s Day. As this year’s IWD theme #Balanceforbetter outlines; a balanced world is a better world. 

 

The forum titled ‘THE ECONOMIC POWER OF ‘SHE’’, which is open to marketers, branding professionals, business heads, product managers, concept designers and entrepreneurs, will be held at the Cinnamon Grand, Colombo on the 13th of March 2019. The organizers advise participants to reserve their seats with Prageeth by calling him on +94 703 069 031 as accommodation is limited.

 

The full day forum will host four industry leaders - Himalee Madurusinghe, the CEO of Kantar LMRB, Alyna Omar, the CEO of Wunderman Thompson, Harendra Uyanage, the Senior Creative Director of LOWE LDB and Makshoodh Meerasaibu, the Director of E-commerce at Softlogic Retail Holdings as the speakers of this forum. 

 

Pradeep Edward, the President of SLIM stated that the organization has identified that more women seem inclined to join the marketing forces of the country. “This is a positive stance that we at SLIM celebrate. We have taken many initiatives to empower them from their first step towards a marketing career and to keep moving forward in this competitive field. A series of activities are in line for both women marketers and our female employees. The upcoming workshop is one of the many such initiatives of SLIM. The event will certainly help women pursue their dream of becoming marketing professionals, which is an excitingly challenging career.”

 

Thilanka Abeywardena, the Secretary of SLIM stated, “We as marketers, have the power to ensure our marketing strategies are inclusive by design. We hold the say to ensure that we choose the right messages and ideologies, and broadcast strong, empowering messages to youth, communities and the nation as a whole. Women represent 51% of the population with 29% GDP contribution, which keeps growing. So as marketers, this clearly is a priority segment and it’s important that the economic power of women is taken into consideration at a strategic level to ensure our marketing strategies are inclusive.”

 

It is a day to commemorate the achievements of women and to raise awareness for the social and political equality of women around the world. The event aims to highlight the importance of creating conditions to eliminate discrimination against women and ensure their full and equal participation in social development.

 

In the corporate world of Sri Lanka, a good many women professionals have shattered the gender stereotype and climbed to the highest rung of the hierarchal or rather matriarchal ladder. Indeed, a handful of remarkable personalities have created history by heading some of the country’s most elite marketing institutions.

If Fourth Wave Feminism has taught marketers anything, it is that truth, honesty and authenticity are crucial to establishing meaningful engagements with consumers.

 

As the national body for marketing, SLIM takes pride in this initiative to drive the way for marketers in this journey towards ensuring that marketers have diversity in mind and marketing strategies are inclusive by design.