HERA Project X Showcasing Sri Lankan female talent from around the world

Sri Lanka is innovative and dynamic but nobody hears about it - we need more women to step into the light and realise the power in their own nature. Just imagine if more women took a step to fulfill their ambitions and they could do it through entrepreneurship where they call the shots and drive decisions? 

Q: What is the HERA Project X about?
HERA Project X has been set up to showcase the enormous talent in Sri Lanka, and within the Diaspora, among female creatives in business. From freelancers and solo-preneurs to company execs and everything in between, there is a layer of female creative talent that is being put to good use, innovating products and services that are ground breaking in terms of adding value to preserving heritage, giving back to communities and enabling social mobility. HERA Project X is a platform to shine a light on this incredible well of talent and innovation. The platform is a simple way to bring all people into one place for mutual support, collaboration and growth.
Q: What motivated you to initiate this project?
I feel that the stories I read about Sri Lanka are myopic. There is nothing that tells the world or even the Sri Lankan population about the innovation and dynamism that I see in Sri Lanka every time I come here. Nothing about the work that many people are quietly doing at grass roots level to improve their surroundings. Add to, absolutely nothing told about Sri Lankan women. 
I notice that Sri Lanka is always talked about as a tourist destination , and of course it is. But that is not its only asset! Where are the stories about the people? The stories about the women (Minette de Silva is an obvious one for me, there must be hundreds of others). Stories that are un-related to tourism. I feel there is a black hole in information that is digested. Sri Lanka needs recognition for its own ability to innovate and stand on its own two feet, and to attract investment based on that alone. We have people who are assets, and that includes within the women in society, and we must entice them to stay. Sri Lanka is more than an island of commodities, it is an island of innovators - and I see many of them in female entrepreneurs. 
Q: Tell us about  some of the people involved in HERA Project X
The group is growing and snowballing. It is really hard to pick out a few - please look closely at all of them. They all have one thing in common - they spotted a problem and they set something up to fix it. Selyna Pieris is the first example of this, using blockchain technology to bring transparency to fair trade.  LaLa Studio is an emerging talent that not only stops waste going into the ground by taking off-cuts and making accessories from un-used fabric, but they are standing up for the LGBTQ community. Lonali Rodrigo is redefining high fashion through up-cycling one garment at a time and Aadhitya Jayaseelan has returned to the island and is using her incredible skills as an architect and artist to improve people’s lives in multi-hyphenate ways. These are just a few tackling sustainability matters, equity and social mobility. In the UK Indy Vidyalankara is solely representing musicians and artists from un-represented Asian and Black Communities, while Indhu Rubasingham is the first ever woman Art Director of the National Theatre, breaking ground in the way she educates theatre goers to understand true global stories through the plays she directs. Then you have people like Mehala Ford bringing Sri Lanka to the international community through heritage fashion and story telling events in London, while Anu Mendis in South Sri Lanka keeps our heritage crafts alive through mentoring local artisans.  HOW can this not be good for Sri Lanka and WHY is this not showcased? Not just for interest, but in my view its relevance to society. I don’t have enough column inches to cover everybody - I encourage people to read all the stories. More being added.
Q: What are the objectives of HERA Project X?
It’s super simple - inspiration, empowerment and enabling others to follow in the footsteps of these women. I come from a standard background where being an accountant, doctor or lawyer were the only holy trinity of jobs to be recognised by my well meaning parents. I wasn’t interested in this, a frustrated architect it took me 10 years in finance to change, and you will see a common thread in many of the bios of the Creatives in HERA Project X. The holy trinity of careers is not accessible to many for many reasons, and I want to show that all these women have moved through life and navigated all sorts of obstacles to follow their passions and just look at what they are doing as creative entrepreneurs!
Creatives are the people that fix problems. I see their intelligence and I marvel at the way these brains work. Thank God for them quite frankly. There is so much value in having a creative career. The women in HERA Project X are already established and they are doing an incredible amount to improve the state of the nation wherever they are. 
This is a space for representation AND collaboration amongst Sri Lankan creative women with ground breaking ideas. Women (regardless of ethnicity, nationality and ethnicity) have an over-riding sense of sisterhood and I have seen that no matter what geography, their joys and their difficulties are the same. HERA Project X is here to bring these Sri Lankan women together globally because it’s time we started looking at ways to self-heal past and present trauma,  I think we can add to this very positively through our female entrepreneurs.
Q: What activities are planned for Hera X?
In Sri Lanka we have various collaborations in play looking at attracting and training young women into attainable careers, preserving cultural aspects that are being lost, improving mental health, mentoring and so on. We are planning a few long weekend workshops run by members of HERA Project X to inspire and educate young women aged 17-23 and build their confidence to build entrepreneurial skills. I am planning events to showcase our homegrown talent to travellers looking for creative fulfilment and cultural exchange. In the UK, we have regular supper clubs and members of HERA Project X are sharing the events they run with us as the Diaspora ; those looking to reconnect with their island. This year, we are building HERA Project X through events, collaborations and connection. 
Q: Is this open to women of Sri Lankan heritage from Sri Lanka only?
No. Quite simply all Sri Lankan women. We have one member who is French, married to a well loved Sri Lankan artist with family, she’s been living in Sri Lanka for 20 years.  However, I AM making a point. We have many friends who are male and many friends who are non -Sri Lankans, but there is currently no ‘all Sri Lankan woman’ platform. I hope people understand that it’s not about excluding others, it’s a necessity for representation. Events are INCLUSIVE, but really it’s time to give Sri Lankan women the spotlight to drive their own un-diluted narrative.
Q: How can other women get involved? Is there a criteria?
We would love more people to join and support. If you are a Sri Lankan woman in a creative field with social impact who wants to be in a collaborative, non-divisive and supportive space, please drop us a line. I am adamant that this is about positive re-inforcement of these women, the work they do, the value they add to society now and the next generation. That is my only criteria.
Q: What does HERA Project X mean?
I wanted a non-Sri Lankan name to represent a strong woman while also considering women as mothers or nurturers. HERA is a Greek goddess, wife to Zeus. The Goddess of Motherhood, she took no prisoners. Project X is for women in Sri Lanka - those who lead AND bring others up with them, there is no room for ego here.
Q: How can this project help  women?
Inspire and Empower. Showcase the innovation on this small island of ours. Representation for current and next generation, Sri Lanka has had more than its fair share of tough times and it is not over yet. Hardship brings innovation and I am tired of the word ‘resilience’. 
Sri Lanka is innovative and dynamic but nobody hears about it - we need more women to step into the light and realise the power in their own nature. Just imagine if more women took a step to fulfill their ambitions and they could do it through entrepreneurship where they call the shots and drive decisions? With the right support, this is a possibility for all demographics, it could be an entirely democratic route to working. Perhaps we could change the narrative around Sri Lanka.
Q: What is your message to women considering joining HERA Project X?
Don’t hesitate. What are you doing TODAY, that’s what is important.  Your bio can be as short or long as you like - if you have the character and drive to bring your skills to this collaborative community, we welcome you.      
(Pix courtesy D.G)