WISTA Sri Lanka marks a decade of empowering women

WISTA Sri Lanka President Diruni Chanmugam with Karen Leong

WISTA Sri Lanka celebrated its 10th anniversary with a dynamic keynote discussion on ‘Charting the Course of Success in a Disruptive World’, featuring the renowned global transformation thought leader Karen Leong at the event held at Cinnamon Grand Colombo this week. 

Established in 2014, WISTA Sri Lanka was initiated with the goal of providing a crucial platform for women to connect and drive progress, becoming phenomenally instrumental in empowering women within the maritime industry. 

“A decade later, WISTA Sri Lanka stands tall as a vibrant force, creating opportunities and supporting women to excel in this sector,” voiced WISTA Sri Lanka President Diruni Chanmugam. “As we embark on the next decade, we intend to rededicate ourselves to the mission of WISTA to connect, inspire and advance women in shipping, trading and related maritime careers. Together we will continue to break through barriers, challenge the status quo and create a more inclusive, equitable and prosperous future for all.”

While celebrating achievements, Diruni also highlighted the importance in recognising the persistent gender imbalances across industries and the collective responsibility as business leaders to redouble efforts towards empowering women to not only be represented but to assume leadership roles and drive innovation for the future. 
Over the years, WISTA Sri Lanka has made significant strides, shattering glass ceilings creating opportunities for women in the maritime industry. The organisation’s influence has extended beyond the shipping industry, advocating for equality and sustainability. Thus, evident at the event, packed with representative corporate leaders across different sectors gathering for an insightful evening on thought leadership. 

“The shipping industry was predominantly male-dominated and women’s voices were largely unheard. While we were actively contributing behind the scenes, there was a distinct sense of isolation,” remarked WISTA Sri Lanka Founding President Shehara de Silva.

To celebrate WISTA Sri Lanka’s milestone anniversary, the organisation hosted Leong, a renowned thought leader in transformation, recognised as a top 10 influential professional speaker in Singapore. She spoke on the evolving role of leadership, highlighting the enduring need for clarity, change and creativity in today’s dynamic business environment, enlightening on the fact that leadership fundamentals remain constant while the operating environment can shift drastically.