Gowri Rajan honoured with the Global Trailblazer Award at the WIM Global Awards in Malaysia

Gowri Rajan receiving the Global Trailblazer Award 

Leading female business personality Gowri Rajan, was awarded the ‘Global Trailblazer Award’ by WIM global at the Women Top 50 Professional & Career Woman Awards 2024 held in Malayasia recently. This accolade was presented in recognition of her exceptional contributions to business and community development.

Professor Dr. Selvaraj Oyyan Pilay, Chapter Chairman of Women in Management (WIM) Malaysia, highlighted ‘Gowri Rajan is someone who stood firm in the storm of difficult times and came out stronger with resilience and humanity. Her outstanding contributions and visionary ideas shaping the future of her industry in the region with extensive global networking gels well with her Global Trail Blazer Top50 Awards of being a truly awesome woman of substance. WIM Founder Sulochana Segera added that this award perfectly highlights her contributions to business and community development, embodying the value of ‘Service above self.

Gowri also delivered the keynote address at the Global Leadership Conference in Malayasia, where she shared her insights on “Transformative Leadership for Social Engagement”. Drawing from her personal journey as a woman succeeding in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Gowri shared how transformational leadership goes beyond business and is about empowering people, unlocking potential and driving community progress. As Director of Sun Match Company, she played a crucial role in evolving her family business into a modern, diversified conglomerate with new products that meet changing consumer needs, cementing its place as a trusted household name. “Transformational leadership unites people around a shared vision that strengthens communities and ensures everyone has a voice and a role,” she emphasized.

Gowri's historic appointment as the first female District Governor for Rotary in Sri Lanka and the Maldives also set a powerful precedent, paving the way for future women leaders in Rotary’s male-dominated sphere. One of her transformational projects during her tenure as the Rotary Governor for Sri Lanka was when she learned that in Sri Lanka, 2,500-3,000 children are born every year with congenital heart diseases, many of whom do not survive to see their first birthday. She championed the establishment of Sri Lanka’s first human heart valve bank at Lady Ridgeway Hospital, with support from multiple donors, at a cost exceeding a billion rupees. The initiative has already saved around 1,500 children, but much work remains. “We won’t stop until every child is saved—that’s our commitment,” Gowri affirmed.

Founded by Dr. Sulochana Segera, Women in Management (WIM) Global has empowered and celebrated women from various fields, expanding from Sri Lanka to the Maldives, Malaysia, Canada, the UAE, the UK, and Africa. Programmes like the Top 50 Professional & Career Women Global Awards have honored over 1,100 women from 26 countries, creating a powerful network of female leaders dedicated to social progress.

Gowri Rajan’s recognition with the Global Trailblazer Award cements her legacy as a transformative force, redefining leadership to bridge business success with lasting social impact, demonstrating the influence a single leader can wield in shaping lives and communities. Gowri’s journey underscores the power of purposeful leadership, leaving an indelible mark on inspiring future generations to lead with courage, compassion, and vision.