Women in Management (WIM), founded in Colombo, celebrates 15 years of empowering women, fostering leadership and creating global platforms for women to excel. To mark this milestone, WIM returns its signature global events to Colombo from 7th to 9th October 2025, featuring the Top50 Professional & Career Women Global Awards, Global Economic Forum, Women MSME Awards, and NextTier Mentorship & Awards at Cinnamon Lakeside and Shangri-La Colombo.
This year’s celebrations will host delegates from over 15 countries, with a judging panel of distinguished leaders from Sri Lanka, Maldives, USA, UK, Pakistan, India, Africa, and the UAE, reflecting WIM’s mission to connect and inspire women globally.
Chair of the judging panel, Gowri Rajan, noted: “The Top50 Awards honor not just individual excellence but the collective strength of women who inspire generations. It is a platform that celebrates leadership, resilience, and vision on a global scale.”
Showcasing the versatility of its platform, WIM Global Week 2025 spans a diverse spectrum of recognition—from honoring women entrepreneurs to empowering next-generation leaders and fostering global economic dialogue.
The Women MSME Awards, chaired by Minoli Wickramasinghe, highlight the vital role of small and medium enterprises in national development. “MSMEs are the engine of a nation’s growth. Supporting them is crucial to building innovation, resilience, and long-term prosperity,” she stated
The NextTier Mentorship & Awards, led by Kasturi Chelleraja Wilson, will spotlight today’s emerging leaders. “Young leaders bring fresh thinking and energy, and with the right mentorship and support, they will shape the future of leadership in Sri Lanka and beyond,” emphasized Wilson.
The Top50 Global Economic Forum, is powered by Mastercard, bringing together 300+ delegates, including policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs. Building upon their longstanding relationship, The International Finance Corporation (IFC) – a member of the World Bank, serves as the strategic partner for the 15th Top50 Professional & Career Women Global Awards 2025.
The judges panel chaired by Gowri Rajan, Executive Director of Sun Match Company, include Dinesh Weerakkody (Union Bank), Kanta Singh (UN Women India), Ngozi Oyewole (Commonwealth Business Women Africa), Tess Cacciatore (GWEN), Maryyam Khan (South Asian Development Forum), Lawrence McEwen (EST Applied Intelligence), Dr. Mariyam Shakeela (SIMDI Group), Shehara de Silva (Optima Designs), and Venkatesh Mahadevan (CAAS & ISPMA).
The MSME Awards 2025, chaired by Minoli Wickramasinghe, CEO of Capital Trust Properties, consist of Delvin Pereira (Rotary Sri Lanka & Maldives), Erandika Dissanayake (Ministry of Industry), Manoji Wadugodapitiya (PAMS Hydro Power), Neelika Tillekeratne (AmCham Sri Lanka), and Udana Wickramasinghe (Adventa Technologies/Sri Lanka Tourism).
The NextTier Mentorship & Awards 2025, chaired by Kasturi Chelleraja Wilson (COO, 5Hour International Singapore/NDB Bank), will be judged by Ted Muttiah (SAGT), Dilrukshi Kurukulasuriya (Diesel & Motor), and Dr. Nirmal De Silva (Diverse Industries).
The 2025 Global Week will be guided by Fazeela Dharmaratne – Chair, Top50 Global Awards,Amali Mudunkotuwa Mendis – Chair, MSME Awards and Sudehi Geeganage – Chair, NextTier Mentorship & Awards.
Reflecting on the 15-year journey, Dr. Sulochana Segera, Founder & Chairperson of WIM, said, “When I started WIM, it was a small voice advocating for women in Sri Lanka. Today, it is a global movement that connects leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers across continents. Our initiatives are about impact. From providing free meals to schoolchildren through our Free Kitchen, to awarding scholarships to over 1,000 children of single mothers, and empowering over 100,000 women across Sri Lanka before going global, WIM has stayed true to its mission of empowerment. “
Photo caption
Pic 1 – Dr. Sulochana Segera- Founder & Chairperson of WIM, with her key team and Chair of the judging panel, Ms. Gowri Rajan at the launch.
