CEYLON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: SETTING A HIGH BAR FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP

The influential, apex business chamber of the country is a trailblazer for female empowerment and leadership.

Sri Lanka’s oldest and most influential business chamber, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, is challenging false notions, archaic norms, and unfounded stereotypes that prevent women from aspiring for and reaching greater heights. The Chamber’s Deputy Secretary General and Financial Controller, Alikie Perera, discusses the Chamber’s commitment to female empowerment, how the acceptance of women in business and leadership has evolved over the years, and how female participation in the economy can be increased.

The role that women play in business and leadership has seen dramatic evolution. Today we see the increasing participation of women, in positions of leadership and representation at all levels, across the globe, spanning every sphere of government, industry and society.

The archaic notion that women are less capable than men has been shattered by increasingly exceptional displays of capability by women in every domain, unequivocally demonstrating that capability and leadership are not gender-based traits. However, while increasing displays of strong female leadership continue to pave the way for more women to take on roles of leadership, the road is far from smooth.

Stereotyping continues to pose a significant challenge and perpetuates the notion of Glass Walls, which are a more camouflaged challenge than the Glass Ceiling or Glass Cliff. Stereotypical assumptions such as the belief that only women can be secretaries, the assumption that women will prioritise their families over careers, etc., lead to a reluctance to hire them for positions that offer upward mobility, etc. These walls stunt development potential at the foundation level, preventing women from vital access to the exposure and experience that enables them to develop leadership skills, thereby perpetuating the false narrative that men are more capable than women.

Can you tell us how the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has increased employment and leadership opportunities for women?

Many of the female senior and executive employees at the Chamber have risen through the ranks, recognised and rewarded for their contribution and long-standing commitment to the Chamber’s continuing position as the apex representative of the private sector in Sri Lanka.

Recognising the challenge of maintaining a healthy work-life balance as one that significantly impacts the retention and progress of women in the workforce, the Chamber’s working arrangements are designed to be flexible. Features such as flexible hours and the option to work offsite, support women to manage their personal and career commitments, enabling them to continue on their career paths uninterrupted, thereby creating opportunities for development, promotion, and leadership.

These facets not only ensure the retention of our female cadre but also help attract capable female employees and continuously grow the female workforce.

Why is that important to the Chamber, and how has that benefitted the organisation?

Committed to providing equal opportunity to all staff members with zero tolerance for discrimination, the Chamber has for decades benefited from strong female representation in its ranks.

Since its establishment in 1839, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has consistently contributed to the development of national economic policy, as well as developing and delivering a spectrum of services to the business community, from promoting cross-border trade and investment and disseminating critical market intelligence, to facilitating knowledge transfer and lobbying the government on behalf of the private sector, in addition to offering a plethora of business services.

Our consistent position as the superlative representative of the private sector covering such a diverse array of services, synchronous with a majority female-led senior leadership team, is testament to our exceptional competence, enabled by an inclusive and diverse workforce, that focuses on competence instead of gender, and goes to great lengths to nurture potential.

Where is the Chamber right now on the equal opportunities agenda? What is the participation rate for women across the company and senior management?

The Chamber has long been a champion of gender equality and continues to be a leading workplace for women today. The commitment to diversity and inclusivity is no longer an ambition – having long surpassed these goals, today they are ingrained into the ethos

Many of the senior and executive employees have risen through the ranks, recognised and rewarded for their contribution and commitment, ensured through unbiased appraisal and promotion mechanisms

The female workforce accounts for 58% of all employees at the Chamber, with a significant presence at the senior leadership (69%) and executive management (68%) levels. The representation at top management, or the aptly named The A-Team, is 63%. Also, 50% of our interns are women, demonstrating consistent inclusivity across all levels of the organisation.

The Chamber’s championing of female inclusivity together with our strong female leadership acts as a beacon to the public and private sectors as well as society

Can you share a few examples of how women are making a difference in your organisation, giving leadership, driving change, and shining as role models for other women?

The Chamber’s championing of female inclusivity together with our strong female leadership acts as a beacon to the public and private sectors as well as society at large, signalling the benefits of diversity and inclusivity and acting as a key driver of change. It also paves the way for the creation of strong role models and mentorship opportunities for the junior employees, the majority of whom are women, paving the way for the next generation of female leaders to take the reins.

In addition to a term of leadership by a female Secretary General/CEO, Mrs Dhara Wijayatilake a majority of the departments are headed by women, covering key areas such as finance, legal, trade promotion and facilitation, business services, human resources, public relations and communications, operations, and maintenance. They keep abreast of emerging technology and trends, leading the implementation of progressive policies and mechanisms across the board, including the latest move towards digitalisation. In this manner, the Chamber ensures benchmark efficiency and competence across all levels and functions, enabling the uninterrupted continuation of a more than century-long tradition of distinguished and exemplary leadership and service.