It began with a toast to role models and ended with men’s fashion show
The evening was dedicated to notable activists, professionals and women in the corporate world among others. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
“Be Bold For Change”, an evening celebrating women role models was held on March 7 at the Galle Face Hotel. In partnership with HSBC, the event was a festive precursor to International Women’s Day. The Ladies VIP night event was dedicated to the strength of women as role models and included a montage of local and international female icons sharing their inspiring stories.
Among the night’s role models were notable activists, professionals and women in the corporate world – Elizabeth Sophie Balsa, Radhika Coomeraswamy, Shobana Cooke, Anusha David, Chandi Dharmaratne, Ramani Fernando, Jaquie Mei, Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, Sandy Jayasuriya, Neela Marikkar, Dr. Nilanthi Fernando, Tania Polonnowita, Sarrah Sammoon, Heidy Rampinelli, Catherine Obrenovic, Rosy Senanayake, Dr. Sulochana Segera, Linda Speldewinde, Jayanthi Kuru-Uthumpala , Anoma Wijewardene, Sumi Moonesinghe, Dilini Fernando and Nilanthi Fernando.
The evening ended on a lighter note with a celebrity men’s fashion show.
HSBC, an equal opportunity employer that sponsored the event for the first time, felt it was a fitting tribute to women from all walks of life. Mark Prothero, CEO of HSBC Sri Lanka and the Maldives who proposed a toast in honour of all the role models, spoke of HSBC’s aspirations towards gender diversity saying, “At a Group level, HSBC continues to have an aspirational Diversity target and we are tracking to achieve at least 30% female representation in our leadership and currently we are not far away at 25%. We are determined to achieve this gender balance by incorporating inclusive practices of hiring, promotions and talent identification.”
Eleven- year- old Maya Aluvihare wowed the audience with her rendition of ‘It’s a man’s world’.
The Ladies VIP night was organised by Latika Alok.
It’s a man’s world, sings young Maya