Evening with a difference by The Management Club

‘Members Meet Members’ was the theme and concept under which The Management Club of Colombo organised the event held to welcome, inspire and integrate the younger and new members of the club. Based on an idea mooted by The Management Club Board of Management Senior Vice President Charmaine Vanderhoeven, over 35 of the new members witnessed an ‘evening of grace’ as they would put it in getting to know about the club through a presentation handled by President Emeritus Fayaz Saleem, whilst enjoying an evening, getting to know one another and the more senior members of the club. 

The Management Club was inaugurated in February 2002 under the auspices of the Chartered Management Institute Sri Lanka which is a branch of CMI UK, considered the foremost management body in the world with a charter status. The club today has several branches with many facilities to members ranging from bottle banks to discounts on services/food and membership concessions of fitness centres etc at selected premier hotels. Current branches apart from the main Colombo Club which is located at Galadari Hotel Colombo -1 are Mount Lavinia (at Hotel Berjaya), Negombo (at Camelot Beach Hotel) and Kalutara (at Ramadia Holiday Resort and Hibiscus Beach Hotel.

Networking and knowledge sharing are integral parts of The Management Club which strives to enhance the professionalism within the management fraternity, Saleem lamented. Monthly knowledge sharing session where eminent personalities in key sectors address the club is part of this knowledge enhancing process which is patronised well and valued by members and invitees alike. The interaction brings about greater learning thus helps develop executives for tomorrow with a much broader outlook of the business world. The senior and reputed business personalities within the fold of its 550+ membership forms to be a rare and great base for interaction for the younger and aspiring executives, learning from their experiences, business ethics and values. 

As part of the social obligation, the Management Club has its CSR arm too, it was explained. Giving back to the society is considered a duty of every right thinking citizen and towards this the establishment of ‘Enable The Disabled’ more popularly known as ETD, has helped in creating a platform to help individuals who are differently able to stand up in the society and be part of the social fabric, stated ETD Chairperson Charmaine Vanderhoven. Several key programs have been held over the years it was explained. 

President of Board of Management Nasser Majeed welcomed the gathering and stated its broad objectives and encouraged the new members to get involved in activities thus reaping the full benefits. He also requested for the fullest support of all the members for monthly programs thus the events can be made even more rewarding to everyone. Board of Management Senior Vice President Murali Prakash, whilst expressing a thought on how as a leader he has gained through experience and knowledge sharing through networking, delivered the vote of thanks.