Abans empowers women entrepreneurs island-wide to commemorate 50th anniversary

Jaffna location

Kurunegala location

Kandy location

Work in process

Abans, in collaboration with the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC), recently held a series of workshops on the ‘Fundamentals of Marketing’ for women entrepreneurs outside the Western Province. Having taken place throughout the month of March, this noteworthy workshop initiative commemorated Abans’ milestone 50th anniversary, and embodied the conglomerate’s strong legacy of female entrepreneurship and innovation.

“Our aim behind launching this meaningful workshop initiative was not only to celebrate our proud 50-year entrepreneurial history, but also arm women entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their given fields of business. We also desired to empower women entrepreneurs to fulfil their career goals, be it opening a salon, launching a restaurant, or even starting their own retail chain like Aban Pestonjee, our Group Chairperson and Founder,” said Abans Group Director Dr. Saroshi Dubash.

The workshops, which were conducted by Tusitha Kumarakulasingam – renowned marketing consultant, saw the participation of over 100 women entrepreneurs from diverse fields of business. Each session predominantly focused on how to apply the universal 5 Ps marketing mix construct to promote the products/services offered by the participants’ specific businesses. The attendants were divided into separate teams and, then towards the end of the workshop, the groups were asked to develop a presentation that demonstrated how the 5 Ps can be utilised in a real-world setting. Interspersed throughout the workshop sessions were several interactive activities that emphasised engagement and team-building. 

Further, at the Kandy Workshop event, Dr. Dubash delivered a motivational speech which reflected back on Abans’ founding as a small corner store by Group Chairperson Pestonjee, and underscored how her clear vision led to Abans Group being the corporate giant it is today, 50 years later.

The Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) is an organisation of entrepreneurs and businesswomen. It works with a vision of enhancing the life of working women, both rural and urban. The organisation and its many activities provide opportunity for its members to interact, learn and network with the diverse team of women leaders who have made their mark in many fields.

A cultural icon and pioneering super brand, Abans Group is a locally and globally reputed conglomerate that specialises in the several strategic business sectors including retail, services, logistics, manufacturing, real estate and infrastructure. Possessing an extensive retail network and a significant presence in more than 10 industries, Abans is an inspiring story of Sri Lankan exceptionalism, innovation, creativity and perseverance that continues to evolve throughout the ensuing generations. While the first fifty years have been indeed golden for Abans, the next fi50fty years will prove even more exciting and transformative as the conglomerate expands beyond our shores.