MAS celebrates its fearless women at Abhimani Awards 2019

MAS’ globally benchmarked women’s empowerment program Women Go Beyond (WGB) recognised a total of 154 inspirational women for their exceptional achievements at the 13th Abhimani Empowered Women of the Year Awards 2019, held on 7 November at the BMICH. Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women Director and Lanka Police Superintendent Rajani Amarasena was Chief Guest at the event.

The biennial event celebrates women who have showcased unrivalled strength in the face of adversity to achieve excellence in both their professional and personal lives. With women making up 70% of MAS’ 99,000 strong global workforce, winners were chosen from a list of 715 initial nominees from across 45 business units. 

This year’s theme anchored on to the 2017 ceremony’s overarching theme of breaking boundaries and orthodoxy and focused on inspiring and guiding others to break the mould through their exemplary professional and personal advancements. 

“What we originally launched as an inclusive women’s empowerment program has today evolved into a global benchmark in ethical business practices,” commented MAS’s Women Go Beyond and Women’s Advocacy Director Shanaaz Preena. 

“We are nurturing fearless, self-reliant women who are driving Sri Lanka’s economy forward, while also championing their fundamental rights on a journey to achieve gender equality for future generations of women. We laud them, support them, encourage them and are proud to be part of their journey.”

This year, the ceremony awarded 46 empowered women from MAS facilities in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the United States of America. Nine more female associates received special awards under four award categories: Women who excelled in entrepreneurship (The Venturer), innovation and continuous improvement (The Game Changer), community service and sustainability (The Spirited) and excellence in sports (The Contender). The Frontier Challenge was awarded to 12 female executives at MAS, with fourteen more women in senior leadership and managerial positions recognised for their visionary contributions and guidance of the team.

With a benchmarked global repute for its ethical and sustainable working environment, MAS has put in tireless efforts to highlight women’s empowerment as the foundation for economic stability in Sri Lanka since the launch of WGB in 2003. The Abhimani Awards soon followed in 2004 as a company-wide platform to recognise and reward exceptional female employees, while also increasing their morale and motivation to continue their journey forward.