Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce: Transforming to face emerging challenges

WCIC Chairperson Chaturi Ranasinge 

• New look with updated direction unveiled

The Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce commenced on a journey to validate its presence and the work it does, from a customer’s perspective and carve out its future pathway in an even more meaningful manner to be effective and impactful. The journey established the need to freshen the ‘brand’ reflecting the fundamentals in the identity. A series of structured sessions with the participation of the stakeholders established, sharpened ‘vision, mission, core’ values and the strategic direction that can take the organisation to the level that is required. 

The new visual identity reflects the new energies, for the organisation that will focus on women entrepreneurs as well as professionals, making efforts to ‘engage, empower and enrich’ them. Articulation of the logo reveals that the upward waves symbolise the new emerging trends and the need to embrace the new world. It reflects the ability to overcome the challenges and the strength to conquer them.

The logo was designed by the ‘International Design Agency Square 44’, where, the Consultant who drove the process of transformation for WCIC, Tusitha Kumarakulasingam is the Country Representative. Square 44, the renowned design agency operating across Asia as well as in Sri Lanka, contributed with the design development completely voluntarily to power the efforts of this magnificent organisation.

Established in 1985, three decades ago, as the first women-only independent trade chamber by a team of visionary females, led by Cleo de Silva, the organisation today has grown in stature, width and contribution. The organisation creates opportunity for the members as well as the non-members, both entrepreneurs and professionals at large to build capacity, engage, learn and benefit from the experience. The ultimate objective of the organisation is to ensure that the women make a significant contribution to the community, and the country’s economy through the capacity improvements they achieve.

Commenting on the transformation, WCIC Chairperson Chaturi Ranasinge stated, “We are a non-profit organisation of women in business and professions working together as a thinktank, a voice and a platform to economically empower the women of Sri Lanka, to be powerful nation builders by participating in transforming the economic growth of the nation. Our new identity will truly reflect our intentions and will create an opportunity for the brand to be established even stronger now. We intend to be top of mind with the aspiring females as the main source of their inspiration, and the source of support.”

Expressing the plans for the future she stated, “We have embarked on this very important exercise with the support of all the stakeholders. We deliberated on our purpose of existence, validated our mission and vision statements, and included a set of core values. The most important part of this exercise was the creation of a strategic plan for the organisation, with clearly defined action, under five key pillars that will support our future journey. We are planning to create an even greater impact in the society with what we do, and help women in general to achieve their true potential as entrepreneurs and as professional business women.” “Women need support in many areas, and we as the chamber that understands the needs, want to champion this. We are also very keen to get the involvement of the many young entrepreneurs who are venturing into businesses using technology and innovative spirit. We invite them to join the Chamber to obtain the support provided. What we do and achieve is only possible because of the dedication and the commitment of our outstanding team of members, who are dedicated to take this organisation to even greater heights,” she added.