7th edition of WiLAT mentoring program: Ignite

Ignite is a program which provides a platform for both mentors and mentees to commence and continue their mentoring relationship under a well-structured procedure. 

Mentors extend their time and effort on a voluntary basis towards unearthing talents developing soft and hard skills and unleashing the passion of the mentees selected from the applications of undergraduates following transport, logistics and supply chain related studies and young professionals who have just started their careers in the transport and logistics industry in Sri Lanka. Currently Ignite has connected with more than 100 mentors throughout and have worked with 150 mentees for the past six years.  

Continuing the same, WiLAT successfully launched the seventh edition of its well-reputed signature mentoring program Ignite on 3 March via Zoom from 5:30 p.m. onwards. More than 60 participants were virtually present to witness the seven-year journey of Ignite mentoring program of Women in Logistics and Transport Sri Lanka. 120 applications were received from various private and local universities proving the increasing demand for the program. 

Mentees were selected through a careful selection procedure and 30 female and male mentees were selected representing every public and private university that offers Logistics and Supply Chain related degrees: Ocean University, Cinec Campus, Moratuwa University, Kelaniya University and Kotelawala Defense University. Well experienced 15 mentors were volunteered to groom these fresh mentees to ensure that they are ready to step into a very dynamic industry of logistics and supply chain management. 

Guest Speaker of the event, Quantum Leap Ltd. Co-Founder, Coach, Personal Branding Strategist Amethe Gamage, highlighted the importance of mentee and mentor relationship in professional and personal lives by using his own examples from his own career journey, to share his thoughts on ‘Igniting a Mentorship’ with the audience. 

Further, WiLAT Chairperson Gayathri Karunanayake mentioned in her speech that WiLAT flagship initiative ‘Ignite’ mentoring program was launched in November 2014 in line with WiLAT mission which is to ‘Provide a forum for women engaged in the industry to network and create opportunities for career advancement and empower them to become leading professionals’. She also pointed out that the pioneering effort of WiLAT Sri Lanka is also marking the first initiative on mentoring in the global WiLAT community. She thanked all the mentors and the young mentees who have made their efforts to make a difference not only to themselves but also to the industry. 

She further emphasised that mentoring is giving and receiving wisdom and it is a system of structured guidance whereby one person shares their knowledge, skills and experience to assist others to progress in their own lives and careers through which WiLAT in this year, have brought new ideas to the ignite program and have put plans to monitor the progress of the enrolled mentees closely through a set criteria and tailor-made programs. Along with this, a social media campaign was held to honour the mentor’s tireless efforts, commitment and contribution towards Ignite 6 which is the 2019 program, and the best mentee of Ignite 6 was also selected by choosing the best poster in which mentees demonstrated their journey with their mentors over the past year. The winner was selected by WiLAT Executive Committee and was rewarded by the exclusive Ignite Event Partner South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) Sri Lanka.

WiLAT Sri Lanka is a forum under the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Sri Lanka and is growing from strength to strength ever since its formation in 2013. WiLAT Sri Lanka pioneered the ‘Ignite’ mentoring program in the WiLAT world, initially launching in 2014. Later the initiative went on to global platforms and is now present in several other WiLAT countries.