Tuesday Mar 24, 2026
Tuesday Mar 24, 2026
Tuesday, 24 March 2026 00:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Divya Thotawatte
An elegant fête of inspiration and meaningful dialogue, She Radiates 2026, the inaugural flagship event by WeOptimize, brought together renowned Sri Lankan women leaders and innovators, sharing their insights with an engaged audience.
The event, held at Galle Face Hotel on 12 March, was a celebration of International Women’s Day 2026. The Jubilee Ballroom was filled to capacity with 190 participants, where participants gathered to honour the strength, leadership, and brilliance of women.
WeOptimize Founder and Director Chandi Dharamarathne highlighted the significance of the event, pointing to data that showed that only around 30% of women participated in Sri Lanka›s workforce and that there was only 10% of women›s representation on the boards of Colombo Stock Exchange listed companies.
“So what can we do as women? We can be the anchor. We can be the support that we need… by mentoring, supporting their career approach, and opening doors to help women to achieve their potential in their workplaces.”
With this backdrop, she shared that her vision behind She Radiates 2026 was to create a network of women, where they could share personal journeys, forge meaningful connections, and support and inspire one another.
The speakers of the event echoed this sentiment, sharing notes from their personal journeys and offering valuable guidance to drive the growth of women leaders, professionals, and change-makers.
Beauty, confidence, and credibility
Discussing the successes behind her most notable global wins, Former Mayor of Colombo Rosy Senanayake stressed that mastering attire and appearance were crucial for a working woman. “For me, dressing is of paramount importance as a woman… especially in the corporate world, to look good, feel good, feel strong. And then you are ready to perform.”
She also explained that often confidence came from something so simple and overlooked as presentation, recalling how during her participation at the first Mrs. World pageant in 1984, she had felt like a “second-class citizen” among contestants with full teams of stylists and assistants. Yet, in one decisive moment, choosing to wear a sari instead of a poorly tailored suit had helped her stand out. “Creating that first impression is of absolute importance,” she said, emphasising how one presents oneself could shape opportunities.
Senanayake also admitted the challenges of being perceived as a beauty queen, where the label often made people overlook her decades of work in politics and advocacy. She recalled facing criticism even when appointed High Commissioner to Malaysia, but stressed that through competence she had ultimately proved herself.
Resilience, passion, and reinvention
NyneHotels Chairperson and CEO Nayantara Fonseka shared inspiring insights into her leadership journey, showing how resilience, self-reliance, and sharp competence defined her success. “When I look back at my life, I realise that we are less of a straight road and more of a beautifully winding path,” she said, reflecting on the unconventional path of her career, which was shaped by lessons learnt from mistakes and constant evolution.
“Failure is only when you give up. Never allow yourself to give up. Each setback pushes you to try again, to learn something new, to become a little wiser, and to continue trying to create something that is unique and meaningful.”
She highlighted resilience as key to great leadership where the ability to navigate a challenging shift, balance many roles, adapt when circumstances changed, and move forward even when the path was uncertain, all required developing a “quiet strength”.
At the same time, she noted that while women had the unique advantage of emotional advantage in leadership, her journey had taught her the importance of being in control of one’s emotions. “Never ever wear your heart on your sleeve. Wisdom is knowing when to hold your emotions close, observe carefully.”
Ultimately, life was a continuous process of growth that was driven by passion, she said, adding, “Do not be afraid of mistakes. Do not fear a changing direction. Life is a mission to be lived, it is certainly not a problem to be solved.”
Breaking gendered barriers in the workplace
A thought-provoking panel discussion brought together a group of accomplished women leaders including MAS Holdings Director – Corporate Affairs and Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association Chairperson Rajitha Jayasuriya, FJ Chambers President’s Counsel and Head Farzana Jameel, Sri Lanka Institute of Directors CEO Anitra Perera, and Galle Face Hotel Director Sheanna Gardiner. It was moderated by Capital Maharaja Group Chief Talent Officer and Maharaja Institute of Management CEO Chethana Liyanage.
The panel highlighted the persistent gender biases women faced across professions. In litigation, Jameel noted that the courtroom was still a theatre of authority shaped by masculine norms, where women were forced to navigate the “likeability trap” and assumptions of juniority. She stressed the importance of maintaining professionalism and learning to “command space”, while calling for stronger mentorship to support women in the field.
From a corporate lens, Jayasuriya discussed the importance of purpose-driven leadership. She noted that leadership was “just beyond individual achievement,” focusing on impact and collective success. Meanwhile resilience, shaped through failure, was key to navigating challenges and sustaining growth, she added.
Perera addressed structural barriers at board level, urging women to “build a depth of expertise” and “not wait to be invited,” instead preparing to step into leadership roles.
Gardiner encouraged risk-taking. “If you fail, so what? At least you tried,” she said, stressing that emotional intelligence and making people feel valued as central qualities for success.
Branding, confidence, and wellbeing
Adding a unique perspective to the evening, Creative Producer and Outright Play Founder and CEO Dilanjan Seneviratne delivered a compelling session on personal branding and identity. He emphasised that identity was something that was intentionally created and that consistent actions ultimately shaped one’s reputation and personal brand. “You cannot control what people say about you, but you can control what you repeat at people,” he said, advising the audience to reframe their “shadow” traits to build authentic, strategic identities.
Ramani Fernando Salons Director and CEO Ramani Fernando’s session included a live makeup demonstration with practical beauty tips while celebrating individuality. She emphasised that true confidence came from within, and nurturing one’s inner self was just as important as caring for outer appearance.
Focusing on the vital dimension of emotional wellbeing, Mind Heals Psychologist and Mental Health Care Professional Rasini Bandara highlighted how women often prioritised others while “somewhere along the journey, we drop ourselves,” letting go of rest, health, and personal joy. She explained that women carried “emotional ecosystems,” where their wellbeing directly impacted families, workplaces, and relationships. While acknowledging stress as normal, she warned against burnout caused by prolonged self-neglect, underlining the importance of nurturing mental health and prioritising personal wellbeing in today’s demanding world.
A stylish evening
The evening ended on a high note with an elegant fashion showcase, where participants themselves modelled designs, creating a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere. Showcasing collections from fashion brands GFlock and Radi, the segment celebrated style, individuality, and confidence. GFlock also offered exclusive vouchers to selected participants, enabling them to purchase outfits from the brand and wear them to the event.
The excitement continued with an entertaining raffle draw, featuring an array of gift vouchers and curated gift packs provided by event partners. Guests received elegant entry gifts and exclusive vouchers, while the high tea added a delightful culinary experience to the evening.
She Radiates 2026 was supported by its partners including AHRP, Ma Foi, Siddhalepa, High Octane, Daily FT, Great Place to Work, Galle Face Hotel, Lankan Angel Network, Hatch, SLID, Nyne Hotels, Micro Web, Midnight Divas, Celcius, Ruwini Jayaratne Jewellery, Ysanne, The Design Collective, GFlock, Radi, Taco Bell, Chandranalepa, Batik by Sonali, Hilton, and Olu Tropical Water.
The evening was further enriched by a special musical performance from the young emerging artist Emma Shanaya, bringing warmth and charm to the celebration.
- Pix by Ruwan Walpola
