Women empowerment has become a widely discussed topic in recent years, with more and more organizations recognizing the importance of gender equality and inclusivity. While there have been some significant strides towards gender parity, it is important to continue the conversation and explore ways to build a more equal and empowered future for women. In this article, we will look at the experiences of Vinuri Nanayakkara, Assistant Manager of Learning and Development at Cinnamon Red Colombo, and her insights on women empowerment.
Vinuri Nanayakkara’s career in the hospitality industry started right after she completed her Advance Level Examination at Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management. She later went on to complete her higher studies at the Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management in Salzburg, Austria which gave her the opportunity to work alongside many different types and cultures of people. Her passion for learning and development led her to pursue a career in training, and she obtained a diploma from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management. Her dedication and hard work have led her to become an Assistant Manager in Learning and Development, a role where she empowers herself and the women around her.
For Vinuri, empowerment means having the freedom to make decisions about one’s life. She encourages her female colleagues to develop their skills, knowledge, and attitude so that they can confidently carry out their day-to-day tasks. This is a crucial aspect of empowerment, as it helps women build self-confidence and assertiveness and it can help motivate and inspire other women around them.
In addition to empowering individual women, it is important to create a supportive and inclusive workplace culture that encourages women’s leadership and participation in decision-making. At Cinnamon Red Colombo, there are initiatives in place to increase female participation in the organization, including the EmpowHer initiative, which gives female employees a voice and ensures their opinions are heard. The company’s strategy aims to increase overall female participation to 40%, with 15% female participation in business units and 25% female leadership. The organization also offers crèche facilities, enabling mothers to return to work, and offers paternal leave, allowing fathers to stay home and care for children.
Expanding women’s links to each other is also an important aspect of empowerment. Female leadership can hold motivational sessions with female colleagues, and women in higher leadership roles can develop successors through coaching and mentoring. These initiatives help women to support each other and learn from one another, building a stronger network of empowered women.
However, a lot more progress is required to empower women on a broader scale. A complete mindset change is necessary to recognize that women have the same capacity as men to perform at a higher standard. Changing the mindset is a significant challenge, especially at a societal level, but it is essential to build a more equitable and inclusive future.
In conclusion, Vinuri Nanayakkara’s insights and experiences highlight the importance of empowering women and building a supportive and inclusive workplace culture. Initiatives like EmpowHer, crèche facilities, and paternal leave are crucial steps towards increasing women’s participation and leadership. It is also important to expand women’s links to each other and create a strong network of support. However, to truly empower women on a broader scale, institutional and societal changes are required, including a mindset shift towards gender equality and inclusivity. By working towards these changes, we can build a more equitable and empowered future for women.