The 11th edition of ‘Top 50 Professional and Career Women Awards’ saw Aruni Goonetilleke, HNB’s Chair being conferred the pinnacle award of ‘Trailblazer of the year’.
Hosted by Women in Management (WIM), in collaboration with Women in Work, a partnership between IFC and the government of Australia, the awards held recently recognized and celebrated outstanding professional and career women of Sri Lanka and Maldives, making a mark in their respective fields.
The selection of Aruni Goonetilleke is significant in that the coveted accolade was awarded for her exemplary contribution in the banking sector and inspiring women bankers to aspire to greater heights. Goonetilleke said she would support and work closely with the leadership in driving HNB’s upward trajectory even in the ‘roughest of weather’.
A banking and financial services luminary, with over twenty five years of global and local experience with international banks, in diverse businesses and in multiple countries, Goonetilleke is a corporate leader with a proven track record for driving transformational change in complex and highly regulated environments.
Overcoming gender stereotypes and skepticism and forging with her chosen path, Goonetilleke notes that perseverance and diligence are critical traits to be successful.
In making that choice, the jury stayed true to the bar in that they hunted out candidates that met the “break out criteria”. Mere good performance was not good enough; the jurists only wanted the truly extraordinary.
Founder/Chairperson of Women in Management (WIM), Dr. Sulochana Segera, speaking on the occasion said, “The 2021 awards are a celebration of resilience, optimism, hard work and growth. As we step into a third year of a pandemic, this year’s winners remind us of the possibilities and opportunities that can exist in adversity,”
“They also remind us of the extraordinary potential women in Sri Lanka are capable of, especially in challenging the status-quo for greater good. Women are often hesitant to take their spot in the limelight, but over the past decade, the Top50 Awards have created a platform to recognize their and achievements, and importantly to inspire others.”
With over 470 past award winners, the ‘Top50’ Professional and Career Women Awards aims to showcase the significant role women play as leaders, employees, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders in contributing to sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the country.