Charitha among biz women selected for 2020 EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Asia-Pacific

 Charitha Abeyratne Hettiarachchi being congratulated by EY Sri Lanka Country Managing Partner Ruwan Fernando

• Selected women entrepreneurs generated a combined revenue of more than $ 1.033 b in 2018, employing more than 4,870 people across the region
• The associated businesses represent 10 diverse sectors 
• This year’s program includes participants from across Asia-Pacific region

In advance of International Women’s Day, EY announced 22 female business leaders selected for the 2020 EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Asia-Pacific class. The program is designed to help women entrepreneurs who are leading thriving organisations to break through existing barriers, to scale their businesses to their full potential and to become global market leaders. It provides participants with strategic support, training and access to the EY entrepreneurial ecosystem across the globe.

This year’s Asia-Pacific participants represent 22 entrepreneurs from nine countries who run high-growth businesses across a wide variety of sectors including aviation services, consumer products, technology, e-commerce, fashion, financial services, hospitality, media, medical imaging, and health services. Their businesses generated a combined revenue of more than US$1.033 billion in 2018 and employed more than 4,870 employees.

EY Global Leader and EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program Co-Executive Sponsor Kath Carter stated: “The 2020 Asia-Pacific class of EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women represent an impressive group from various professional backgrounds and countries across the region. We’re proud to bring together this group of ambitious women entrepreneurs and business leaders. Without fail, the Winning Women program forms a vibrant community where individuals are provided the tools, education and network to unlock their full potential.”

EY Sri Lanka Country Managing Partner Ruwan Fernando said: “We are delighted to have Charitha representing Sri Lanka at the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Program. I am sure she will make the best use of the opportunity and use it to scale her business globally similar to the previous winners, we wish her all the best.”

This year’s class will convene for a conference in Seoul, South Korea later in 2020. Women entrepreneurs take part in activities aimed at strengthening cultural and commercial skills, and learning the nuances of doing business in their host country. Throughout the year they will also take part in a series of e-conferences, in-country business sessions and workshops.

The customised program focuses on areas such as:

• Delivering actionable guidance on growth, talent, operations and leadership 
• Identifying and building strategic alliances, partnerships and new sales channels
• Access to networks of award-winning entrepreneurs and business leaders
• Introductions to potential investors
• Building a public profile for the entrepreneurs and their companies

The involvement of Winning Women alumnae beyond the first year is core to the program’s success. More than 100 alumnae make up the Asia-Pacific cohort, now in its sixth year.

The Asia-Pacific program is part of a worldwide community of EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women. Launched in the US in 2008, the program now numbers more than 750 women entrepreneurs, building companies in over 50 countries across all industries.

EY Asia-Pacific Growth Markets Leader and EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Asia-Pacific Co-Executive Sponsor Loletta Chow said: “Each year an impressive group of women founders from across diverse sectors and geographies join this program. I look forward to seeing how the women connect with alumnae from previous years from across Asia-Pacific and the broader global community to share information, insight and even start new businesses together. This is a wonderful community that has no borders and continues to grow and expand internationally.” 

Asia-Pacific class of 2020

Selection criteria for the program targets high-potential women entrepreneurs whose established businesses are at least five years old, are 51% owned by women entrepreneurs and are ready to scale and develop or expand their global footprints to be market leaders.

The 2020 members of the Asia-Pacific EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program are:

• Rina Akimoto, vivid garden Inc. (Japan): An e-commerce business that enables individuals and restaurants direct access to purchase farmers’ produce
• Lauren Anderson, Silk Hospitality (Australia): A housekeeping services outsourcer for the hotel industry in Australia that is renowned for its superior customer service and strong, long-term relationships with clients
• Shiho Azuma, Lily MedTech Inc. (Japan): A spin-off company from the University of Tokyo that develops a medical imaging device to detect breast cancer without direct contact, pain and exposure to radiation
• Sung Sook Chang, Wooshin Pigment (Korea): A pigment company that produces and supplies eco-friendly and nontoxic pigments with in-depth consideration for its customers and the environment
• Grace Yehuai Chen, Grace Chen (China): A high-end fashion brand that creates and promotes a universal style and beauty rooted in the Chinese culture
• Congrong Chen, Shanghai Rongyi E-Commerce Co., Ltd. (China): An internet-based start-up focusing on making smart retail easier by providing one-stop digitalisation solutions for offline retail stores, and online and offline business traffic and operations management
• Diana Chou, Dragon General Aviation Group Ltd. (China): A group company focused on general aviation and travel products and services, including private aviation consultancy, acquisition, resales, jet chartering, helicopter maintenance service, bespoke itinerary planning, concierge service, commercial airline ticketing, hotel reservations, security services and ground handling services
• Nicole Eckels, Sapphire Group Pty Ltd. (Australia): A fragrance products company that captures the essence of the world’s most exciting and stylish destinations through fragrance products developed by bold and talented innovators
• Susannah George, Urban List (Australia): One of the largest independent media companies in Australia and New Zealand that inspires people to find and do more of what they love by sharing experiences and encouraging exploration
• Esther Go, MediLink Network, Inc. (Philippines): A health technology company that enables efficient, accessible and affordable health care for all by mediating trusted transactions in the health care ecosystem consisting of patients, health care providers and insurers
• Noriko Harada, AI CROSS Inc. (Japan): Provides a messaging platform, business chat and data analytics services that support “smart work, smart life”
• Charitha Abeyratne Hettiarachchi, Saraii Village (Sri Lanka): A sustainable and wellness-focused travel solutions provider that promotes the essence of the destination to travellers around the world through immersive experiences with the community
• Miku Hirano, Cinnamon, Inc. (Japan): An artificial intelligence (AI) company dedicated to finding solutions for real-world problems using technology — through the creation of AI products that can automate repetitive tasks
• Lucy Liu, Airwallex (China): A financial services company that builds a global financial infrastructure to help internet companies grow. It’s also committed to providing intelligent, safe and compliant multi-currency cross-border payment solutions globally
• Yunhua Liu, Chengdu Fusen Noble-House (China): A home furnishing distribution platform providing high-quality housing and lifestyle solutions that helps people live a better life
• Marcella Romero, Arriba Group (Australia): A people-centric company that provides innovative-allied health, disability employment services, and therapy and assessment services, giving the opportunity for people to create positive futures
• Lina Sakai, Fermenstation Co., Ltd. (Japan): A firm which manufactures sustainable alcohol from unused resources, such as biomass, and creates value-added products for the cosmetic industry
• Wai Hun See, JurisTech (Malaysia): A fintech company that specialises in providing software solutions for AI, conversational chatbots, digital customer onboarding, loan origination, credit scoring, loan documentation, litigation and debt collections
• Dandan Shan, FORU Trucking (China): A technology-driven truckload platform that uses big data and AI to reinvent truckload transportation experience and provide high-quality services for shippers
• Sabrina Tan, Skin Inc Global Pte. Ltd. (Singapore): A skincare brand that converges beauty with technology to develop the broadest range of customised skincare products that deliver results for every skin type
• China Toyoshima, AILL Inc. (Japan): An AI development company that supports effective communication outcomes, identifying customer buying patterns as well as sales teams’ behaviours and methods that motivate staff to help them be successful
• Brianne West, Ethique (New Zealand): A sustainable cosmetics company which produces plastic-free, ethical and cruelty-free cosmetics and personal care products that have, so far, prevented manufacture and disposal of over six million plastic containers worldwide