Linda and Jayomi selected for E&Y Entrepreneurial Winning Women Asia-Pacific program

Linda Speldewinde and Jayomi Lokuliyana with EY Partners Anoji De Silva, Sanath Fernando and Buwanesh Wijesuriya

• Duo will join 19 other  promising and innovative businesswomen from Australia, Greater China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam
• Selected women entrepreneurs generated a combined revenue of more than US$1.8bin 2018, employing more than 12,000people across the region
• Sectors represented include consumer products, technology, eCommerce, design, fashion, investments, engineering, media and consulting

Coinciding with International Women’s Day, EY Sri Lanka has announced the selection of two prominent local women entrepreneurs, Linda Speldewinde and JayomiLokuliyana, for the 2019 EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Asia-Pacific class.

The program is designed to help women entrepreneurs who are leading thriving organisationsto break through existing barriers,to scaletheir businesses to their full potential and to become global market leaders. It providesparticipants with strategic support, training and access to the EY entrepreneurial ecosystem across the globe. 

This year’s Asia-Pacific participants represent 21 entrepreneurs from seven countries who run high-growth businesses across a wide variety of sectors includingconsumer products, technology, e-commerce, design, fashion, investments, engineering, media and consulting. Their businesses generated a combined revenue of more than $1.8billion in 2018, andemployed more than 12,000employees.

EY Sri Lanka Country Managing PartnerRuwan Fernando states: “I would like to congratulate Linda and Jayomi and state that EY Sri Lanka is proud to host another two exceptional female entrepreneurs and assist them to scale globally. It is also an exceptional achievement that Sri Lanka was able to secure two nominations this year which also shows the high calibre of women entrepreneurs we have in Sri Lanka. I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate our first EY Entrepreneurial Winning WomenLakmini Wijesundera for winning SAARC Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award. I believe we can add value and help these exceptional women to become global entrepreneurs.”

EY Global Growth Markets LeaderRyan Burke said: “Support for women-led businesses and women entrepreneurs still represents a major challenge, but when empowered with the right tools, resources and network, they can become critical drivers of economic growth, job creation and innovation. That’s why the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program is so important –it focuses on helping women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses in agile, flexible and ambitious ways. Only a handful of organisations around the world are focused on supporting the growth of women-led businesses and women entrepreneurs and I’m proud that EY is one of them.”

This year’s class will convene for the first time at a two-day conference in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on 8-9 April. Women entrepreneurs will 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 willalso take part in a series of e-conferences, in-country business sessions and workshops. 

The customised program focuses on areas such as the following.

 

• Delivering actionable guidance on growth, talent, operations, leadership and more
• 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 alumnibeyond the first year is core to the program’s success. More than 100 alumni now make up the Asia-Pacific cohort,now in its fifth 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 500 women entrepreneurs, building companies in 65 countries across all industries. 

EY Asia-Pacific Accounts LeaderAlice Chan says:“Convening the annual EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women conference in a new country each year aligns with the EY commitment to support women entrepreneurs scale their businesses globally and we look forward to convening this year’s class in Vietnam. The sense of community and support that the women entrepreneurs give and receive from each other is brought to life each year at the event and fostered throughout the year, which provides not only valuable hands-on business experience but also a lifelong network of friends and mentors.”

Asia-Pacific class of 2019

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 2019 members of the Asia-Pacific EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women programare as follows.

 

• Corinne Bot, Polyglot Group (Australia): A leading global consultancy headquartered in Sydney, offering solutions in HR consulting and outsourcing, talent acquisition, payroll outsourcing, translation and interpreting, and business setup to businesses of all sizes, and from all industries.
• Renece Brewster, Visual Domain (Australia):A video production company dedicated to engaging people in new and meaningful ways through developing creative video content across all channels.
• Xuan Cheng, Sansheng Group (Greater China): A large-scale industrial investment group deeply rooted in catering to the needs of Chinese families for better living conditions, education, health and scientific advancement.
• May Cheung, EasyPnP (Greater China): An internet procurement platform providing corporate clients with tailored services related to printing and gifts, and other customised products.
• Caroline Gondokusumo, DutakomWibawaPutra Group (Indonesia): A wireless internet service provider that helps remote areas connect to the world, empowers communities to connect through quality internet and helps education systems improve through information technology.
• Helen Han, CLIO Cosmetics (South Korea): Innovative cosmetics house that develops, manufactures and markets professional makeup products that are a first in the market. CLIO Cosmetics haslaunched several innovations including ‘colour cosmetics’, ‘baked eye shadow’ and ‘eyebrow tattoo’.
• Rie Kawano, COGNITEE Inc. (Japan): An artificial intelligence software company based in Tokyo that focuseson context classification and independently developing technologies to analyse logical structures of articles and conversations.
• Fumiko Kawashima, Cloud Clinic Co. Ltd. (Japan):Provides outsourcing administrative services to medical practitioners, utilising cloud technology.
• Eriko Kikuchi, Tiger Mov Inc. (Japan):Provides valuable connections and opportunities; and promotes the globalisation of human resources, companies and countries through inbound and outbound human resources.
• Victoria Kluth, Araza (Australia): A technology systems integrator that specialises in implementing highly complex solutions, including cloud-based applications and digital solutions.
• TakakoKurosu, Yotsuba Maintenance Co. Ltd. (Japan):A certified fire equipment inspection and safety services company that offers inspection, testing and maintenance of equipment used to prevent and fight fires. 
• JayomiLokuliyana, zMessenger (Sri Lanka): A full-spectrum digital advertising technology company that specialises in designing and delivering digitally led omni-channel consumer experiences.  
• Mei Qing, Meiqing Media Group (Greater China): A media group helping the world to understand Chinese traditional culture and enabling Chinese people to understand cultures from different countries across the world.  
• JinyeQu, Future Sifang Group (Greater China): An auction house with more than2,000 successfullycompleted auctions across real estate, vehicles and art. The company has expanded to include future media, overseas real estate development investment, financing and eco-agriculture.
• Sharon Rechtman, Total Beauty Network (Australia):A cosmetics brand formulating and creating healthy and ethical beauty brands, with a footprint in more than30 countries.
• KanaeSakane,Asian Bridge Inc. (Japan):An e-commerce company based in Japan that seeks to deliver Japanese products across Asia through the power of the internet.
• Shelena Serrano, Vekta Automation (Australia): Manufactures and supports automated equipment, improving safety and efficiency in the timber truss and frame industry.
• Linda Speldewinde, AOD Colombo (Sri Lanka):A design catalyst in Sri Lanka with a unique education model thatcombines global design practices, industry know- how, international exposure and local heritage. 
• Julie Stevanja, Stylerunner (Australia):A dedicated online women’s activewear and athleisure-wear destination, forecasting and delivering the latest styles to fashion devotees around the globe who are inspired to lead an active and health-conscious lifestyle.
• Dr. Le Tran, NutiFood (Vietnam):A leading food company focused on producing high-quality nutritional products for infants and children; with distribution across Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, China and the United States.
• Cindy Vo, ASL Corp (Vietnam): A sea-air freight forwarding and logistics company providing services for clients across 90 countries with interests in services, such as trucking, maintenance and freight forwarding.