Gowri Rajan honoured with ‘Global Trailblazer’ title at WIM Global Awards in Malaysia

Gowri Rajan receiving the ‘Global Trailblazer Award’

Leading female business personality Gowri Rajan was awarded the ‘Global Trailblazer Award’ by Women in Management (WIM) Global at the WIM Top50 Professional and Career Women Awards 2024 held in Malaysia recently. 

This accolade was presented in recognition of her exceptional contributions to business and community development. 

WIM Malaysia Chapter Chairman Prof. Dr. Selvaraj Oyyan Pilay highlighted: “Gowri Rajan is someone who stood firm in the storm of difficult times and came out stronger with resilience and humanity. Her outstanding contributions and visionary ideas, shaping the future of the industry in the region with extensive global networking, gels well with her ‘Global Trailblazer’ Top50 award of being a truly awesome woman of substance.” 

WIM Founder Sulochana Segera added that this award perfectly highlights her contributions to business and community development, embodying the value of ‘Service above Self.’ Rajan also delivered the keynote address at the Global Leadership Conference in Malaysia, where she shared her insights on “Transformative Leadership for Social Engagement.”

Drawing from her personal journey as a woman succeeding in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Rajan shared how transformational leadership goes beyond business and is about empowering people, unlocking potential, and driving community progress. As Director of Sun Match Company, she played a crucial role in evolving her family business into a modern, diversified conglomerate with new products that meet changing consumer needs, cementing its place as a trusted household name. “Transformational leadership unites people around a shared vision that strengthens communities and ensures everyone has a voice and a role,” she emphasised.

Rajan’s historic appointment as the first female District Governor for Rotary in Sri Lanka and the Maldives also set a powerful precedent, paving the way for future women leaders in Rotary’s male-dominated sphere. 

One of her transformational projects during her tenure as the Rotary Governor for Sri Lanka was when she learned that in Sri Lanka, 2,500-3,000 children are born every year with congenital heart diseases, many of whom do not survive to see their first birthday. She championed the establishment of Sri Lanka’s first human heart valve bank at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, with support from multiple donors, at a cost exceeding Rs. 1 billion. The initiative has already saved around 1,500 children, but much work remains. “We won’t stop until every child is saved—that’s our commitment,” Rajan affirmed. Founded by Dr. Sulochana Segera, WIM Global has empowered and celebrated women from various fields, expanding from Sri Lanka to the Maldives, Malaysia, Canada, the UAE, the UK, and Africa. Programs like the Top50 Professional and Career Women Global Awards have honoured over 1,100 women from 26 countries, creating a powerful network of female leaders dedicated to social progress.  Rajan’s recognition with the ‘Global Trailblazer Award’ cements her legacy as a transformative force, redefining leadership to bridge business success with lasting social impact, demonstrating the influence a single leader can wield in shaping lives and communities. Rajan’s journey underscores the power of purposeful leadership, leaving an indelible mark on inspiring future generations to lead with courage, compassion, and vision.