Women in Logistics and Transport launch ‘IGNITE’ mentoring program for women
Monday, 3 November 2014 00:00
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The ‘IGNITE’ Mentoring Program organised by the Women in Logistics and Transport Sri Lanka will be launched on 3 November 2014 by Dr. Dorothy Chan, the President CILT International at The Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo. Dr Chan, the former Transport Commissioner of Hong Kong, is visiting Sri Lanka to participate in the International Conference organised by Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) scheduled for 4 November 2014.
The Women in Logistics and Transport (WiLAT) forum in Sri Lanka was formed in 2013 by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Sri Lanka to encourage the representation of women in the transport and logistics industry and to address the wide gender imbalance. WiLAT Sri Lanka creates awareness on career opportunities, increases access to information and supports continuous professional development. The forum also offers networking opportunities to share industry best practice as well as training and mentoring opportunities.
The latest initiative of WiLAT, IGNITE is a planned mentoring program where both mentors and those who wish to be mentored – mentees – are chosen from a list and matched through a formal procedure according to their career paths, talents or interests.
“IGNITE mentoring program fits perfectly into the WiLAT mission to ‘Provide a forum for women engaged in the industry to network and create opportunities for career advancement and empower them to become leading professionals,” says WiLAT Chairperson Gayani De Alwis. According to De Alwis, WiLAT also plans to develop continuing professional development (CPD) programs for women in the industry, in conjunction with CILT.
Who are eligible to request mentoring opportunities? All young women who are involved in the logistics and transport industry or in related service or academic institutions can find a mentor through IGNITE. It is also open to industry aspirants, such as the young women (students) pursuing higher studies in logistics, transport and related fields, at the Universities of Moratuwa and Colombo, Kothalawala Defence University and CINEC.
Students and WiLAT members can participate free of charge at the launch ceremony which will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on 3 November at the Victorian Hall of The Kingsbury.
Mentors will be senior WiLAT members with experience in the logistics and transport sectors and those with academic or professional qualifications who hold senior positions in the industry or are attached to academic and professional organisations related to the sector.
It is necessary for a good mentoring relationship to go beyond career advancement. The qualities of a good mentor include having credibility and integrity to transcend the message because sometimes the message may have to be negative, and must yet be delivered. That means being willing to tell things the mentee may not want to hear, but doing it with empathy so that the mentee feels she has been heard too.
Those who have had mentoring experience say that a good mentor must be able to interact with you in a way that inspires you to become better; and feel secure enough to take risks. It is part of a good mentoring relationship to provide confidence to the mentee to rise above their inner fears and doubts. A mentor should support attempts to set goals that stretch the mentee and go beyond comfort zones because then only can you really grow. “A mentoring program will be successful only if both parties understand each other and flexible in their interactions,” says Namalie Siyambalapitiya, WiLAT committee member and Regional Coordinator (South Asia).
For reservations and enquiries, email [email protected].
