FROM SRI LANKA TO AFRICA, WOMEN IN MANAGEMENT TAKES ITS GLOBAL LEADERSHIP VISION TO LAGOS.
BY: THASMINA SOOKOOR
The 16th Top50 Professional & Career Women Global Awards 2026 will bring an international community of influential leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers to Nigeria, marking a significant new chapter in the organisation's journey of recognition, collaboration and global impact. In a world where leadership is increasingly defined by the ability to connect people, ideas and opportunities across borders, Women in Management is preparing to make a powerful statement on the international stage. On the 10th and 11th of November 2026, Lagos, Nigeria, will become the gathering point for an exceptional community of professionals as the 16th Top50 Professional & Career Women Global Awards makes its landmark journey to Africa.
Hosted at the prestigious Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, the two-day gathering promises to be more than a celebration of individual achievement. It represents an ambitious vision of international cooperation, professional recognition and meaningful connections between Africa, Asia and the wider world. For Women in Management, widely known as WIM, the move signals an important evolution. What began in Sri Lanka as a platform dedicated to recognising professional excellence has grown into an international initiative committed to elevating leadership, encouraging collaboration and celebrating individuals whose contributions are shaping industries and communities. At the heart of this expansion lies a compelling belief that excellence has no geographical boundaries, and that the future of leadership will be strengthened through relationships that transcend them.
A Sri Lankan Vision with Global Ambition
Founded by Dr. Sulochana Segera, Women in Management has steadily developed its identity as a platform for recognising achievement, professional leadership and entrepreneurial excellence. Through its Top50 Professional & Career Women Global Awards, the organisation has sought to bring visibility to accomplished individuals whose careers reflect determination, innovation, resilience and a commitment to making a meaningful difference. The decision to bring the 2026 edition to Lagos represents a defining moment in that journey. Rather than viewing international expansion simply as an opportunity to enter new markets, WIM is positioning its growing network as a bridge between professional communities that have much to contribute to one another. For Dr. Segera, the significance of the African edition is both personal and institutional. “Taking the 16th Top50 Professional & Career Women Global Awards to Africa is a proud milestone in the journey of Women in Management,” she says. “What began as a vision in Sri Lanka has grown into an international platform connecting accomplished professionals across borders.” Her message reflects the philosophy underpinning the organisation's development. Recognition, while important, is only one part of a much larger ambition. The deeper objective is to create an environment where accomplished professionals can share knowledge, develop relationships and inspire future generations of leaders.
By bringing its international community to Nigeria, WIM hopes to strengthen the connections between African and Asian professionals while opening new avenues for engagement with the global business community.
Why Lagos, Why Now
There is considerable symbolism in choosing Lagos as the destination for this milestone edition. As one of Africa's prominent commercial centres, Lagos provides a compelling setting for conversations about entrepreneurship, innovation, economic opportunity and the changing nature of professional leadership. Its business environment, entrepreneurial culture and international connections make it a fitting location for an event seeking to encourage dialogue between established decision-makers and emerging professional voices. The timing is equally significant. Across industries, leaders are confronting technological transformation, changing workforce expectations, economic uncertainty and the growing importance of international partnerships. These developments are reshaping how organisations operate and how professional success is understood. Within this environment, opportunities for meaningful dialogue and cross-border collaboration have become increasingly valuable. The Lagos programme aims to respond to these realities by bringing together individuals from business, technology, governance, communications, psychology, entrepreneurship and social development. An important component of the gathering will be the Global Economic Forum, designed to encourage discussion around the opportunities and challenges influencing the international business landscape. Beyond exchanging perspectives, the forum seeks to demonstrate how professional networks and collaborative leadership can contribute to sustainable economic progress. For delegates, the experience is intended to extend beyond formal presentations and ceremonial recognition. It offers an opportunity to encounter different approaches to leadership, explore common challenges and identify possibilities for future cooperation.
Recognition Guided by International Perspectives
A defining feature of the 2026 awards is the distinguished international panel of judges, whose collective experience reflects the breadth of the professional world that WIM seeks to celebrate. The panel brings together accomplished individuals from multiple countries and disciplines, reinforcing the organisation's commitment to evaluating achievement through diverse perspectives. Among its members are Dr. Sulochana Segera, founder of WIM, and Mrs. Ngozi Oyewole, President of Women in Management Nigeria and Chair of the 2026 Global Awards. They are joined by Amb. Dr. Eno Praise, Co-Founder and CEO of Regnum Intercontinental Limited and President of the World Business Summit, alongside Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, SAN, CEO and Founder of EntiPower Limited. The panel also includes Dr. Kadijatijo Grace Kamara, a licensed psychologist and Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs in Sierra Leone, and Ambassador Dr. Lawrence McEwen, a strategic cybersecurity and technology leader.
Representing the fields of media and strategic communications is Rishini Weeraratne, Editor of The Sun (Daily Mirror) at Sri Lanka's Wijeya Newspapers Limited and Head of Strategic Partnerships and External Communications at D3 Collective Limited in the United Kingdom. Other distinguished members include Venkatesh Mahadevan, a transformation catalyst, board advisor and leadership mentor, Tess Cacciatore, creator of Yumi's Universe, and Whynde Kuehn, Founder and Managing Director of S2E Transformation Inc. Completing the international panel are Minoli Wickramasinghe, Chairperson and CEO of Capital Trust Properties in Sri Lanka, Dr. Mariyam Shakeela, Honorary Consul of Belgium in the Maldives and CEO of SIMD Group of Companies, and Sadna Isik, Executive Director of the MeSalinguistik Foundation.
Together, these individuals represent a remarkable range of expertise, from corporate transformation and institutional leadership to international development, technology, entrepreneurship and social impact. Their participation also highlights an essential principle behind the awards. Leadership cannot be measured through a single professional lens. It can emerge in a boardroom, a growing enterprise, a public institution, a creative organisation or a community initiative. What matters is the contribution an individual makes and the lasting value of that contribution.
Venkatesh Mahadevan, Chair of the Panel of Judges, emphasises the importance of integrity and fairness in recognising excellence. “Recognition carries real meaning when it is grounded in integrity, professional achievement and a genuine appreciation of the contribution individuals make to their industries and communities,” he explains. His perspective underscores the responsibility associated with international recognition, particularly when candidates represent different industries, professional experiences and cultural contexts.
Africa Takes Centre Stage
Central to the success of this milestone gathering is the role of Women in Management's Africa Chapter, which is helping translate the organisation's international vision into meaningful regional engagement. Under the leadership of Mrs. Ngozi Oyewole, President of Women in Management Nigeria and Chair of the 2026 awards, the chapter is positioned to strengthen professional connections while highlighting Africa's growing contribution to global leadership conversations. For Oyewole, hosting the awards in Lagos is an opportunity to demonstrate the depth of professional talent, entrepreneurial ambition and leadership potential across the continent. “Hosting the 16th Top50 Professional & Career Women Global Awards in Lagos is a significant opportunity to showcase Africa's professional talent, entrepreneurial strength and leadership potential to an international audience,” she says. Her ambitions, however, extend well beyond the event itself.
The objective is to develop relationships that continue after delegates return to their respective countries, creating possibilities for knowledge exchange, professional partnerships and new opportunities. This longer-term perspective is particularly important. While awards ceremonies can generate visibility and recognition, their broader value often lies in the networks they help establish and the conversations they encourage. For African professionals, the gathering offers an international platform on which their experiences, achievements and perspectives can receive greater attention. For visiting delegates, it provides an opportunity to engage directly with African leadership and entrepreneurial experience, potentially challenging assumptions and encouraging a more connected understanding of global opportunity. The resulting exchange has the potential to be mutually beneficial, provided that the relationships developed are sustained beyond the event.
Beyond the Spotlight
The significance of the Top50 Global Awards lies not only in the individuals recognised but also in the wider message that recognition communicates. Professional journeys are rarely straightforward. They are shaped by difficult decisions, changing circumstances, personal resilience and the ability to respond to opportunities that may not have existed at the beginning of a career. By celebrating individuals across different sectors and professional pathways, WIM seeks to acknowledge this complexity while highlighting the value of achievement in its many forms. The awards also reinforce the importance of visibility. When accomplished professionals are recognised internationally, their stories can offer encouragement to others navigating their own ambitions. Their experiences can provide examples of leadership that are relevant across industries and national boundaries. Yet visibility alone is not enough. The real opportunity lies in transforming recognition into engagement, ensuring that the attention generated by an awards platform contributes to dialogue, mentoring, collaboration and professional development. This is where WIM's broader international ambitions become particularly relevant. Its growing network offers a framework through which professionals can encounter different ideas, share experiences and potentially develop relationships that influence their future work. In this sense, the Lagos edition represents both a celebration of achievement and an investment in the possibilities created when accomplished individuals are brought together.
A New Geography of Global Leadership
The movement of the Top50 Global Awards from its Sri Lankan origins to Africa reflects a broader shift in how international professional communities can be imagined. Global leadership need not be concentrated within a handful of traditional centres of influence. Increasingly, valuable ideas, entrepreneurial initiatives and transformative contributions emerge from diverse regions, each bringing its own experiences and perspectives. Strengthening connections between Africa and Asia offers an opportunity to explore these complementary strengths. Both regions contain dynamic professional communities whose experiences of growth, transformation and economic participation can enrich international discussions. For WIM, creating a platform that encourages these exchanges is an important part of building a more inclusive global professional network.
The challenge will be to ensure that the enthusiasm generated in Lagos translates into sustained relationships, practical collaboration and opportunities that continue to develop over time. That ambition gives the forthcoming gathering a significance extending beyond its two-day programme. When international delegates assemble at the Federal Palace Hotel on the 10th and 11th of November, they will be participating in an event that brings together recognition, professional dialogue and the promise of new connections.
For Dr. Sulochana Segera and the Women in Management community, it will mark another chapter in an international journey that began with a vision in Sri Lanka and continues to expand across borders. For Africa, it offers an occasion to place its professional achievements and leadership perspectives firmly within an international conversation. And for the individuals who gather in Lagos, the most meaningful outcome may ultimately be found not only in the honours presented, but in the relationships formed, ideas exchanged and opportunities created. As Women in Management prepares to take its global leadership vision to Africa, one message stands at the centre of its ambition. Excellence deserves recognition wherever it exists, and the future of leadership becomes richer when the world comes together to celebrate it.
