Mom Leaders Conference 2026 Celebrates Leadership, Inclusion, And The Power of Working Mothers

For the third consecutive year, Parenthood Global successfully hosted the Mom Leaders Conference, bringing together corporate leaders, industry experts, professionals, and working mothers to celebrate leadership, inclusion, and the remarkable contributions of mothers in the workforce.

Held on 21 May 2026 at Cinnamon Life, the conference served as a powerful platform to inspire action, recognize achievements, and promote more mom-inclusive workplaces.

As organizations increasingly recognize the importance of supporting working parents, the conference highlighted how businesses can move beyond policies and create workplace cultures that genuinely empower mothers to thrive both professionally and personally.

The event reinforced the growing movement toward workplaces where career growth and caregiving responsibilities can successfully coexist.

The conference was honoured by the presence of H.E. Dewi Gustina Tobing, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, who attended as the Chief Guest and presented awards to the recognized organizations and outstanding mother leaders.

Inspiring Conversations and Practical Insights

The conference featured an exceptional lineup of local and international speakers who shared insights on leadership, inclusion, wellbeing, career progression, and the future of work.

Travelling from the United Arab Emirates, Ms. Sarah Teixeira Morello, HR Director of Kraft Heinz UAE, delivered a keynote on “From Policy to Culture: Designing Mom-Friendly Workplaces,” emphasizing the importance of creating workplace cultures where mothers feel valued and supported.

Ms. Kushani Dassanayake, Head of Talent, Culture & Inclusion at Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC, explored how organizations can create globally competitive workplaces through inclusion, while Dr. Chamila Ariyananda, Chief Executive Officer of Universal College Lanka, spoke on raising emotionally strong children while balancing leadership responsibilities.

A special session by Roshni Niranjala Dhananchayan, Chairperson of Parenthood Global, focused on “Building Stronger Support Systems That Empower Mothers and Why This Movement Matters for Lasting Impact.” The session highlighted the importance of collaboration between employers, communities, and families to create sustainable support systems for working mothers.

Other keynote sessions included “Power of I’ve Been There: Make the Path Easier for the Next Generation” by Mrs. Sandra De Zoysa, “She Who Asks, Receives: Rewriting the Rules of the Ask” by Ms. Ayanthi Philip, and “If I Could Mentor My Younger Self” by Mrs. Indresh Puvimanasinghe Fernando, Chief Financial Officer of Janashakthi Finance PLC.

The conference also looked ahead to the future through “AI as Your Ally: Leading the Future, Raising the Future” by Mrs. Thilanka Abeywardena, Security, Cloud and AI Integrated Marketing Lead – ASEAN at Microsoft, and “The New Career Landscape: Stay Relevant, Resilient & Ready” by Mr. Abhishek Gupta, Managing Director of Sutra Management India.

Thought-Provoking Panel Discussions

One of the conference highlights was the panel discussion on “Untapped Power of Working Mothers: Fixing the Leadership Progression Gap.”

The session explored the barriers many mothers face when progressing into leadership roles and discussed how organizations can unlock their potential through inclusive policies, supportive workplace cultures, flexible leadership pathways, and stronger allyship.

The panel featured Mr. Ravi Jayasekera, Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer of Hemas Holdings PLC, Mrs. Shamara Perera, Marketing Director – Personal Care & Beauty Wellbeing at Unilever Sri Lanka, and Mrs. Dhashma Karunaratne, Chief Commercial Officer of CWIT, Port of Colombo.

Another powerful discussion, “How Motherhood Reshaped Me: Journeys of Determination & Redefinition,” featured Mrs. Chethana Liyanage, Chief Talent Officer of Capital Maharaja Group, Mrs. Kaushala Amarasekara, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of DFCC Bank PLC, and Mrs. Danushka Tamali Silva, General Manager – Marketing (Munchee) at Ceylon Biscuits Limited.

Moderated by Danu Innasithamby, the session shared inspiring personal journeys of resilience, leadership, and growth.

Recognizing Sri Lanka's Most Mom-Inclusive Workplaces

A major highlight of the conference was the recognition of the Top 10 Most Outstanding Mom-Inclusive Workplaces in Sri Lanka.

These organizations were celebrated for their commitment to creating supportive environments for working mothers through inclusive workplace practices, wellbeing initiatives, leadership opportunities, and family-friendly cultures.

The organizations recognized were Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC, Dialog Business Services (Pvt) Ltd, Hemas Holdings PLC, DFCC Bank PLC, HNB Life PLC, HNB General Insurance Ltd, Hayleys Fentons Limited, Dijital Team, H Connect Private Limited, and National Development Bank PLC.

Their achievements demonstrate that supporting mothers is not only the right thing to do but also a strategic investment in people and business success.

Honouring Outstanding Mother Leaders

Adding further significance to the event, more than 90 exceptional mothers from organizations across Sri Lanka were recognized for their leadership, resilience, dedication, and contribution to their workplaces and communities.

Representing diverse industries and professional backgrounds, these inspiring women were nominated by their organizations for demonstrating excellence while balancing the responsibilities of motherhood.

Their recognition showcased the immense value mothers bring to organizations through empathy, adaptability, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership.

A Collective Commitment to Inclusion

The success of the Mom Leaders Conference 2026 was made possible through the support of organizations committed to empowering women and strengthening parent-inclusive workplaces.

Parenthood Global extends its sincere appreciation to Maharaja Foods PLC, HNB Life PLC, Universal College Lanka (UCL), Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL), Edinborough, and Eva for their generous sponsorship and support.

Appreciation is also extended to all participating companies, speakers, partners, and attendees whose contribution helped make the event a success.

The conference concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dhananchayan Sivathasan, CEO of Parenthood Global, who acknowledged the sponsors, partners, speakers, recognized organizations, mother leaders, and participants for advancing the movement toward more inclusive workplaces.

As the curtains closed on another successful edition, one message remained clear: when mothers are supported, recognized, and empowered, families flourish, organizations grow stronger, and societies become more inclusive.

Parenthood Global now looks forward to welcoming even more organizations, leaders, and changemakers to the Mom Leaders Conference 2027 as the journey toward building truly mom-inclusive workplaces continues.