Business

‘Women will lead the ever-evolving marketing landscape’

Published

4 years ago

2022/04/12

Thanzyl Thajudeen MCIM CMktr MSLIM MCPM

We are living and breathing an information or creative era today and the ability to capture and manage peoples’ feelings have never been more crucial to the success and sustenance of brands and relationships both internally as well as externally, demanding marketers to possess emotional intelligence at their best possible self. This is well reflected on the growth and importance of intangible assets which today makes up a significant proportion of all corporate value.

Empathy is the keyword here – the ability for marketers to dive deep into neutrally understanding the constantly changing paradigms of not just their consumers but also every stakeholder involved in the value creation chain, and actively seek to learn the many influences and underpinning reasons and undisclosed feelings in a world where the context keeps highly evolving. In many cases, marketers tend to just focus on the relationships with consumers and that too on a more quantitative surface level – labeling them as segments or groups – than an individual focus. A majority undoubtedly still follow those strategies and actions that belong to the industrial revolution, knowing very little that everything around them has already changed. And this could be why men still largely dominate the leadership positions in marketing. But not for long.

We have witnessed that women are naturally able to empathize more than the male counterparts, even though neurologically we are all born with a very similar ability. Many studies show that women score higher on EQ tests than men but there are no genetic biases for these differences. This could also be due to the biological differences, for example Oxytocin is found in higher levels among women, making them more empathetic than the higher concentration of testosterone among men where the brain is tuned into systems than emotional relationships. However, research on these areas is still at its infant stage.

Women are also very likely to be taught about empathy by their female role models when growing up from their childhood, and these socially nurturing roles have been on and around them for generations making it a learned awareness and shared skillset. They can quickly capture and understand various non-verbal communication to include facial expressions, tone of voice and body language. People feel recognized – seen and heard – when they are actively listened to, with the right posture and in turn they share some of the most deep, insightful insights that couldn’t have been known otherwise.

It is not that men are naturally pruned to other way around; it is just that they do not take the initiative to learn empathy from all walks of life. The industrial age probably made them, and in many instances continuing to do so, even more analytical, and systematic. Though this is just as important, it should never surpass or compromise the importance of empathizing with all stakeholders. Rather this numbers-driven skillset should be applied to quantifying and justifying future marketing strategies and its risks associated, the time value of money and capital costs, to create shareholder value, an insightful point I found on a blog post of Prof Malcolm McDonald, and not just narrowing down to traditional marketing analytics.

Men undoubtedly have a lot to learn from the women in marketing. They should develop abilities to see the world through the eyes of others, breaking away from the long association of their own paradigm. They should listen actively to their colleagues, superiors, consumers, suppliers, and partners, gauging both verbal and body language, and ask more about what and why does he or she feels so. The more one does this, the more this would increasingly be a natural response. This is very important to break the ego-centric mindset among marketers, as thinking that they know it all is a very vicious cycle to be in. Today, as marketers, we are dealing with the ‘heart’ than the ‘mind’ of consumers, which is very challenging as many of the problems brands and organizations face today arise from this aspect, yet we approach it like we know what the problem is.

In many academic studies, it shows that women score higher than men in coaching and mentoring others. They can meticulously choose words and language that positively impacts workplace engagements, for example they repeat and rephrase back to people what they have said, and this gives one the reassurance they are being heard, encouraging deeper levels of trust and connection.

(Thanzyl Thajudeen is a senior marketing and design consultant. He can be reached via thanzyl.thajudeen@gmail.com)

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Business

Janashakthi Life delivers 36% revenue growth, ‘outperforming the industry’

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/3

Sahan Weerasooriya

Janashakthi Life, the flagship company of JXG (Janashakthi Group), delivered a strong first-half performance in 2026, with Gross Written Premiums (GWP) increasing by 36% year-on-year to Rs. 5.11 billion. The Company’s growth significantly outpaced the industry’s 20.8% growth during the period, reflecting continued demand for its life insurance solutions and progress in expanding its customer base and strengthening its market presence.

The Company’s balance sheet also continued to expand, with total assets increasing to Rs. 41.14 billion as at Q2 2026, compared to Rs. 40.37 billion at the end of 2025. The growth reflects the continued scale of the business and provides a stronger platform to serve an expanding policyholder base while investing in the capabilities required to support its next phase of growth.

During the first half, Janashakthi Life paid Rs. 2.24 billion in claims and benefits, reaffirming its commitment to supporting policyholders when it matters most. These payments provide essential financial support at critical moments in the lives of individuals and families, highlighting the vital role of life insurance in protecting their financial wellbeing and long-term security.

The Company remained profitable during the period, recording Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 271 million, excluding the surplus transfer for the period. With the declaration of the surplus transfer, profitability is expected to be substantially higher. Janashakthi Life remains focused on strengthening earnings quality, managing costs effectively, and translating business growth into sustained improvements in overall performance.

Annika Senanayake, Chairperson of Janashakthi Insurance PLC, said, “The performance in the first half reflects the strength of Janashakthi Life’s business and the opportunities that exist to further develop the life insurance market in Sri Lanka. We remain focused on building a business that combines sustainable growth with sound fundamentals, while making insurance more accessible to a wider segment of the population. As part of JXG, Janashakthi Life is well positioned to leverage the Group’s financial services ecosystem and continue strengthening its position in the market.”

Ravi Liyanage, Director/CEO of Janashakthi Insurance PLC, said, “The first half delivered strong growth across key areas of the business, with GWP increasing 36% to Rs. 5.11 billion. In all key segments, namely regular business, group life business and single premium business, the Company has outperformed the industry significantly, demonstrating its market challenger behaviour. The Company is strengthening its stability, crossing LKR 41 billion in assets under management. Our focus now is on building on this momentum through stronger distribution, improved productivity and disciplined cost management, while continuing to enhance the customer experience by providing an unmatched service throughout the lifespan of the service contract.”

The first-half performance provides a strong platform for Janashakthi Life to build on its growth plans for the remainder of the year. The Company will continue to focus on expanding access to life insurance, strengthening customer relationships and developing solutions that respond to changing financial priorities.

With GWP growth significantly ahead of the industry, a growing asset base and increased claims and benefits delivered to policyholders, Janashakthi Life continues to build scale across its core operations. The Company remains focused on disciplined growth, stronger execution and improving the quality of its performance, with the objective of creating sustainable value for policyholders, shareholders and the wider business.

Further reinforcing its strong market standing, Janashakthi Life was recognised among Sri Lanka’s 50 Best Workplaces™ for 2026 by Great Place To Work® Sri Lanka and was also named among Brand Finance’s Sri Lanka 100 Most Valuable Brands. These recognitions reflect the Company’s continued focus on building a strong brand, delivering value to customers and creating a high-performing organisation. (JXG)

Business

Hunas Holdings and CCH enter strategic collaborative partnership

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/3

Sahan Weerasooriya

(L-R): Dhanuka Samarasinghe (Chairman - Hunas Holdings PLC) Yoshihiko Tanabe, Director CCH

Major Japanese business group sees long-term potential in Hunas Holdings as the two organisations explore new opportunities for growth in Sri Lanka

Hunas Holdings PLC is entering a new phase of growth through a collaborative partnership with CCH Co., Ltd. (CCH INC.), a major Tokyo-based business group with experience across business process outsourcing (BPO), in-house services, investment, mergers and acquisitions, and business development.

The partnership follows a period in which Hunas Holdings maintained a measured approach to new investments amid volatile market conditions, focusing on identifying the right opportunities and international relationships capable of creating sustainable long-term value.

Founded in Japan in 2008, CCH has grown into a significant and diversified business group with interests across multiple industries. Its approach combines investment with M&A, business development and operational expertise, enabling the company to play an active role in the businesses and markets it enters.

For CCH, the partnership represents an opportunity to bring this experience to Sri Lanka through Hunas Holdings, an established local group with a strong platform and long-term growth ambitions.

Yoshihiko Tanabe, Director of CCH Co., Ltd., said: “Through our discussions with Hunas Holdings, we see a company with strong foundations, local expertise and a clear ambition for growth. We believe there is meaningful potential in bringing the strengths of CCH and Hunas Holdings together. I am excited about this partnership, and particularly about some of the projects and opportunities we are already exploring together. There is much to look forward to soon”

For Hunas Holdings, the collaboration marks a renewed chapter of investment and international partnership, while for CCH, it reflects confidence in Hunas Holdings and the opportunities presented by the Sri Lankan market.

Business

Prime Minister to headline Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit session

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/3

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dr Harini Amarasuriya

Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, will deliver the keynote address at a special session on day 2 of the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026 organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, titled “Nation Building in the Digital Age”, on 13 October 2026 at the Shangri-La Colombo.

The session will examine how Sri Lanka can use artificial intelligence, digital transformation, innovation and education to accelerate economic growth, improve productivity and build a knowledge-driven economy. As technology reshapes industries and the nature of work, the discussion will focus on how Sri Lanka can develop the capabilities needed to remain competitive and create opportunities for future generations.

The Prime Minister will be joined by Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Secretary, Ministry of Digital Economy; Prof. Roshan Ragel, Senior Lecturer in Computer Engineering, University of Peradeniya; and Sanjay Shah, Founder and CEO, Elevante AI, who together will add perspectives from government, academia, and industry. Vinod Hirdaramani, Chairman of Hirdaramani Group and Deputy Vice Chairperson of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, will moderate the session.

The discussion will look at the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and automation, and their potential to transform industries and create new areas of economic activity. It will also consider the role of digitalisation in improving public services and supporting entrepreneurship.

Education and skills development will be another important part of the conversation, particularly as the demand for new capabilities grows alongside technological change. The panel will consider how Sri Lanka can prepare its workforce for future jobs while developing an environment that supports innovation and technology-led businesses.

The session will also look beyond technology itself to the wider conditions needed for a digital economy to grow. Policy, investment, infrastructure, education and collaboration between government, industry and academia will all have a role in determining how effectively Sri Lanka can turn technological change into economic opportunity.

Held under the theme “Positioning Sri Lanka in a Changing Global Economy: Resilience, Reform, and the Future of Economic Policy,” SLEIS 2026 will offer perspectives from senior policymakers, business leaders, investors and international experts over two days of discussions on Sri Lanka’s economic direction, investment opportunities and the reforms needed to support future growth.

Registrations are now open at https://sleis.chamber.lk/. For more information, contact Alikie on 011 558 8805 (alikie@chamber.lk) or Shanuka on 0701082541 (events.division@chamber.lk).