International Women’s Day is more than a celebration for me — it is a reflection of the inclusive journey of women who quietly build families, businesses and communities with resilience and determination.

As a Sri Lankan woman entrepreneur being founder of the baby clothing brand Elegant Smockers, over the past 25 years, I have had the privilege of working closely with women from multiple backgrounds. In our business, the majority of employees are women. Many are mothers who successfully balance their household responsibilities and contribute financially to their families. They carry immense responsibilities beyond the workplace.

Though capable women represent a large portion of our population, female labour force participation still remains relatively low. There is immense untapped potential in our country for women who are talented, disciplined and creative.

Within my own organization, I have seen how financial independence transforms a woman’s life. A woman who earns does not merely bring home a salary — she brings home confidence. She partakes in financial decision-making. She invests in her children’s future. She stands taller.

As we grew our company beyond our borders with exports to the United States, it has elevated our production standards and also enabled to widen our vertical reach to create additional employment opportunities for Sri Lankan women. Export growth is not just about business success — it is about widening access to income and skill development for the women who power our industry.

Empowerment should not be limited to those already within our workplaces. As business leaders, we carry the responsibility to constantly extend opportunities beyond our immediate communities and circles.

Our regular training programs for women outside of Colombo was structured to achieve this objective. Together with my team, we travel outside of Colombo to train and enable women in hand-sewing techniques. It provides opportunities to stay-at-home mothers with skill but no access to structured employment. Today, a number of them work with us from their homes, contributing in making beautifully crafted handwork pieces. They are now empowered to earn a meaningful income while enjoying the flexibility of time to care for their families.

This initiative has been a rewarding part of my journey. Women who once doubted their ability are empowered to add value in their work which builds self esteem and support their households financially.

Balancing entrepreneurship and family life has its inherent challenges and merits. Like many Sri Lankan women, I too juggle with multiple roles during the day — business owner, wife, mother and mentor. There are moments of pressure and uncertainty. But there is also the deep purpose which fuels you through the process. Building our brand around a committed, motivated and ever supportive team has been the most rewarding aspect of my entrepreneurial journey.

Sri Lankan women possess remarkable resilience shaped by culture, adaptability and strength. Yet many hesitate to step into leadership or economic participation due to lack of opportunity or encouragement. My message to women is simple: start where you are. Skills can be learned. Confidence grows with perseverance and consistent action.

To organizations and policymakers, empowering women must go beyond symbolic gestures. Investing in training women, creating safe working environments and offering flexible earning opportunities is not mere social responsibility — it is pivotal to a country’s economic progress.

When women thrive, families become stronger. When families are stable, communities prosper. And when communities prosper, our nation develops progressively.

This Women’s Day, let us commit to creating tangible opportunities for the women of our beautiful nation. Sri Lankan women are ready. Let’s commit to enable and empower them to hone their talents and bring out the best in them.

By:
Mazeena Deen
Founder, Elegant Smockers