Shehara De Silva headlines Sri Lanka’s presence at EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women 2026, representing the country among a distinguished group of high-potential women entrepreneurs recognized for their leadership, innovation, and business growth across the Asia-Pacific region.
Shehara De Silva headlines Sri Lanka’s presence at EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women 2026 in Seoul
EY recently hosted the 2026 EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Asia-Pacific annual conference in Seoul, South Korea, from May 18 to 20, bringing together women entrepreneurs, business leaders, and EY professionals from across the region to foster collaboration, exchange insights, and explore opportunities for international growth.
The annual event marked a significant milestone as it was the first time the regional conference was held in South Korea. Designed to support ambitious women entrepreneurs, the program provides participants with access to strategic guidance, mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources aimed at accelerating business expansion and strengthening regional and global connections.
More than 100 participants attended this year’s conference, including 23 entrepreneurs selected for the prestigious Class of 2026. Among them was Shehara De Silva, whose inclusion in the cohort highlighted Sri Lanka’s growing representation within global entrepreneurship and business leadership circles.
As Managing Director of the McLarens Group, De Silva leads one of Sri Lanka’s most diversified business conglomerates, with interests spanning shipping, logistics, manufacturing, hospitality, energy, and other sectors. Over recent years, she has played a key role in driving strategic transformation across the group’s portfolio of more than 45 companies, focusing on modernization, operational efficiency, diversification, and sustainable growth.
Beyond her corporate leadership responsibilities, De Silva has also made significant contributions to advancing women’s leadership within Sri Lanka’s maritime and business sectors. She is the founding President of the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) Sri Lanka and became the first female Chairperson of the Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA), helping pave the way for greater female participation in traditionally male-dominated industries.
The EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women conference provided participants with an opportunity to engage with fellow entrepreneurs and industry experts through a range of networking events, knowledge-sharing sessions, and leadership discussions. Key components of the program included the three-day conference and a dedicated Business Leaders’ Networking Event, both designed to encourage collaboration and create new business opportunities across markets.
Sri Lanka was further represented at the event by EY Sri Lanka and Maldives Partner – Assurance, Anoji de Silva, and EY Sri Lanka and Maldives Head – Assurance, Gayanthri Manatunga. The conference also welcomed prominent Sri Lankan alumni from the program, including IronOne Technologies and BoardPAC Co-founder and CEO Lakmini Wijesundera, and zMessenger Co-founder and CEO Jayomi Lokuliyana.
A major focus of the conference was understanding emerging business trends and preparing entrepreneurs for a rapidly changing global environment. Participants attended a series of high-impact sessions led by EY professionals and external experts covering topics such as economic shifts, technological transformation, international expansion, and access to capital.
One of the keynote sessions featured insights from a leading economic expert, who shared strategies for navigating evolving economic conditions across Asia. Delegates also gained valuable perspectives on global business growth and market opportunities through presentations from successful entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
A notable highlight was a presentation by HyunOak (Helen) Han, Founder and CEO of CLIO Cosmetics and a member of the 2019 EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women cohort. Han shared the company’s growth journey and international expansion strategy, offering participants practical insights into building globally competitive brands. Attendees also visited CLIO’s headquarters to learn more about its business model and success as one of South Korea’s leading beauty companies.
Technology and innovation featured prominently throughout the event. Newly appointed EY Asia East Chief Technology Officer and EY Korea AI Lead Dr. Sooyeon Kim delivered a session on artificial intelligence transformation and its growing role in business competitiveness. The discussion explored practical AI applications, operational efficiencies, and strategic frameworks that organizations can adopt to drive future growth.
Participants actively contributed to discussions, sharing experiences and challenges related to digital transformation and AI implementation within their own businesses. Additional sessions examined geopolitical developments, market-entry strategies, capital raising opportunities, and corporate financing approaches for scaling businesses internationally.
The conference concluded with a business networking event that connected entrepreneurs with corporate leaders and industry stakeholders, helping to strengthen professional relationships and identify future collaboration opportunities.
The EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program forms part of a global community established in 2008 and now connects more than 1,200 women entrepreneurs across over 60 markets worldwide. Through initiatives such as the annual Asia-Pacific conference, the program continues to empower women-led businesses, facilitate international partnerships, and support the next generation of entrepreneurial leadership.