Empowering people Strengthening Organizations

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Introduction 

People contribute their best ideas, energy, and commitment to the organization’s growth. This powerful connection between people and organizational strength is reshaping modern workplaces across industries.

Empowered employees are more innovative, more collaborative, and more aligned with organizational goals. They take ownership of their work, adapt quickly to change, and help build a culture where performance and trust flourish. Likewise, organizations that invest in their people—through development, recognition, communication, and fair leadership—experience stronger performance, higher retention, and long-term sustainability.

This human-centered approach is no longer optional; it is essential for any organization that wants to thrive in an increasingly competitive and dynamic environment.


Hemas Holdings—Examples of People Empowerment

  1. Wellness & Employee Well‑being

    • Hemas places a strong emphasis on employee wellness. Their “360 You” initiative recognizes the whole person—not just their work output—by supporting employees’ health, wellness, and work–life balance. hemas.com

    • In 2025, Hemas partnered with Happy Mind, Sri Lanka’s leading corporate mental health provider, to provide mental health support, counseling, and well-being resources to their workforce of over 4,500 employees. Happy Mind

  2. Partnership for Future Leaders

    • Hemas Consumer Brands (a subsidiary of Hemas) signed an MoU with the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ) to empower students with practical skills, training, and exposure to industry. hemas.com

    • This collaboration helps young Sri Lankans bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world business needs, preparing them for more meaningful careers. hemas.com

  3. Human Capital Investment

    • In its 2024–25 annual report, Hemas reported that it invested significantly in training and development: over 1,741 training hours were delivered, illustrating their commitment to employee growth. hemas.com

    • The report also shows the company’s dedication to gender diversity: 26% of its workforce are women. hemas.com

    • In the same report, Hemas highlights efforts to promote leadership among women: they partner with Women in Management (WIM) Sri Lanka to help female employees grow into leadership roles. hemas.com

  4. Career Development & Performance Management

    • Hemas has a structured performance review system: all confirmed employees receive biannual performance and career development reviews, which include goal-setting and discussion of personal development. CSE.lk

    • They also run a special program in their pharmaceuticals arm called “Giving Wings to Aspirations,” which helps back-office staff with educational needs and career aspirations. CSE.lk

  5. Local Employment & Socioeconomic Impact

    • According to their sustainability disclosures, Hemas hires its senior management locally and also supports local economies by sourcing from local suppliers, subcontracting, and supporting enterprise development—thus contributing to skills and economic development in Sri Lanka. hemas.com

    • Their human capital strategy aligns with their broader social responsibility: they value innovation, collaboration, and individual advancement. hemas.com

  6. Awards & Recognition

    • Hemas has been recognized for its social responsibility. For example, they won the ACES Awards Grand Award for Asia’s Most Socially Responsible Company of the Year, underscoring their commitment to people, sustainability, and ethical business. ACES Awards

Conclusion

The people who run an organization ultimately determine its success. When employees are empowered—through skill development, wellness programs, inclusive policies, or opportunities for career growth—they are not just performing tasks; they are contributing ideas, taking ownership, and driving innovation. Sri Lankan organizations such as Hemas Holdings, MAS Holdings, and John Keells Holdings exemplify this principle, demonstrating that investment in people translates directly into stronger, more resilient organizations.

References

  1. Hemas Holdings PLC – Annual Report 2024/25 (Human capital data, training, workforce) hemas.com+1

  2. Hemas’s “360 You” wellness initiative (employee wellbeing, empowerment) hemas.com

  3. Hemas Consumer Brands has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ) to empower future leaders. hemas.com + 2 Business 2

  4. Hemas + Hatch partnership (supporting innovation & entrepreneurship) hemas.com

  5. Hemas and Teejay Lanka initiative on menstrual hygiene for rural schools hemas.com

  6. Hemas Outreach Foundation’s “Piyawara” pre‑schools in Sri Lanka (early childhood development) hemas.com

  7. Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability (ACES) Award: Hemas recognized for social responsibility, people‑centric business ACES Awards 

Comments

  1. Sandun T JinadasaNovember 26, 2025 at 6:31 AM

    This clearly highlights how people empowerment strengthens organisational performance. The examples from Hemas Holdings show how a holistic approach combining wellness, development, diversity, and leadership create a workplace where employees feel valued and motivated. What stands out is the practical emphasis on mental health, university partnerships, and structured career pathways, which together demonstrate that empowerment is not a single initiative but a continuous investment in human capital. Many Sri Lankan organisations can learn from Hemas’ integrated model, particularly the alignment of employee development with broader social responsibility. Ultimately, this post reinforces the idea that empowered employees are central to building innovative, resilient, and future-ready organisations.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ruchina GayanthiNovember 29, 2025 at 5:26 AM

    Timely and important post. Empowering people one of the best way that organization can strengthen within. When organization empower people by giving resources, continuous development and sharing ownership make them feel they are valued, strong resilience and long term success. Empowerment not only just delegating to the task, but giving confidence to individual for take risk, ownership and making own decisions. Your post really relevant post that highlighting how employee contribution become one of main factor of a organization for sustainable success.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Chamika Niroshini December 1, 2025 at 2:47 AM

    This is a well structured and insightful overview of how people empowerment directly strengthens organizational performance. The examples from Hemas clearly show what empowerment looks like in practice from mental-health support to leadership development, academic partnerships, and structured performance reviews. What really stands out is how these initiatives go beyond HR check boxes and create long-term value for both employees and communities. At the same time, many organizations still struggle to move from isolated programs to an integrated people strategy like this. Your analysis highlights why a holistic, people first approach is essential for building resilient, future-ready organizations.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ushan ThalahagamaDecember 4, 2025 at 10:43 PM

    Empowering employees is key to building stronger, more resilient organizations. When individuals are given autonomy, resources, and opportunities to contribute meaningfully, they become more engaged, motivated, and accountable. Empowerment fosters creativity, innovation, and proactive problem-solving, enabling teams to respond effectively to challenges. It also strengthens trust between leadership and staff, creating a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. Organizations that prioritize empowerment benefit from higher productivity, better decision-making, and improved employee retention. By investing in people’s development and providing support to take ownership of their work, companies can enhance both individual performance and overall organizational success.

    ReplyDelete

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