As an award-winning C-suite leader, Sharmila Wijeyakumar serves as both the CEO of iSales and the Chief Revenue Officer and Coach at Women on the RISE. Her mission is to empower women-led businesses to achieve their professional and personal goals by fostering a network of support, mentorship, and empowerment.
With over a decade of experience in the high-tech realm of digital transformation, Sharmila leverages her expertise in data analytics, AI, business intelligence, regtech, and marketing technology to help companies address challenges in sales, marketing, and business processes.
Sharmila attributes her success to a combination of factors, including her faith, family, education, and network. She places great value on people and the cultivation of relationships, recognizing that success often requires a supportive community. Her journey to success has been marked by resilience and determination, transitioning from challenging beginnings to the C-suite. Sharmila draws inspiration from her own experiences to drive positive change, particularly in supporting and uplifting other women. She believes in living with intention and using personal experiences as a catalyst for positive transformation in the world.
Understanding the Importance of Purpose
Sharmila resonates with the wisdom of Maya Angelou, who once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said and what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” For Sharmila, a significant aspect of her calling is ensuring that people feel safe, both emotionally and physically. Drawing from her own life experiences, she understands the importance of purpose and believes it to be a gift from God. With intention and integrity, Sharmila strives to live out this purpose, always keeping her focus on glorifying God. This commitment to authenticity and transparency guides her actions both inside and outside of the workplace.
Focus on Addressing Gender Bias and Providing Opportunities for Women
Sharmila’s journey is one of resilience and growth. Initially hesitant to answer her calling, she eventually founded Rahab’s Daughters in 2014 alongside her husband, Dr. Denardo Ramos, and their daughter, Indira. Their organization aims to address the critical need for survivor-led programs offering emergency housing and comprehensive support services for victims of human trafficking. With over 500 women and children rescued from trafficking situations, their program is making a significant impact.
Drawing from her own experience as a survivor of both sex and labor trafficking, Sharmila ensures that Rahab’s Daughters operates with a survivor-centric approach. Their team applies a survivor’s perspective to all aspects of their work, prioritizing the needs and well-being of those they serve.
In 2023, Sharmila founded “Women on the Rise” to address the gap in supporting and empowering women across various career levels. Recognizing the importance of providing safe and supportive networks for women to thrive, the initiative aims to uplift and empower women to reach their full potential.
Sharmila sees a direct link between Rahab’s Daughters and Women on the Rise. By addressing gender bias and the lack of funding for female-owned businesses, they aim to break the cycles of poverty and provide equal opportunities for women. The programs offer scholarships for survivors to access leadership training, and at the highest level, allow women to invest in other female-led companies and contribute to their success through board roles, non-executive director roles, and angel investments. Through these initiatives, Sharmila is committed to creating a brighter future for women and survivors alike.
Bringing Together Women from Diverse Backgrounds
Sharmila emphasizes that both organizations focus on enabling positive change in people’s lives by restoring their agency and helping them discover their voice.
At Rahab’s Daughters, the company is dedicated to the identification, rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of trafficking survivors, employing data-driven approaches. The company operates a 24/7 hotline (1-833-4NEWDAY) for victims of cyberbullying, sextortion, and human trafficking, offering support and assistance. As a registered charity in the USA, Canada, and the UK, the organization is committed to addressing the root causes of trafficking by preventing cyberbullying and sextortion, removing harmful online content, and providing families with services to mitigate adverse childhood experiences, which can make individuals vulnerable to trafficking.
Similarly, Women on the Rise focuses on empowering women across all stages of their careers. By fostering a supportive community where women uplift each other, the company offers cohort-based coaching and networking opportunities. These cohorts bring together women from diverse backgrounds, providing them with the necessary support, guidance, and resources to thrive. Through facilitated learning and coaching sessions, women are empowered to nurture their growth and development collectively.
Both organizations are driven by the belief in the power of support, empowerment, and community to facilitate positive transformation in individuals’ lives.
Making a Difference in People’s Lives
As the CEO of iSale Dynamics, Sharmila’s primary responsibilities include strategic leadership, innovation and growth, operational excellence, stakeholder engagement, and ensuring the financial health of the company. She focuses on developing and executing high-level strategies, fostering innovation, streamlining operations, communicating effectively with stakeholders, and overseeing financial strategies.
For Women on the Rise, Sharmila’s main goals are to empower women in their careers and personal development, build a supportive community, develop programs addressing women’s needs, establish partnerships, and increase visibility of women’s achievements and the importance of diversity and inclusion. She leads initiatives to advocate for gender equality, provide networking and mentorship opportunities, and create programs tailored to women’s challenges in the workforce.
The happiest part of Sharmila’s daily routine is making a difference in people’s lives, witnessing her team’s growth and collaboration, continuous learning and growth, and receiving positive feedback from customers or clients about how her company’s products or services have helped them. She finds joy in engaging with her team, learning new things, and enacting positive change in the lives of women across various business sectors.
Beyond the Workplace
According to Sharmila, Women on the Rise aims to contribute significantly to women’s empowerment in both personal and professional spheres through various impactful strategies and programs. Here’s how the organization can achieve these goals:
Professional Empowerment
- Mentorship Programs: Connecting emerging female professionals with experienced mentors provides valuable guidance and support for career advancement.
- Skill Development Workshops: Organizing workshops on hard and soft skills equips women with tools needed for career growth.
- Networking Opportunities: Facilitating events where women can connect with peers and industry leaders opens doors to new opportunities.
- Advocacy and Awareness: Speaking up for gender equality in the workplace and advocating for systemic changes.
Personal Empowerment
- Confidence-Building Activities: Hosting sessions focused on building self-esteem empowers women to take bold steps.
- Support Networks: Creating a supportive community where women can share experiences provides emotional support and a sense of belonging.
- Work-Life Balance Resources: Providing advice on managing work-life balance helps women navigate professional and personal responsibilities.
- Personal Development Programs: Offering programs on leadership, financial literacy, and health and wellness empowers women to make informed decisions.
Broader Impact
- Raising Public Awareness: Highlighting issues affecting women’s empowerment through campaigns and media partnerships.
- Influencing Policy: Advocating for laws and regulations that support gender equality and protect women’s rights.
- Encouraging Corporate Responsibility: Working with businesses to promote gender diversity, inclusion, and equality in the workplace.
- By addressing both personal and professional needs, Women on the Rise can empower women to achieve their full potential, contributing to more equitable and prosperous societies.
Networking for Empowerment
Sharmila emphasizes the importance of effective time management, allowing for whitespace, and calendar blocking to balance her diverse roles. However, she highlights that the key to balancing these roles lies in integrating all aspects authentically. Despite the blending of roles, they all revolve around the central theme of helping people, which she sees as integral to leadership and personal fulfillment.
Empowering women to reach their full potential is a passion for Sharmila, and she believes that networking plays a crucial role in this empowerment process. Building the right connections and relationships enables individuals to access opportunities and support that can facilitate their growth and success.
Women on the Rise
Sharmila’s future plans for Rahab’s Daughters are straightforward: to eradicate the scourge of human trafficking through awareness campaigns and direct interventions. Similarly, for Women on the Rise, the goal is to create a platform and supportive environment for women of diverse backgrounds to come together and share experiences. Importantly, proceeds from Women on the Rise are reinvested into Rahab’s Daughters to fund their anti-trafficking efforts and support survivors. This cycle of investment and support allows both organizations to continue making a positive impact and paying it forward to empower more women and combat human trafficking effectively.
Leading with Heart
Sharmila’s advice to someone stepping into a leadership role for the first time is grounded in practical wisdom and empathy. Here’s a breakdown of her advice:
- Embrace Learning: Stay open to feedback and continuously invest in your growth as a leader.
- Build Relationships: Get to know your team members and cultivate trust and transparency.
- Communicate Effectively: Clearly communicate your vision and expectations, and prioritize listening to your team.
- Lead by Example: Model the behavior you expect from your team and be willing to admit mistakes.
- Delegate Wisely: Empower your team by delegating tasks effectively and providing support.
- Manage Conflicts: Address conflicts promptly and impartially, focusing on resolution and fairness.
- Foster a Positive Environment: Encourage innovation and celebrate successes to boost morale.
- Maintain Balance: Prioritize self-care and work-life balance to sustain your effectiveness as a leader.
- Be Patient: Understand that leadership development takes time and embrace the learning process.
- Seek Mentorship: Find a mentor who can provide guidance and support as you navigate your leadership journey.
Above all, Sharmila emphasizes the importance of living with intention and integrity, trusting your instincts, and serving others as a leader.
