Insights to Innovate in emerging markets through PwC’s Academy workshop in Colombo

(PRESS RELEASE) - With a strong economic growth during the last decade and transforming from rural based agriculture industry driven economy to a service driven more urbanized economy, Sri Lanka is looking to become a middle income country. It’s been 7 years since the country emerged from a three decade long civil war but has been progressing to catch up on the lost time to reach its full potential. With this in mind, continued structural changes will likely be required for economic growthfor greater diversification and productivity increases and a reduction in the role of agricultural employment. The biggest challenge according to PwC’s Academy Manager is igniting the entrepreneurial spirit in both big firms and small. Companies are unsure of going beyond research and development towards innovation. Most Sri Lankan entrepreneurs are faced with the challenge of nurturing good ideas to reality, to a product or service that is commercially viable that is capable of disrupting the market through a new business model. Engage//Innovate and PwC’s Academy partnered together last year to run a Strategy Tools for Business Model Innovation Workshop for top business leaders in Sri Lanka including Dialog Axiata PLC, Ceylon Biscuits Limited, Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC, and more. Participants looked at updated, real world case studies to understand and analyze current innovation and best practices and strategies. They got hands-on with the strategy tools that could help frame their innovation strategy. The participants laid the foundation for strategy and transformation within their companies in just two days with Christian Rangen, the Founder of Engage//Innovate who flew down to Sri Lanka from Norway. Due to the great response from the participants and increased demand for the program to be conducted again, Engage//Innovate and PwC’s Academy is bringing Christian back in March 2017 with new strategic tools and models. The workshop will be on 8 and 9 March 2017 at Jaic Hilton, Colombo and will be the ideal workshop for senior management teams who are responsible for shaping the organizational future (Ex: CEO and Head of Finance, HR, Marketing, Operations) Entrepreneurs or any other senior managers with an interest in strategy and innovation and transformation. In this year’s session focus will be to have shared In-depth consumer understanding in emerging markets & Shared language and new tools for innovation among participants. Also the programme will cover contemporary challenges in innovation including; Ambitions and future road map , From one to many business models (expanding into new markets, new segments and new channels, I’e. Consumer-oriented), Innovation: a shared understanding and shared language Big picture game plan & immediate action road map For registration & more information visit the website www.pwc.lk/events or contact the Academy team at academy.srilanka@lk.pwc.com or you can contact the Academy team on 0117719874.