Laxmi Sunrise reinforces commitment to gender equality and female empowerment

KATHMANDU, MARCH 31:  Laxmi Sunrise Bank hosted its inaugural “Spark ’24: Empowering Women in Leadership – Inspire Inclusion” event, underscoring its “unwavering” dedication to fostering a culture of inclusion, equality, and empowerment for women in the workplace.

The event brought together esteemed speakers, including the Member of the National Human Rights Commission, Ms Lily Thapa, the Resident Representative of the International Monetary Fund, Ms Teresa Daban Sanchez, Mr Piyush Paudyal of F1 Soft Group, and Ms Sewa Pathak, CEO of Vianet Communications, who shared valuable insights on female leadership and empowerment.

In his closing remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Laxmi Sunrise Bank reaffirmed the bank’s steadfast commitment to enhancing the professional development and well-being of its female employees through a series of proactive initiatives. These initiatives encompass comprehensive mentorship programs, targeted leadership training, flexible work arrangements, especially during pregnancy, and the implementation of care centres and lactation rooms in offices with a significant female presence.

“We strive to provide a conducive environment that enables women to thrive personally and professionally,” said the CEO. “Our unwavering commitment to fostering a psychologically safe and respectful workplace is evident through policies that uphold zero tolerance for harassment and discrimination.”

Notably, the bank’s female employee turnover ratio stands at less than 1%, in stark contrast to the overall turnover rate of 7%, reflecting the positive outcomes of its concerted efforts to create an inclusive and supportive workplace environment.

Currently, 36% of Laxmi Sunrise Bank’s workforce is female, with the figure improving to 45% in metropolitan cities. Approximately 40% of the bank’s Branch Managers in the Kathmandu Valley are women, and 25% of its departments are headed by female leaders.

The CEO emphasized the bank’s commitment to continuously strive for improvement and announced the formal introduction of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the organization’s structure to design, implement, and monitor its goals.

“We acknowledge the need to enhance gender representation and will continue to implement initiatives aimed at nurturing the professional growth and advancement of capable and deserving female colleagues,” said the CEO. “We strongly believe that the Future of Work will be based on flexibility and care for our employees, and Laxmi Sunrise will be ready for such a future.”

The event concluded on a collaborative note with a live ‘Modern Mithila Painting’ created collectively by all participants.