US innovation expert collaborates with Lankan IT entrepreneurs

As part of its efforts to advance US-Sri Lankan economic ties and prosperity, the US Embassy here recently supported Cheryl Edison, American innovation expert, to work with Sri Lanka’s leading IT entrepreneurs, engineering students, and I n f o r mat i o n and Communications Technology Agency (ICTA) representatives. Ms. Edison was also the keynote speaker for this year’s Disrupt Asia conference held this week in Colombo.

A US Embassy media release said during her 8- day visit to Jaffna and Colombo, she met with entrepreneurs and provided strategies on achieving business goals and marketing Sri Lankan products regionally and globally. Ms. Edison is a Silicon Valley global business development expert who has successfully launched companies across the globe, for clients including Volvo, War ner Brothers, Carrefour, and Revlon.

“Cheryl helped inspire Jaffna’s aspiring entrepreneurs and provided Silicon Valley expertise as we develop our own creative spaces,” said a member of the Yarl IT Hub community.

She led seminars for business and engineering students at the University of Jaffna; its Engineering Faculty in Kilinochchi; and the University of Sri Jayawardenepura. She also took time to mentor women entrepreneurs, representatives from the National Institute of Education, and members of the Sri Lanka Association of Software and Services Companies ( SLASSCOM). At the Disrupt Asia conference, Ms. Edison encouraged local businesses and IT start-ups on global best practices to expand their markets.

“Cheryl helped inspire Jaffna’s aspiring entrepreneurs and provided Silicon Valley expertise as we develop our own creative spaces,”