SeaSisters Sri Lanka

This period marks the comeback of SeaSisters after the COVID-19 pandemic. I returned to Sri Lanka to re-establish SeaSisters and build a local leadership team. During this time, we scaled our programs, launched experiences for tourists to explore new income streams, and expanded our community. By establishing a local team, we transitioned from seasonal to year-round operations, hosting regular community events and educational initiatives.

Since May 2023, I've been leading the growth phase of SeaSisters, managing our team remotely while transitioning to local leadership. My responsibilities span across business development, strategic planning, financial and grant management, HR, leadership, communications, and overseeing program and products operations.

Executive Director

As SeaSisters was growing, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to put our Swim & Surf Program on hold from May 2020 until January 2022, prompting me to relocate to Austria.

When restrictions eased, I returned to Sri Lanka in February 2022 to re-initiate our program. After spending a month on the ground, our volunteers continued running the lessons, while I explored new ways to grow SeaSisters sustainably, preparing for our comeback.

Executive Director (reduced operations)

I co-founded SeaSisters Sri Lanka, a non-profit focused on women’s empowerment, ocean safety and environmental protection. We create a safe space for Sri Lankan girls and women to enjoy the ocean, while using swimming and surfing as tools for social change. To support our Swim & Surf Program, we sell ethically made products, advocating for more responsible practices in the surf industry.

While co-building the organisation, my responsibilities included business development, strategic planning, program management, product development, marketing and sales, and volunteers and team management. 

www.seasisterslk.com

Co-Founder, Executive Director

Pueblos Remotos

As part of the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) Program, I collaborated with Pueblos Remotos, a purpose-driven business from the Canary Islands dedicated to empowering rural entrepreneurs and fostering sustainable tourism. Pueblos Remotos is also a facilitating organisation of The Break Fellowship program, in which I participated both as a fellow and as part of the facilitating team. 

During this time, I guided Pueblos Remotos through an impact branding process, which included revising their brand strategy, setting up an impact measurement system and creating a bilingual 3-years impact report.

Impact Branding Consultant

Impact Hub Tirol

After the market launch, I transitioned into the role of community manager, focusing on building a community of changemakers, impact startups, and social businesses in Tyrol. My responsibilities included strategic community development, designing membership concepts, hosting community events, building relationships within the local startup ecosystem, promoting happenings in the impact scene, and supporting our members.

A year later, with the community having established a solid foundation, I began managing it part-time and remotely while on educational leave to further my knowledge in impact management and entrepreneurship.

Community Manager

As a member of the founding team, my role involved steering the rebranding process from SETup (Social Entrepreneurship Tirol) to Impact Hub Tirol and spearheading communications for the market launch in June 2021.

Impact Hub Tirol is an independent, regional hub and support system comprised of like-minded individuals, entrepreneurs, experts, activists, investors, and many more who take responsibility for a better tomorrow. Our community is locally rooted and globally connected, being part of the world's largest network for impact entrepreneurship.

www.impacthub.tirol

Founding Team Member, Marketing & Brand Manager

MCI | The Entrepreneurial School®

Guest lecturer at the Management Center Innsbruck, hosting the course 'Innovation and Project Management' of the Bachelor's degree program Nonprofit, Social & Health Care Management.
- Theory & best practice about social innovation and lean impact
- Design thinking workshop

Lecturer (Social Innovation)

SETup

SETup stands for Social Entrepreneurship Tyrol, and served as the local hub for the impact economy. In my role as a brand consultant, I guided SETup through a strategic re-positioning process. Other responsibilities involved designing an impact report and spearheading communications for the market launch of the Social Innovation Lab (SIL), Tyrol's first incubator for social startups, in collaboration with SOS Children's Villages. Eventually, I spearheaded the re-branding process of SETup becoming the Impact Hub Tirol.

Lanka Upcycles 

Lanka Upcycles is a fair trade social enterprise that improves the livelihoods of communities on Sri Lanka's East coast by offering local solutions to the global waste crisis and creating steady jobs for women from rural areas. As Lanka Upcycles grew its brand portfolio, I guided them through a rebranding process, focusing on their brand architecture. Other responsibilities included developing a company portfolio and sales report, as well as designing sustainable tourism experiences.

Furthermore, I gained valuable insights into fair trade manufacturing practices, which eventually led to a collaboration between their brand Rice & Carry and SeaSisters, resulting in the launch of our first product line, which was sold at 20+ retailers islandwide.

During my studies, I gained insights into a variety of organisations - mostly in the marketing and communication departments of nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses. 

For example: 
- 2013: worked for Innocent Smoothies as an intern, leading digital communication activities and assisting the ‘Big Knit’ campaign, which supports elderly people during winter
- 2014: developed a social media strategy for the City of Vienna (after writing my Bachelor’s thesis about the importance of social media marketing for cities) 
- 2014-15: worked as communication manager for the startup Pannex (eco-friendly tire sealant, winner of the Automechanika Innovation Award 2014)
- 2016-17: fundraised for Amnesty International and WWF (as part of Arge AIWWF)

Besides my experiences in the marketing field, I loved spending my holidays working as a 
coach at children’s sport camps.

Marketing, Communications, Fundraising

👋 Hi, I’m Martina. Social entrepreneur, impact branding consultant and ocean advocate from Austria.

In 2018, I co-founded SeaSisters Sri Lanka, a non-profit organisation empowering local women and girls through swimming, surfing and community-building. Our programs promote women’s empowerment, ocean connection, and environmental stewardship. Today, I serve as the Executive Director remotely, fostering local leadership and capacity-building. My mission is to contribute to more inclusive access to our oceans, using surfing as a tool for social good.

As a brand consultant, I help purpose-driven entrepreneurs to create impactful brands. Together, we’ll shape a strong vision and mission, and build a strategic foundation that allows you to communicate your impact with clarity and confidence.

💬 Interested in working with me? Send me a message on LinkedIn. I look forward to hearing from you!

Taplio

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