The Great Place To Work® Sri Lanka CXO Forum held recently in Colombo convened senior leaders and industry experts to explore the future of workplace culture through bold discussions on resilience, inclusivity, future-readiness, and multi-generational leadership.
Kshanika Ratnayaka, Director/CEO of Great Place to Work® Sri Lanka, urged organizations to embrace change by building cultures rooted in shared values, trust, and inclusivity, while bridging generational gaps and leveraging a digitally fluent workforce. “Trust unites generations, and shared values are the cornerstone of great cultures,” she said, noting that organizations adopting these principles will thrive in the new world of work.
Keynote speaker Mimi Nicklin, bestselling author and founder of the world’s largest organizational empathy platform, emphasized empathy, inclusivity, and generational understanding as drivers of collaboration, innovation, and trust, highlighting the power of communication and listening-led leadership in aligning goals and aspirations.
The event also recognized and celebrated the Best Workplaces™ for Young Talent which included, AB Mauri Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Adapt Information Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, AIA Insurance Lanka Limited, AmSafe Bridport (Pvt) Ltd, Diamond Cutters Ltd, Dijital Team, EWIS Colombo Limited, Omega Line Ltd, Peri Logistics (Pvt) Ltd, Stelacom Pvt Ltd, Sunquick Lanka Private Limited, Toppan Forms (Colombo) Limited, Unidil Group of Companies, United Tobacco Processing (Pvt) Ltd, and Uzabase Inc. These organizations were celebrated for cultivating inclusive, inspiring environments that empower Gen Z and Millennials under the age of 35 to thrive.
Haaziq Feroze, Head of Events & Programs at Great Place To Work® Sri Lanka, shared insights showing that organizations engaging young talent through learning, recognition, purpose, and supportive leadership drive innovation, growth, and fairness
A panel discussion on the theme “Legacy to Lead” featured Treasurex Melchior (Pulseshift Pvt Ltd), Sanjini Munaweera (ADA), Shanaka Rabel (Stretchline Holdings), and Chameera De Silva (AI Scholar), moderated by Asanga Nugawela (Sysco LABS).
Sanjini Munaweera highlighted the importance of an open-door policy to foster dialogue, collaboration, and innovation. She emphasized the value of multi-generational teams working together and encouraged organizations to fully embrace change, creating environments where employees can thrive.
Shanaka Rabel stressed the need to adapt and innovate, noting that engaging employees in tasks that energize them helps unlock their unique talents. He also highlighted the importance of asking employees how they prefer to approach tasks, promoting a day-to-day learning culture and empowering teams to achieve goals in their own way.
Treasurex Melchior underscored the role of empathy in understanding the current context, bridging generational gaps, and fostering stronger collaboration across teams.
Chameera De Silva shared forward-looking insights on the integration of AI in leadership and decision-making, illustrating how data-driven tools can strengthen multi-generational collaboration.
By championing multi-generational leadership, empathy-driven practices, and trust as the unifying force across age groups, the forum highlighted that leadership, empathy, and trust is key to building inclusive, people-centered workplaces where every generation feels valued—forming the foundation of resilient, future-ready businesses.
This event was made possible through the invaluable support of: Sysco LABS (Event Partner), Mackinnons (Travel Partner), Emerging Media (Outdoor Digital Media Partner), PickMe (Inbound Transportation & Logistics Partner)and Hilton (Hospitality Partner).
Photo Caption: Haaziq Feroze shares insights from Best Workplaces™ for Young Talent in Sri Lanka, and Panel discussion on Legacy to Leap: Building a Digitally Fluent Multigenerational Workforc
