Great Place To Work® Sri Lanka recently hosted its flagship conference at the Hilton Colombo, bringing together industry and HR leaders to explore trust, culture, and leadership in building resilient, inclusive, and people-centered workplaces.
The day opened with an inspiring address, “Great Starts Here,” by Kshanika Ratnayaka, Director/CEO of Great Place To Work® Sri Lanka, who stressed that culture today is mission-critical, in driving trust, empowerment, retention, and the attraction of top talent, while creating sustainable, purpose-driven impact.
In his keynote on Culture Capital, Hasitha Premaratne, Group Managing Director of Brandix, emphasized that shared values and behaviors drive success. He discussed on building resilience, using AI to enhance the human workforce, and leveraging trust and empowerment as key strategic advantages.
Mimi Nicklin, internationally bestselling author and founder of the world’s largest organizational empathy platform, highlighted Sri Lanka’s productivity slumps and talent drain as symptoms of a growing “empathy deficit”. She urged leaders to view empathy, emotional intelligence, and communication as vital skills, noting that psychologically safe workplaces foster creativity, collaboration, and resilience.
Hasindu Samarasinghe, Senior Consultant at Great Place To Work®, launched the “Nation Builders: Powered by People” recognition, highlighting how organizations can drive livelihoods, invest in people, and uplift communities through holistic strategies in brand equity, ESG, (Environmental, Social, and Governance) DEI, (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and human capital development.
The conference also featured a series of sessions with industry leaders addressing today’s most pressing workplace challenges.
Transparent Leadership in Turbulent Times showcased how trust and authentic leadership fuel adaptability and long-term success. It was highlighted that leaders who communicate openly, act with integrity, and model accountability not only build credibility but also empower their organizations to navigate uncertainty with confidence.
Unlocking the Power of Inclusive Cultures explored how recognizing employees as leaders and fostering trust and loyalty can transform engagement, spark creativity, and drive innovation. By cultivating a culture of respect and collaboration, organizations strengthen team cohesion and unlock sustainable business growth and competitive advantage.
In The Trust Dividend, experts revealed how trust serves as a powerful economic multiplier, delivering tangible returns such as higher engagement, stronger collaboration, faster innovation, and improved financial performance.
To Thrive, Not Just Survive tackled the questions of talent retention and collaboration, offering strategies for organizations to not just withstand challenges but turn them into opportunities for growth in a volatile world.
Glocal Leadership emphasized the art of balancing global standards, innovation, and perspectives while adapting strategies to local cultures and contexts, enabling leaders to deliver results in an interconnected world.
Work Reimagined: Culture, Skills & AI provided a forward-looking perspective on how technology and human skills intersect to future-proof organizations and drive meaningful performance.
The Asia Panel on Building Trust, Empowering People, and Driving Performance brought together regional experts to share actionable strategies on cultivating openness, listening actively, and learning from teams to foster stronger trust and higher performance.
Sessions on Embedding Wellness in Workplace Culture and The Human Balance Sheet: Workplace Wellness Index™, emphasized how resilient organizations are built on healthy, motivated, and engaged employees.
The conference also celebrated organizations recognized by their employees as Great Place To Work Certified™, honoring their commitment to high-trust, people-centric cultures. It also reaffirmed Great Place To Work® Sri Lanka’s role in driving workplace transformation and helping organizations thrive in a dynamic environment.
Photo caption
Asia Panel on Building Trust, Empowering People, and Driving Performance, Mimi Nicklin speaking on “empathy deficit”, Kshanika Ratnayaka, Director/CEO of Great Place To Work® Sri Lanka on “Great Starts Here”
