Empowering minds: Andrew Bryant ignites NHRC 2025 stage with call for self-leadership in changing world

At the heart of the National HR Conference 2025, organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) Sri Lanka, international keynote speaker Andrew Bryant delivered a captivating and thought-provoking address on the power of self-leadership in transforming individuals, institutions, and nations.

Held under the theme “Empowering People for a Thriving Nation,” the two-day conference at the Monarch Imperial brought together policymakers, CEOs, HR professionals, and business leaders, converging to shape the future of work in Sri Lanka. With a speaker line-up that included global thought leaders such as Bryant and empathetic leadership advocate Mimi Nicklin, the conference offered rich insight into the evolving role of human capital in national development.

The heart of the keynote: Self-leadership in the age of AI

“Self-leadership is the practice of intentionally influencing your thinking, feeling and actions toward your objectives,” Bryant declared, drawing on decades of leadership coaching and corporate transformation work across continents. In an era saturated with external control—where technology, bureaucracy, and even artificial intelligence threaten to dictate our decisions—Bryant urged participants to reclaim ownership over their own behaviour and mindset.

“Don’t outsource your judgment to AI. Don’t outsource your responsibility to bureaucracy,” he warned.

“Leadership begins within.”

He illustrated how self-leadership enables accountability—not imposed by hierarchy, but chosen by the individual. In a compelling moment, he distinguished compliance from commitment: “Compliance is doing what you’re told. Commitment is doing what’s right, even when no one is watching.”

Leadership 4.0: From hierarchy to influence

Bryant expanded on his widely adopted concept of Leadership 4.0, calling for a shift from traditional top-down leadership to purpose-driven influence. In today’s complex world of hybrid workforces, generational diversity, and digital disruption, the future belongs to those who lead with agility, emotional intelligence, and purpose.

He challenged leaders to move beyond micromanagement and instead create environments that foster trust, empowerment, and ownership at every level. “A thriving nation is built not by instruction, but by inspiration,” he said to resounding applause.

A platform for bold conversations

CIPM President Priyantha Ranasinghe echoed this vision in his opening remarks, emphasising that the NHRC 2025 was not merely a gathering, but a movement. “We are here to drive the national conversation on the value of human capital and collective resilience,” he stated.

Conference Chair Saman Jayawickrama highlighted how the sessions were designed to push the boundaries of conventional HR thinking—from empathetic leadership to digital productivity, from inclusive cultures to well-being at work.

Workshops, panel discussions, and exhibitions ran in parallel, creating a vibrant platform for collaboration between public sector leaders, private sector trailblazers, and young HR professionals.

Global wisdom, local impact

With Sri Lanka at a pivotal juncture in its socio-economic recovery, Bryant’s keynote was more than a speech—it was a wake-up call. “You can’t build a thriving economy with disengaged minds,” he said. “Empowerment is not a slogan. It is a skill set. A mindset. And above all, a choice.”

Conclusion: From inspiration to action

As the curtains fell on NHRC 2025, one message rang clear: If Sri Lanka is to thrive, its people must be empowered—not just through policy or technology, but through self-awareness, courage, and accountability.

In the words of Andrew Bryant, “Leadership is not a title. It’s a decision you make, every single day.”