Great Place To Work Sri Lanka hosts regional conference

Asia Panel on Building Trust, Empowering People, and Driving Performance

Great Place To Work Sri Lanka recently has 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-centred workplaces. 

The day opened with an inspiring address, “Great Starts Here,” by Great Place To Work Sri Lanka Director/CEO Kshanika Ratnayaka, 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,” Brandix Group Managing Director Hasitha Premaratne, emphasised that shared values and behaviours drive success. He discussed on building resilience, using AI to enhance the human workforce, and leveraging trust and empowerment as key strategic advantages. 

Internationally bestselling author and founder of the world’s largest organisational empathy platform Mimi Nicklin, 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.

Great Place To Work Senior Consultant Hasindu Samarasinghe launched the “Nation Builders: Powered by People” recognition, highlighting how organisations 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 organisations to navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Unlocking the Power of Inclusive Cultures explored how recognising employees as leaders and fostering trust and loyalty can transform engagement, spark creativity, and drive innovation. By cultivating a culture of respect and collaboration, organisations 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 organisations to not just withstand challenges but turn them into opportunities for growth in a volatile world.

Glocal Leadership emphasised 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 organisations 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, emphasised how resilient organisations are built on healthy, motivated, and engaged employees.

The conference also celebrated organisations recognised by their employees as Great Place To Work Certified, honouring 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 organisations thrive in a dynamic environment.