Purposeful Leadership and Empathy Everywhere in strategic partnership to advance human-centred leadership

 The meeting between Purposeful Leadership Founder and Chief Catalyst Dr. Ranjan De Silva (third from left) and Empathy Everywhere Founder Mimi Nicklin (fourth from left) and the teams recently

Purposeful Leadership and Empathy Everywhere have announced a strategic partnership aimed at bringing world-class leadership, empathy, emotional intelligence and organisational development solutions to organisations across Sri Lanka.

The partnership marks the beginning of a broader alliance that combines the global thought leadership of Empathy Everywhere Founder Mimi Nicklin and internationally recognised advocate for workplace empathy, with the global leadership development expertise and deep regional experience of Purposeful Leadership Founder and Chief Catalyst Dr. Ranjan De Silva.

The collaboration was initiated following a meeting between the two organisations in Colombo on 30 July 2026, where representatives of Purposeful Leadership and Mimi Nicklin came together to explore opportunities for creating greater impact in organisations and society through purposeful, connected and empathetic leadership.  

At a time when organisations are grappling with rapid technological change, hybrid work environments, employee disengagement and growing complexity, both organisations share a common belief that sustainable success requires leaders who can combine performance with human connection, purpose and empathy.

Bringing together global and local expertise

Empathy Everywhere has become a globally recognised leadership brand focused on organisational empathy, emotional intelligence and Listening-Led Leadership. Founded by Mimi Nicklin, the organisation has worked with leading global brands including MAS, Coca-Cola, Danone, KPMG and Standard Chartered, helping organisations build cultures of trust, connection and high performance. Mimi is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading voices on empathy, workplace wellbeing and human-centred leadership. 

Mimi Nicklin said:  “In a world that is becoming increasingly disconnected, empathy is no longer a soft skill. It is a strategic leadership capability. We are excited to partner with Purposeful Leadership to help organisations across Sri Lanka strengthen connection, engagement and performance, whilst contributing to a more cohesive and flourishing society.”

Purposeful Leadership brings over three decades of experience in leadership development, organisational transformation and executive coaching across Sri Lanka and internationally. 

Led by Dr. De Silva, the organisation has delivered consulting, coaching and leadership development programs in over 30 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America and Africa, working with leading organisations including Unilever, Nestlé, John Keells Holdings (JKH), Aitken Spence, MAS Holdings and many others. Guided by Dr. De Silva’s doctoral research on Purposeful Living and Purposeful Leadership, the organisation integrates behavioural sciences, psychology, leadership theory, coaching, diagnostics and practical business experience to create lasting transformation in individuals, teams and organisations.

Dr. De Silva said: “Purposeful leadership and empathy are natural partners. Organisations thrive when people understand their purpose, connect meaningfully with one another and create environments where trust and human flourishing coexist with business performance. Our partnership with Empathy Everywhere enables Sri Lankan organisations to access globally recognised thought leadership while benefiting from local relevance and contextual understanding.”

Launching the first joint program through MAS Athena

The partnership’s first major initiative will be the delivery of The Connected Team Advantage, a leadership development program offered through MAS Athena, bringing together the strengths of MAS Athena, Empathy Everywhere and Purposeful Leadership.  Designed primarily for middle and senior managers, the program is built around Mimi Nicklin’s globally recognised methodologies on listening, empathy and human connection. The program focuses on strengthening purposeful collaboration, communication, engagement, organisational performance and team effectiveness through practical and highly interactive learning experiences. 

The curriculum incorporates key principles from Mimi’s acclaimed work on Listening-Led Leadership and her bestselling book 40 Ways to Connect with People, while leveraging the facilitation expertise of the certified Purposeful Leadership Catalyst Team and the world-class learning environment of MAS Athena to create a purposeful, practical and sustainable learning experience. 

The collaboration aims to provide Sri Lankan organisations with access to internationally recognised leadership development approaches delivered locally, creating measurable impact on employee engagement, team effectiveness and organisational performance.

A shared vision for organisational and social impact

Beyond organisational performance, the partnership is driven by a shared commitment to strengthening human connection and social cohesion. 

Both organisations believe that workplaces play a critical role in shaping how people relate to one another, and that investing in empathy, purposeful leadership and meaningful human relationships can create positive ripple effects that extend beyond the workplace into communities and society. 

As the partnership evolves, Purposeful Leadership and Empathy Everywhere plan to introduce additional programs, executive leadership residencies, leadership diagnostics, coaching initiatives and large-scale organisational interventions designed to support leaders and organisations throughout Sri Lanka and the wider region. 

Together, the two organisations aspire to help build more connected organisations, more purposeful leaders and a more flourishing society.