AHRP’s Elevate U strengthens SL’s HR talent pipeline

Isuru Gunasekara

Oshana Dias

• Speed mentoring with senior industry leaders to accelerate growth of SL’s upcoming HR professionals

The Association of HR Professionals Sri Lanka (AHRP) continues to invest in the future of the HR profession through Elevate U, its flagship capability-building platform designed to accelerate the growth of early-career HR professionals through high-impact speed mentoring sessions with senior industry leaders.

Positioned as a continuous learning journey rather than a one-off workshop series, Elevate U reflects the AHRP’s commitment to developing HR practitioners who are not only technically sound but also purpose-driven, commercially astute and ready to influence organisations at a strategic level. The programme’s distinctive speed-mentoring format creates an intimat

Since its inception, Elevate U has consistently featured some of the country’s most respected HR and business leaders. Previous years featured impactful sessions from former Brandix Apparel Limited Board Director and Chief Learning Officer Dr. Roland Smith, who led ‘Building High-Performing Teams’ and former Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC Head of Talent, Culture and Inclusion Aruni Abeysekera, who examined ‘How DEI Drives a High-Performing Culture’. The series also featured Aitken Spence PLC Group Chief Human Resources Officer Suresh Muttiah, exploring ‘Organisation Transformation – The HR Perspective’ and Sysco LABS Sri Lanka Senior Director People Operations Rehan Anthonis, on ‘Designing Organisational Culture: How to Make It Work’.

The current financial year launched in November with John Keells Group Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer Isuru Gunasekara, delivering a powerful session on ‘From Crisis to Success: Transforming Business through People and Purpose’, exploring how organisations can navigate disruption by placing people at the centre of strategy and value creation.

The second session takes place on February 26, 2026, led by AHRP Senior Vice President Oshana Dias. Her session ‘From Promise to Practice: The HR Professional’s Guide to Authentic Employer Branding’, will focus on translating organisational values into lived employee experiences and positioning HR as the steward of credible, purpose-led brands.

With two additional sessions planned for later in the year, the AHRP’s Elevate U programme continues to expand its reach and impact across Sri Lanka’s HR community.

What sets Elevate U apart is its speed-mentoring format, a dynamic, interactive experience that goes beyond traditional learning. Speed mentoring is a focused engagement where senior leaders share real experiences that have shaped their leadership journeys. Rather than generic advice, the emphasis is on pivotal decisions, challenges and lessons learned—helping emerging professionals build judgment, resilience and clarity of purpose through lived experience

Participants rotate in small groups to engage directly with senior leaders in focused, candid conversations about career journeys, leadership dilemmas, transformation initiatives and real workplace challenges. 

Brandix Manager Asha Sasanki, a participant at Elevate U, shared, “I found the programme to be a meaningful platform to broaden my perspective and learn through cross-company experiences.”