Why stepping beyond borders now essential for Sri Lankan HR

• Reflections from Sri Lanka’s largest delegation to SHRM India and what it means for future of HR back home

In a landmark moment for Sri Lankan HR professionals, 25 delegates travelled to New Delhi this November for SHRM India Annual Conference 2025—the largest Sri Lankan delegation ever to attend India’s premier HR gathering, which drew over 4,500 professionals.

The theme ‘Celebrating You—The Festival of Work’ resonated deeply among all of us. Marking SHRM India’s 20th anniversary, the event challenged the participants to celebrate every challenge faced, every moment they showed up and every difference they created. A mirror under each delegate’s chair reminded us to honour ourselves, the individuals driving workplace transformation.

Two Sri Lankan professionals represented us on the global stage: Sunshine Holdings PLC Group Chief People and Corporate Communications Officer Michelle Senanayake, as a panellist and Leadership Coach and Corporate Druids Managing Director Mihirini de Zoysa, as a moderator.

Meeting a global visionary

A highlight was meeting SHRM President and CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., alongside AHRP Executive Committee members, including President Thushara Jayawardena and Past President Roshan Kulasuriya. Taylor emphasised the need for HR to bridge the gap between leaders and employees, create pathways for older workers while nurturing young talent and establish intergenerational mentorship. We shared a taste of Sri Lanka with him, a promise of what awaits when he visits.

Having worked with SHRM for 10 years, I have witnessed this organisation’s remarkable evolution. Under Achal Khanna’s leadership as CEO of SHRM APAC & MENA, the organisation has created a platform that genuinely celebrates HR professionals across the region.

Key insights

SHRM APAC & MENA CEO Achal Khanna emphasised strengthening workplace culture through empathy and collaboration, urging HR leaders to tackle burnout with people-first practices. LinkedIn’s Jessica Jensen and Kirthiga Reddy argued that human creativity and emotional connection remain irreplaceable even as AI transforms careers.

The conference featured a coaching track. We were accompanied by Andrea, President of the ICF Coaching Chapter in Sri Lanka and my mentor. ‘The State of Executive Coaching in India’ report revealed that few organisations track ROI for coaching, calling for greater emphasis on ownership, accountability and resilience.

Actor Pratik Gandhi, with an HR background, delivered crisp insights on adaptability alongside Raj Nayak, underscoring that experimentation and learning from failure drive success.

Power of stepping outside

For Sri Lankan HR professionals, conferences like SHRM India are gateways to transformation. Stepping outside our borders exposes us to global trends and innovative thinking. The 25 of us also discovered precious time to connect. Away from daily operations, we had deeper conversations about our challenges, aspirations and collective vision for elevating HR in Sri Lanka.

In conclusion, I would like to invite every HR professional to step outside. Attend conferences beyond our shores. Expose yourself to new ideas and build networks that transcend borders. From shaping cultures, nurturing talent to driving transformation, the SHRM India Conference reminded us that our work deserves celebration. As we return to Sri Lanka, we carry renewed purpose and global insights to build workplaces where people thrive.

(Oshana Dias is an HR professional and member of the AHRP Executive Committee who represented Sri Lanka at SHRM India Annual Conference 2025)