D 82 Toastmasters International hosts first-ever CEO Breakfast Forum

The first-ever CEO Breakfast Forum by Toastmasters International USA ‘Where Leaders Are Made’ was held recently at the Victorian Ballroom Kingsbury Hotel.

It was the first time the Toastmasters in Sri Lanka attempted to get CEO/COO/CFOs, heads of HR to network with each other on the formation of Toastmaster clubs in the corporate sector and organisations which had still not accepted this worldwide formula of getting their staff to be good communicators and leaders.

The number of heads who participated for this breakfast meeting was phenomenal. Undoubtedly they were attracted by the speakers on line that morning who gave the grass root level starts to the changing of the culture, communication and leadership skills of the Toastmasters within the corporate sector.

The Second Vice President Toastmasters International DTM Arunasalam Balraj said that the rapid growth of Toastmasters in Sri Lanka after the millennium was something that we need to applaud. He stated that there are 100 clubs in Sri Lanka at the moment with more to be established in the future- A Dream Come True! 

NDB Bank CEO Rajendra Theagaraja  was all praise for the young club within his bank which was started under his auspices in 2013. He elaborated his experience with the HNB Toastmasters club for over 10 years which he stated made him realize the potential a club such as this gave to the personnel of 
the bank.  

He stated that he had noted around eight points which made this exercise fruitful - 1. It cut across the entire organisation from clerical to DGM level 2. Removed the fear of speaking in public and made it stress free and full of enjoyment. 3. Focused on time management which is a catalyst in a business environment. 4. The ability to speak regardless of the level of English helping people to put thoughts in a logical and structured manner. 5. Builds organisational skills and team work regardless of the hierarchy.  6.  Taking care of the dress sense and attire raising the stature of the organisation and their personal stature. 7. Have a powerful informal network through the Toastmasters Movement. 8. Unleashing of talent and growth allowing the organisation to grow with the movement.   

Sampath Bank CEO Aravinda Perera who has been the patron of Sampath Bank even before he took up the post as its CEO – was all praise of the club within his bank. He stated that the rapid change in the culture of the bank was very apparent. 

The budget approved for the club was richly rewarded with many of the staff being trained ‘in house’ in good communication skills – The leadership qualities of those who started the club had rapidly improved through the 15 years of its existence and they had never looked back with regard to its growth and improvement.

It was in year 2000 that the first Corporate Club was set up at Sampath Bank  - the second Club in Sri Lanka  - he pointed out that Sampath Bank was instrumental in the ‘Turning Point’ of the Toastmaster Movement in Sri Lanka as many Clubs had followed since then.

Dananjaya Hettiaratchchi, the World Champion of Public Speaking, said, “Toastmasters is a character building exercise - I owe everything to this program which changed my world.”

Toastmasters would change and recharge the character of your staff for the better – once you embrace this programme you would realize how your organisation would gain in the form of clarity and direction that it gives to have belief in one’s self and capabilities. 

Toastmasters are known as ‘Friends helping friends’ and it is truly a powerful network of positive re-enforcement through ways of giving feedback.
Peers encourage peers and inculcate in you the belief that you are capable of communicating effectively. Transformation occurs only when you have the correct people to guide you. The leaders and mentors from Toastmasters would help you transform into the leaders and communicators that you want to be.

Toastmasters have leaders that could be followed – the power of the network helps you to go forward to make the transformation. Toastmasters back up their words with deeds! 

They back up their words with genuine intentions because the programme is genuine. The movement is genuine.

Dananjaya stated, “This is the only movement in the world that focuses on self-development and character building - I would recommend this programme to each one of you – to come and experience the direction, belief and transformation of your personal.”

The welcome address was made by DTM Ajantha Jayawardena - Club Growth Director D 82 and the Vote of Thanks by Sudash Liyanage, the Programme Quality Director D 82.