SLIM hosts Members’ Forum featuring Prof. Padmanabhan  

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) concluded an insightful and engaging Experience-Sharing Forum (ESF) on the topic ‘The Evolving Leadership Role of Marketers’ on 18 May at the Galle Face Hotel. 
The event brought together over 70 SLIM Members, Associate Members, and SLIM Professional Members for an evening dedicated to thought leadership, professional learning, and industry networking.
The keynote session was delivered by globally renowned academic and marketing expert Prof. Paddy Padmanabhan, Unilever Chaired Professor of Marketing at INSEAD, Singapore. 
Widely respected for his research and contributions in the areas of business disruption, organizational renewal, transformation, and emerging markets, Prof. Padmanabhan shared valuable insights on how the role of marketers has evolved far beyond traditional brand communication to become a critical driver of business growth, innovation, and strategic leadership.
The event was attended by SLIM President Enoch Perera, SLIM Joint Secretary Asanka Perera, and SLIM Executive Committee Member Channa Jayasinghe, along with members representing various sectors of Sri Lanka’s marketing and business community.
Sharing his thoughts during the session, Prof. Paddy Padmanabhan said, “The marketer’s role today is increasingly intertwined with enterprise leadership. Organizations now expect marketers to not only understand consumers and markets, but also to guide transformation, navigate uncertainty, and help businesses remain relevant in highly competitive environments. It was a pleasure to engage with Sri Lanka’s dynamic marketing community and exchange ideas on these important developments.”
Commenting on the significance of the event, SLIM President Enoch Perera stated, “SLIM continuously strives to provide meaningful learning opportunities that connect Sri Lanka’s marketing professionals with globally recognized expertise and contemporary industry thinking. 
Prof. Paddy Padmanabhan’s session offered valuable perspectives on the evolving expectations placed on marketers and highlighted the importance of leadership, adaptability, and innovation in today’s business environment.”
Throughout the session, participants were encouraged to rethink the future responsibilities of marketers in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing global business environment. Discussions focused on leadership agility, customer-centric transformation, data-driven decision-making, and the growing expectation for marketers to contribute meaningfully to overall organizational strategy and long-term value creation.
Sharing his views on the ESF, SLIM Vice President, Education & Research Manthika Ranasinghe stated, “Today’s marketers are expected to lead with both strategic vision and adaptability in an increasingly dynamic business environment. This ESF created an important platform for professionals to gain fresh global perspectives on leadership, transformation, and the expanding role marketers play in shaping organizational success.”
SLIM Vice President, Events & Sustainability, Mr. Rajiv David too shared his insights and said, “SLIM remains committed to curating impactful forums that encourage meaningful industry dialogue and continuous professional growth. The strong participation and engagement witnessed at this ESF reflected the growing importance of leadership-driven marketing and the value of knowledge-sharing within Sri Lanka’s marketing community.”
The event concluded successfully with an interactive networking session, reaffirming SLIM’s commitment to advancing marketing excellence, professional development, and thought leadership within Sri Lanka’s evolving business landscape.