I was really glad to get the chance to attend the Exceptional Leadership Forum 2025, organized by the Millennium Toastmasters Club, last evening.
The session focused on what leadership looks like today, especially in fast-changing corporate environments. The discussions centered around trust, resilience, team dynamics, and how modern leaders need to adapt to constant shifts in technology, people, and workplace expectations. It wasn’t just another leadership talk, it felt more like a reality check on what actually works versus what just sounds good in a presentation.
The speaker lineup brought in perspectives from multiple industries. Each of them shared insights from their own leadership journeys, which made the session more practical and relatable. Col. Raj Wijayasiri from Pincer & Fabian talked about leadership discipline and decision-making. Michelle de Silva from Hatton National Bank PLC shared her experiences in private banking and people-centered leadership. Dinuka Perera from LankaPay spoke on driving innovation in fintech. Dr. Samantha Perera added an academic and strategic viewpoint, while Dr. Atorayev (Axiata Group), Attorney at Law Dr. Duminda Silva from DFCC Bank PLC, and Dinuk de Silva from Hatton National Bank PLC also contributed to discussions with their own experiences in corporate strategy, branding, and operational leadership.
One thing that stood out throughout the forum was a common theme: leadership today isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about earning trust and being consistent under pressure. Titles and positions may open doors, but they don’t make people follow you. Your actions do.
A big thank you goes to Tharindu Ameresekere and the entire Millennium TMC team for the invite. It was a session worth attending, not just because of the speakers, but because it pushed everyone in the room to reflect honestly on what kind of leaders we want to become.
If you’re curious to learn more or want to get involved in future initiatives, visit the forum link: turn1news0 (replace with your actual link when publishing)
Leadership is evolving fast. Forums like this remind us why the basics still matter!
