The Association of HR Professionals Sri Lanka (AHRP) is proactively investing in the future of the HR profession through its flagship capability-building platform, Elevate U. This initiative is designed to accelerate the growth of early-career HR professionals by facilitating high-impact speed mentoring sessions with senior industry leaders.
Unlike typical workshop series, Elevate U is structured as a continuous learning journey. It underscores AHRP’s commitment to developing HR practitioners who are not only technically proficient but also purpose-driven, commercially savvy, and poised to influence organizations at a strategic level. The program’s unique speed-mentoring format provides an intimate environment where participants can gain actionable insights and practical takeaways directly from those shaping Sri Lanka’s corporate landscape.
Since its inception, Elevate U has consistently featured some of the country’s most esteemed HR and business leaders. In previous years, impactful sessions have been conducted by Dr. Roland Smith, Former Board Director and Chief Learning Officer of Brandix Apparel Limited, who led a session on ‘Building High-Performing Teams’. Aruni Abeysekera, Former Head of Talent, Culture and Inclusion at Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC, explored ‘How DEI Drives a High-Performing Culture’. Additionally, Suresh Muttiah, Group Chief Human Resources Officer of Aitken Spence PLC, discussed ‘Organisation Transformation – The HR Perspective’, while Rehan Anthonis, Senior Director – People Operations at Sysco LABS Sri Lanka, addressed ‘Designing Organisational Culture: How to Make It Work’.
The current financial year commenced in November with Isuru Gunasekara, Executive Vice President of the John Keells Group and Chief People Officer, delivering a compelling session on ‘From Crisis to Success: Transforming Business through People and Purpose’. This session explored how organizations can navigate disruption by prioritizing people at the heart of strategy and value creation.
The second session is scheduled for February 26, 2026, and will be led by Oshana Dias, Senior Vice President of AHRP. Her session, entitled ‘From Promise to Practice: The HR Professional’s Guide to Authentic Employer Branding’, will focus on translating organizational values into tangible employee experiences and positioning HR as the steward of credible, purpose-led brands.
With two more sessions planned for later in the year, AHRP’s Elevate U program continues to broaden its reach and impact within Sri Lanka’s HR community.
What distinguishes Elevate U is its speed-mentoring format—a dynamic, interactive experience that surpasses traditional learning methods. Speed mentoring is a focused engagement where senior leaders share real experiences that have influenced their leadership journeys. Rather than offering generic advice, the emphasis is on pivotal decisions, challenges, and lessons learned, helping emerging professionals develop judgment, resilience, and clarity of purpose through lived experiences.
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. This approach ensures every attendee departs with personalized insights, practical takeaways, and actionable strategies drawn from the experiences of successful HR and business professionals.
Reflecting the program’s impact, Asha Sasanki, Manager at Brandix and a participant at Elevate U, shared, “I found the program to be a meaningful platform to broaden my perspective and learn through cross-company experiences. The discussions were engaging, thought-provoking, and highly relevant to the challenges we face as HR leaders today. Overall, it was a truly enriching session that contributed greatly to my professional growth and left me with valuable insights to take back to my organization.”
Through Elevate U, AHRP continues to cultivate a new generation of HR professionals who are confident decision-makers, ethical leaders, and strategic partners to business. As the program expands throughout the year, it stands as a central pillar in AHRP’s broader capability-building agenda, reinforcing the organization’s role as the leading professional body shaping the future of HR in Sri Lanka.
