The 2010 Business Leaders Summit, organised by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), struck a consistently inspirational tone during a day full of thought-provoking presentations and animated discussions.

Featuring a lively mix of both local and global luminaries from the corporate world, the programme, titled "Re-imagine; re-create", highlighted the pressing need for imaginative solutions that can transform Sri Lanka's business landscape.

Establishing the thematic framework for the event's sessions, BOI chairman Jayampathi Bandaranayake delivered an eye-opening assessment of the opportunities and challenges that await Sri Lankan businesses.

He emphasised the importance of investing in local strengths and urged the assembled corporate leaders to "create more Ramanujans" in both the private and public sectors, referring to the famed Indian who transcended his humble surroundings to become one of the world's greatest mathematicians.

Mr. Bandaranayake pointed to areas such as tourism, milk production, and export markets, amongst many others, as instrumental in propelling the country towards aggressive, but attainable, growth targets.

Elaborating on Mr Bandaranayake's remarks about the immense potential of inbound tourism, Ms Sandie Dawe, CEO of VisitBritain, recounted her firsthand experiences in successfully rebuilding Brand Britain. Voted the world's leading Tourist and Convention Bureau at the World Travel Awards in 2005, VisitBritain is a sterling example for Sri Lanka as our nation formulates a marketing strategy that best leverages its assets.

Referring to the growing trend towards experiential travel, Ms. Dawe evaluated the country's potential and was enthusiastic about the rich possibilities awaiting Sri Lanka. John Keells Holdings (JKH) deputy chairman Ajit Gunewardene brought to the forum both real-world insights as well as a clear-eyed vision of Sri Lanka's future.

Stressing the need to think big, Mr. Gunewardene used the commercial relationship between Hong Kong and China to draw an analogy to that between Sri Lanka and India, predicting that India, with a GDP of US$1.3 trillion and a population of over 1 billion, will soon take centre stage in the global economy.

Mr. Gunewardene then unveiled some of JKH's strategies for taking advantage of Sri Lanka's privileged position with respect to India, wowing the audience with the boldness and imaginativeness of the Group's ambitions.

Pointing out that outsized corporate visions need the support of both the marketing and finance teams in order to flourish, Mr. Ray Perry, executive director of brand profile and marketing at CIMA, showcased groundbreaking research that explored the interdependency between these two vital, but often disconnected, disciplines.

The 'infinity' model that he described affirmed the importance of generating value-creating ideas through marketing, while relying on finance to gauge and justify their effectiveness, or lack thereof.
The research, available to all CIMA members for free, is yet another example of the Institute's commitment to thought leadership and is certain to cause a much-needed re-think at corporate organisations around the world.

A paragon of thought leadership, MAS Holdings is admired both in Sri Lanka and abroad for its professional management style and commitment to continual re-invention. Its chairman, Deshamanya Mahesh Amalean, detailed his group's efforts to keep re-imagining and re-creating itself, noting that this involved more than just responding to market exigencies.

Underlining the importance of getting the fundamentals right, he spoke about the "MAS Experience" which includes building the right partnerships with talent, technology, and the community. Punctuating his remarks with a rousing video that delved into the Group's work with community stakeholders, Mr. Amalean succeeded in moving the heart, as well as the mind, and inspiring the corporate elite present to look beyond short-term gains in order to focus on true leadership.

Engaging the emotions was paramount to Mr. Reg Athwal, founder of the RAW Group and a renowned international public speaker, as he strove to motivate the audience to unleash their 'Mind DNA'.
Describing the corporate 'dream team', Mr Athwal underscored the need to recruit those who possess the talent, energy, cultural fit, and determination necessary to get results.

David Taylor, author of the best-selling Naked Leader books, got the assembled business leaders on their feet with a powerful breakdown of the 'formula for guaranteed success" and challenged them to lead with emotional intelligence.

Three highly interactive panel discussions, featuring all of the speakers as well as a number of leading lights from the corporate and academic spheres, complemented the presentations. Respected panelists including Mobitel CEO Suren Ameresekera, and Browns Group of Companies CEO Murali Prakash expounded on the themes and issues raised during the presentations.

Embodying the spirit of the day's proceedings, these stimulating conversations pointed the way towards a vision of a truly vibrant Sri Lanka, one that would require the single-minded dedication, energy, and imagination of its business leaders