M2C – Military to Corporate Conversion holds its second graduation
View(s):Military to Corporate Entrepreneurship Capsule (M2C) – the second batch of 24 serving officers comprising 12 Major Generals, three Brigadiers, four Rear Admirals and five Commodores / Air Commodores – which guides the transformation of serving and retired military officers to a role in the corporate sector, held its graduation this week at the Water’s Edge, with Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne as Chief Guest.
The initiative which is sponsored by the Group Chairman of ACCESS Engineering PLC Sumal Perera was initially launched in March 2021, for retired officers. This is the first time that the initiative was open for the serving officers of the tri-forces and it was a tremendous success, said Gen (Rtd.) Daya Ratnayake, Patron and initiator of M2C in Sri Lanka, according to a Ceylon Chamber of Commerce media release.
The conversion kit that will help transform military veterans into corporate trailblazers ready to lead private or state-run organizations will encompass adoption of corporate work ethics and strategic thinking, people management and work agendas driven by wealth creation on the cutting-edge of technology and knowledge transfer, said Ranjeewa Kulatunga, Patron for the Alumni of IPMA-HR,US in Sri Lanka and Managing Director of Intercontinental Institute of Human Resource Management (IIHRM) which leads the ground-breaking programme.
The release said the nominations are managed by the M2C Operational Directorate headed by Major General K.T.A.D.S. Kolambathantri, , Air Vice Marshal Roshan Biyanwila – Director Admin SLAF, Commodore – Vijitha Marapana and Col. Sujeewa Rathnayake – M2C Military Coordinating officer under the direction of the Tri-Force Commanders in collaboration with OCDS. The IIHRM team of corporate consultants who facilitated the sessions – Mr. Kulatunga, Omar Khan – World Speaker and Founder Sensei International, Dr. Marlon Ferreira, Kumara Galhenage (Group GM Talent Development Brandix), Faraz Farook (Lead Consultant IIHRM), Ranjan de Silva (Chief Consultant IIHRM & Head Sensei Asia), Lalith Weeratunga (Principal Advisor to the President) and Bradley Emerson (Chief Consultant IIHRM and MD IIHE) received appreciation awards from Gen. Kamal Gunaratne. The Pre-Course Assessment was facilitated by Ms. Rukmani Manohar.
“As these professionals leave a distinguished military career, corporate Sri Lanka and state-run institutions have an invaluable opportunity to harness their superior skills and discipline. Trained to be officers and gentlemen, battle-hardened toughness is all but one part of their multi-faceted character and skill sets. Retiring officers must remain an invaluable asset to the country; we are indeed glad to be part of this laudable initiative working together alongside IIHRM and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce,” said Sumal Perera, Chairman of ACCESS Engineering PLC, the resource partner for the ‘M2C Military to Corporate Entrepreneurship Certification’ Capsule series.
“The specially designed immersion workshops give senior military officials a simulated experience in understanding how things click outside the military, the general business behaviour and just how to embrace the change while pointing them towards modern skill-sets they must acquire on the cutting-edge – especially with the introduction of a pre module assessment centre to determine the competency gaps of the participating officers makes the initiative valid, reliable and relevant to each individual,” said Prof. Gunapala Nanayakkara, head of the IIHRM Global Advisory Council.