The Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) held its flagship 2024 Leadership Forum at the Shangri-La Colombo, gathering thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to chart a path for the future of business in Sri Lanka. This dynamic event was designed to inspire and equip the next generation of trailblazers in entrepreneurship and business innovation.
The forum’s keynote speaker, Ebraheem Al Samadi, a renowned luxury retail leader and Netflix’s “Dubai Bling” star, captivated the audience with his personal journey of entrepreneurial resilience and success. Al Samadi’s talk emphasized the importance of passion, perseverance, and ambition, offering attendees valuable lessons on the realities of business.
Adding to the event’s influential lineup was Harsha Fernando, an innovation strategist from Los Angeles, whose presentation, “Lead with Vision, Innovate with Purpose,” resonated with young entrepreneurs in attendance. Fernando underscored the role of adaptability, vision, and social impact in business success, encouraging attendees to drive meaningful change through purposeful innovation.
COYLE Chairman Thushira Radella also shared his insights on building sustainable enterprises and fostering growth. Known for his achievements across various industries, Radella reinforced COYLE’s mission to create a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs to thrive and expand beyond Colombo.
A notable highlight of the event was the launch of “Future Founders,” a COYLE initiative aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship at the school level. COYLE signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with three prominent schools to lay the groundwork for nurturing young talent. Future Founders will be expanded to include more schools, along with a seed fund and the COYLE Entrepreneurial Development Centre (EDC) to foster innovation and entrepreneurial skills from a young age.
The event was supported by Nations Trust Bank, a premier institution in Sri Lanka committed to promoting local entrepreneurs and innovation. This partnership underscores both organizations’ dedication to advancing Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurial landscape.
The COYLE 2024 Leadership Forum successfully brought together visionaries to re-envision business leadership, setting the stage for young entrepreneurs to create lasting success, innovate with integrity, and drive the future of Sri Lanka’s business landscape.