Smart Quest 20th anniversary celebrations marked a significant milestone for the leadership development firm as it launched a new team development experience and unveiled the pre-launch edition of its founder’s first leadership book.
Smart Quest 20th anniversary unveils The Growth Circle and Rooted leadership book
Smart Quest Ltd. commemorated two decades of leadership development, coaching and organisational transformation with an intimate event at Cinnamon Life, Colombo, bringing together clients, partners, faculty members and business leaders representing more than 30 organisations across Sri Lanka’s corporate sector.
The event celebrated the company’s journey over the past 20 years while introducing two major initiatives that signal its next phase of growth—the official launch of The Growth Circle and the pre-launch of “Rooted: In Stillness He Taught Me Everything About Leadership,” the first book by Smart Quest Founder and Director Andrea Jayatilleka.
Chief Operating Officer Oshana Dias opened the evening by reflecting on the company’s legacy and setting the stage for discussions focused on the changing needs of modern workplaces, where leadership, collaboration and personal growth continue to play an increasingly important role.
A highlight of the Smart Quest 20th anniversary event was the inaugural session of The Growth Circle, an interactive team development experience designed to strengthen trust, encourage meaningful dialogue and foster conscious leadership within organisations. Co-facilitated by Andrea Jayatilleka and Murshid Munshif, the session guided participants through a reflective journey based on five layers of personal and professional growth inspired by neurological levels of thinking and the concept of the “Still Point” explored in Andrea’s upcoming book.
Rather than relying on traditional presentations, participants engaged in structured conversations using picture cards, post-it notes and thread to explore themes such as automatic behaviours, self-awareness, learning and intentional decision-making. The interactive format encouraged honest dialogue among participants from diverse industries while demonstrating how The Growth Circle can help organisations build stronger workplace relationships and more aligned teams.
Reflecting on the company’s journey, Andrea Jayatilleka said the anniversary represented an opportunity to acknowledge the people who had contributed to Smart Quest’s success over the past two decades.
“Twenty years ago, we started with a belief that the right development, at the right time, changes people. Tonight reminded us why that belief is worth everything,” she said.
She noted that the organisation has witnessed individuals become stronger leaders, teams improve collaboration and businesses unlock new levels of organisational potential through targeted leadership development initiatives. Looking ahead, she said Smart Quest remains committed to creating spaces where people can reflect, connect and grow with greater purpose.
The event also featured the pre-launch of the Rooted leadership book, introduced by Michelle de Silva. In an emotional moment, Andrea presented the first copy to her mother in tribute to her late father, J. Claude Baldsing, whose values and approach to leadership inspired the publication.
The book presents 20 reflections drawn from her father’s quiet yet influential leadership style, exploring themes including self-improvement, compassion, authenticity, resilience and lifelong learning. Through personal experiences and practical insights, the publication encourages readers to adopt leadership principles that create lasting impact within organisations and communities.
The evening concluded with reflections from Andrea Jayatilleka and Director Anil Bandara, who highlighted Smart Quest’s long-standing partnerships with clients and reaffirmed the company’s belief that investing in people remains one of the strongest drivers of organisational success.
Following its successful introduction, The Growth Circle will now be offered to organisations across Sri Lanka. Facilitated by Smart Quest’s International Coaching Federation (ICF)-credentialed coaches, the programme is tailored to each team’s unique context and aims to replace conventional training methods with facilitated conversations that strengthen trust, alignment and long-term performance.
As it enters its third decade, the Smart Quest 20th anniversary milestone reflects not only the company’s achievements in leadership development but also its continued commitment to supporting individuals, teams and organisations through innovative learning experiences that encourage sustainable growth and purposeful leadership.