SLID webinar shares insights on how CEOs must lead during pandemic

The CEO Forum of The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) recently arranged a panel discussion and webinar titled “How the Pandemic has Changed the Way CEOs Must Lead” to discuss and share insights on the pandemic-led leadership style changes that were implemented by CEOs to successfully navigate their companies during the extremely challenging period. Moderated by Dinesh Weerakkody-Vice Chairman of SLID, the panel consisted of experienced business leaders Hajar Alafifi-Chairperson, Unilever Sri Lanka, Kshanika Ratnayaka-CEO, Great Place to Work, and Sachi Thomas-Director PT Nestle & PT Wyeth Nutrition Indonesia and former CEO GSK (Consumer) Sri Lanka. Session chair Rolf Blaser – CEO of A Baur & Co introduced Felicio Faraaz-Former CEO of British American Tobacco in Sri Lanka Caucasus, the Caribbean, and Central America.

Delivering his keynote address, Felicio Faraaz said that while hard skills are sufficient for managing in stable conditions both hard and soft skills are essential to managing in turbulent and crisis situations such as during the pandemic adding that companies that invested in training the managers, CEOs, and leaders in soft skills to face these turbulent times had a competitive advantage in successfully facing the pandemic. “It is important to strike the right balance, and one needs to have good interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, and leaders need to keep calm in turbulent times. Leaders must guide the organization to succeed in an environment that can change overnight”.