Leadership with Soul 2026: UOC Connects Students with Global Business Leadership
The Faculty of Management and Finance (FMF), University of Colombo, successfully conducted Leadership with Soul (LWS) – Global CEO Engagement, providing students with a unique opportunity to interact directly with a globally recognised business leader and gain insights into leadership, business, and professional development.
Organised by the Career Guidance Unit (CGU) of FMF, the programme featured Mr. André Lacroix, an internationally experienced business leader, in an engaging session that brought together students, academics, and the wider business community.
The programme attracted an exceptionally high level of student participation, reflecting the growing interest among FMF undergraduates in engaging with leading corporate professionals and gaining perspectives beyond the classroom.
A key component of the programme was the LWS Inter-Departmental Quiz Competition, which received an unexpectedly high number of student participants. The competition provided an opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge, teamwork, strategic thinking, and competitive spirit.
The interactive Q&A session was another highlight of the event. Students enthusiastically engaged with the CEO, raising thoughtful and insightful questions on leadership, business, careers, and the changing world of work. The CEO personally selected the best question from the session, recognising the quality and relevance of student engagement.
The event also provided an opportunity for students and staff to come together as the FMF community, with enthusiastic participation in the group photograph and other activities throughout the programme.
Widespread Media Recognition
The success of Leadership with Soul extended beyond the University, attracting considerable interest from the national and business media. The event received coverage from several leading media organisations, including News Asia, Sunday Times, The Island, Daily News, Hiru News, Daily FT, Financial Chronicle, EconomyNext, Daily Mirror, and Newswire.
The widespread publicity highlights the relevance of initiatives that create meaningful connections between higher education, students, and the corporate sector.
A Collective Achievement
The success of LWS was made possible through the collective efforts of the FMF community. The Career Guidance Unit extends its sincere appreciation to the Dean and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Management and Finance for their guidance, encouragement, and support in making the initiative possible.
The CGU also acknowledges the contribution of the academic, administrative and non-academic staff members, student volunteers, and all others who supported the programme at various stages.
A special appreciation is extended to the FMF Media Team for its excellent coverage of the event and for documenting and communicating the key moments of the programme.
Most importantly, the success of Leadership with Soul reflects the enthusiasm, confidence and active participation of FMF students. Their engagement demonstrated the willingness of the next generation of business graduates to learn directly from experienced leaders, ask challenging questions, and participate actively in conversations shaping the world of business.
Leadership with Soul 2026 stands as another significant initiative by FMF to strengthen the connection between academic learning, student development, and the professional world, while creating opportunities for students to develop the leadership mindset required to succeed in an increasingly dynamic global business environment.
