Cricketing legend Gary Kirsten inspires Unilever Sri Lanka leadership

Friday, 15 August 2014 00:37 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The senior managers at Unilever Sri Lanka recently had the opportunity to attend an exclusive session with former South African cricketer, and the coach of the World Cup Champion Indian cricket team, Gary Kirsten. Kirsten is no stranger to cricket lovers in Sri Lanka, and is well known amongst cricketing fans for being the driving force behind the turnaround of Indian cricket, which ultimately led to their World Cup victory in 2011. Unilever Sri Lanka is at a crucial point at its business, where the team is on the journey of accelerating growth to meet many stretching ambitions and goals. With a group of talented and motivated individuals ready to pull the business to greater heights, it was an opportune time to draw on the experience of Kirsten to motivate the team to take the challenge. Speaking to over 60 Unilever leaders, Kirsten spoke about how he joined the Indian team in his first international coaching assignment, as the coach to a group of many brilliant individuals who were not yet functioning together as a strong and coherent team. He emphasised the importance of building connections and trust, and understanding what different individuals needed support in and aspired to achieve. He assumed the role of a facilitative leader, drawing on his experience as a father, and worked to fit the many different talents of the players into the overall team ambition of becoming the best team in international cricket. Speaking about the event, Head of Modern Trade for Unilever Sri Lanka Viranga Wickramaratne thanked Unilever Sri Lanka for facilitating this event, stating: “Kirsten’s humility in my opinion was the most inspiring aspect of his sharing and of course his reason for the success.” All in attendance agreed that Kirsten’s inspirational story moved them to galvanise their teams to meet Unilever Sri Lanka’s growth ambition.