Axiata Group Chief People Officer visit to Axiata Digital Labs

Axiata Digital Labs, the technology hub of Axiata Group Berhad, announced the successful official visit of the Group Chief People Officer, Norlida Azmi, to its Colombo headquarters. The visit, which took place on 7 June 2023, marked a significant milestone in Axiata's commitment to collaboration, innovation, and strategic management practices across its subsidiaries.

Norlida Azmi's visit served as a platform for engaging with employees and senior leadership to gain valuable insights into the dynamic ecosystem of Axiata Digital Labs, aiming to gain a comprehensive understanding of the strategic management framework employed by the organisation. Her keen focus on talent acquisition, development, and retention enabled her to identify best practices that will enhance Axiata’s overall human capital strategy. Furthermore, the visit played a pivotal role in shaping ADL's journey towards its ambitious ADL 3.0 3x3 strategy, aiming to achieve a remarkable growth of $ 100 million by FY25.

“I am truly honoured to have had the opportunity to visit Axiata Digital Labs headquarters in Colombo and witness the remarkable talent and dedication demonstrated by the team to grow within the organisation,” said Norlida Azmi. “Through this visit, I have gained invaluable insights into their strategic management practices and innovative approaches to human capital development. I firmly believe that by fostering a culture of continuous improvement and investing in our people, ADL can unlock the potential to achieve exponential growth as a leading global tech entity in the industry.”

Norlida was particularly impressed by the talent pool in Sri Lanka and recognised the vast potential it holds for Axiata Digital Labs. The visit provided her with first-hand experience of the skills, expertise, and enthusiasm exhibited by the ADL team members. The talent and dedication she witnessed reinforced her belief in the capabilities of the workforce and the significance of Axiata's presence in the country.

Axiata Digital Labs has already established a strong presence in Malaysia and Indonesia, and the organisation is now looking to further expand its operations globally. In line with this expansion plan, Axiata Digital Labs seeks to streamline the best people practices across all its locations. Norlida Azmi emphasised the commitment and support of Axiata Group Berhad Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Vivek Sood, in achieving this goal. By leveraging the collective strengths and expertise of the global workforce, Axiata Digital Labs aims to create a unified and inclusive work environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and excellence.

Axiata Digital Labs CEO Thushera Kwadawatta conveyed gratitude for Norlida Azmi's visit and the invaluable exchange of knowledge it enabled. He stated: “Oli's visit demonstrates Axiata Group's support and dedication to ADL's aspirations for growth and the creation of an inclusive workplace where our exceptional team can genuinely flourish. By leveraging the collective expertise entrenched in our organisation and fostering a culture of excellence, we are poised to embark on new horizons of sustainable growth and strengthen our industry-leading position.

The visit further solidifies Axiata's commitment to continuous improvement and learning experiences within Axiata Digital Labs and its subsidiaries. Norlida Azmi's active engagement with Axiata Digital Labs aimed to foster cross-functional collaboration and knowledge-sharing, promoting the exchange of innovative ideas and solutions among global teams. It also provided an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of the talented workforce and gain insights into their experiences, aspirations, and challenges. These interactions will play a crucial role in aligning the company's human resources initiatives with the evolving needs of its employees.”

Axiata Digital Labs Chief People Officer Chandi Darmaratne expressed her enthusiasm for the visit and its impact on the organisation's human capital strategy. 

“Group Chief People Officer Norlida's visit serves as a testament to the company's dedication to continuously improving its strategic management practices and fostering a culture of excellence. Furthermore, through this engagement with Oli, we have gained valuable insights that will enable us to further enhance our practices and their alignment with global standards to create an environment where our employees can flourish as one of the forefronts in the tech industry,” Darmaratne added.

Esteemed industry experts graced the occasion, including Department of Electronic & Telecommunication Engineering and Dialog-University of Moratuwa Mobile Communications Research Laboratory Director Professor Dileeka Dias, Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at the University of Moratuwa Dr. Gihan Dias, CODL Deputy Director Dr. Buddhika Karunarathna, ICTA Chairman Professor Malik Ranasinghe, Talliance Director and SLASSCOM Chairman Ashique M. Ali, Daily Financial Times Editor Nisthar Cassim, BCS Chief Technology Officer, Engenuity AI & Treasurer Alanzo Doll, FITIS Chairman Dr. Indika De Zoysa, PIM Former Director and the Chairman of the Board of Management and Senior Professor in Management, Professor Ajantha Dharmasiri and University of Moratuwa Professor Department of Computer Science Dr. Adeesha Wijayasiri. These industry experts added further value to the occasion with their presence and insights. The networking session further emphasised on Axiata’s dedication to the growth of Sri Lanka and its business interests in the country.

In conclusion, Axiata Digital Labs' successful visit by Norlida Azmi, reiterated ADL's potential to become a leading global tech entity in the industry. With its sights set on achieving remarkable growth and creating sustainable value, ADL remains steadfast in its pursuit of excellence and innovation in the ever-evolving global technology space.