ICBS Marks 40 Years with Bold New Launch: The Imperial Institute of Leadership and Strategy (IILS)
COLOMBO, Date
The Institute of Chartered Business Studies (ICBS) celebrated its 40th anniversary tonight with a pivotal announcement: the launch of the Imperial Institute of Leadership and Strategy (IILS). This new venture, introduced to a gathering of distinguished guests, colleagues, partners, alumni, and friends, signifies a forward-looking response to the rapidly changing global landscape.
Addressing the Future of Work
The launch speech highlighted the urgent need for transformation, citing the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, which predicts that 22% of current jobs—equating to 92 million jobs globally—will be displaced by 2030. In a world defined as volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA), the speaker emphasized that Leadership and Strategy are the non-negotiable pillars for success.
"These two pillars have always been central to progress, and today, they are non-negotiable. They are what will help us: Harness technology instead of competing with it... Navigate complexity and turn it into opportunity."
Launch of IILS: A National Commitment
The Imperial Institute of Leadership and Strategy (IILS) is described as "not just a new arm of ICBS," but a "national commitment" and a "future-facing force for executive education and consultancy."
IILS aims to build leaders who are not merely competent but transformational—driven by purpose, grounded in values, and authentically strategic in their thinking and action.
The institute will offer an unparalleled portfolio of executive education programs and consultancy services tailored for a diverse clientele:
- Young leaders stepping into the unknown.
- Corporates navigating change.
- Academics shaping the next generation.
- The public sector looking to lead with vision and impact.
Global Expertise Meets Local Brilliance
IILS has assembled an "extraordinary, unorthodox, and diverse team" that combines the brilliance of local minds with the power of global expertise. Its faculty, advisors, and collaborators are noted as thought leaders, practitioners, and disruptors poised to guide this journey of transformation.
The new institute's mission extends beyond its own operations. It issued an open invitation for collaboration to the entire educational ecosystem—universities, institutions, and practitioners—to build a platform for "shared excellence, innovation, and collective growth."
Vision for the Future
The overarching vision for IILS is to become Sri Lanka's Center of Excellence for Leadership and Strategy, serving as a critical intervention to shape the nation's future.
"Let's ignite minds. Let's inspire action. Let's shape leaders who will not only survive the future, but own it."
The launch marks a significant step in ICBS's evolution, transforming its four decades of educational excellence into a focused effort to address the leadership and strategic challenges of the 21st century.