Ruwani Wimalasena MBA (UK), DTM

Experience

• 

  Nations Trust Bank PLC

  Jan 2008 - now

  Key Responsibilities:🔹 Lead Talent Reviews – Oversee the complete execution of Talent Reviews, ensuring a structured and insightful process.🔹 Career & Succession Planning – Develop and implement Career & Succession Planning strategies for identified high-potential talent.🔹 Talent Development – Design and implement structured talent development initiatives to nurture future leaders and enhance workforce capabilities.🔹 Talent Acquisition Projects – Drive and execute special projects related to Talent Acquisition, ensuring strategic hiring and workforce planning.🔹 Employee Engagement & Surveys – Implement and execute engagement activities in line with the planned engagement calendar, including Bank-wide special staff surveys. Strategic Focus Areas:✅ Aligning talent review concepts with evolving industry trends and global best practices.✅ Establishing high-impact development initiatives tailored to high-potential talent.✅ Optimizing budgets while delivering value-driven learning and development interventions.✅ Identifying and leveraging the right mix of internal and external trainers or learning solutions to meet diverse development needs. Show less Key Responsibilities:🔹 Employee Engagement Strategy – Developed and implemented the Bank’s employee engagement strategy to foster a positive and motivated workforce.🔹 Engagement Initiatives – Led the execution of key engagement activities for all employees, enhancing workplace culture and collaboration.🔹 Grievance Management – Handled staff grievances and complaints, ensuring timely follow-ups and corrective actions for improved workplace harmony.🔹 Employee Feedback & Resolution – Collected regular feedback from staff, identifying and addressing concerns to drive greater engagement and satisfaction.🔹 Surveys & Insights – Organized internal and external surveys to capture employee feedback and drive data-driven improvements.🔹 Leadership Communication – Facilitated town halls and staff meetings with Corporate Management to promote transparency and alignment.🔹 Industry Relations & Staff Welfare – Strengthened industry relationships and led initiatives to enhance staff welfare and workplace well-being.🔹 Employee Pulse Monitoring – Conducted regular branch and location visits to understand employee sentiment and ensure continuous engagement.🔹 Internal Communications – Composed and managed internal communications, keeping employees informed and aligned with organizational updates. Show less Key Responsibilities:🔹 Sales & Service Training – Designed, coordinated, and conducted training programs for both frontline and support staff to enhance sales and service excellence.🔹 Customer Service Development – Delivered classroom and on-the-job training for branch staff, addressing identified service gaps and improving customer interactions.🔹 Soft Skills & Leadership Training – Facilitated programs on Business Etiquette & Grooming, Communication & First Impressions, Time Management, and Leadership to enhance professional growth.🔹 New Employee Onboarding – Led the Induction Program for new recruits, ensuring a seamless transition into the organization.🔹 Team Development – Conducted Team Work Development (TWD) programs to foster collaboration and strengthen workplace synergy. Show less Key Responsibilities:🔹 Branch Operations & Compliance – Oversaw daily branch operations, ensuring adherence to compliance standards and supporting the Assistant Manager in achieving a ‘Good’ audit rating.🔹 Operational Coordination – Acted as the key liaison between the branch and other business units, addressing and resolving operational issues efficiently.🔹 Policy & Process Adherence – Ensured tellers and banking assistants complied with the Branch Operations Manual, maintaining operational excellence.🔹 Reconciliation & Follow-ups – Managed branch account reconciliations and followed up on outstanding items to ensure financial accuracy. Show less

  • Manager - Learning & Development

    Sept 2021 - now

  • Manager - Employee Engagement

    Jan 2018 - Sept 2021

  • Deputy Manager - Sales & Service Training

    Sept 2013 - Jan 2018

  • Senior Banking Assistant - Branch Operations

    Sept 2012 - Sept 2013

  • Trainee Banking Assistant / Banking Assistant

    Jan 2008 - Aug 2012
• 

  Toastmasters International

  Jan 2010 - Dec 2023

  Distinguished Toastmaster

  I held the positions at Nations Toastmasters as a President, Vice President Education, and Treasurer and became the Area Director for A1 in 2016/2017. While serving as an Area Director, I achieved the President's Distinguished Area status. Currently, I hold the 'Distinguished Toastmaster' status in Toastmasters and the 1st to hold the title in Nations Toastmasters Club. Few other Toastmaster accolades would be: *Outstanding Toastmaster for the year 2011/2012 of Nations Toastmasters*First time Triple Crown Award Winner in Nations Toastmasters – 2015/1016*Hall of Fame Award for Excellence in Club Quality from District 82 – 2015/2016*Achieved the Golden Gavel Plus award for the first time for Nations Toastmasters under my presidency in 2016*1st Runner Up in the Evaluation Contest 2018, Division A, District 82*2nd Runner Up in the Evaluation Contest 2019, Division A, District 82*Completion of Toastmasters International Communication Programs:- Competent Communicator - June 23, 2012- Advanced Communicator Bronze - June 28, 2013- Advanced Communicator Silver - May 08, 2014- Advanced Communicator Gold - April 28, 2016*Completion of Toastmasters International Leadership Programs: - Competent Leader - January 4, 2016- Advanced Leader Bronze - February 12, 2016- Advanced Leader Silver - June 09, 2019- Leadership Excellence - May 22, 2019*Mentor for Pan Asia Toastmasters CB-05859174 - Apr. 12, 2017*Sponsor for PickMe Toastmasters Club CB-07928099 - Nov. 29, 2021*Assistant Division Director, Program Quality during the tenor 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 for Division A, District 82*Division Director for the tenor 2022/2023 for Division A, District 82*Achieving the Excellence in Leadership Award of District 82 for 2020-2021*Serving as a facilitator for the program 'From Speaker to Trainer' organized by the District 82 Toastmasters (23rd - 24th Jan 2021, at Hilton Colombo Hotel) Show less