CHAPTER: 01

The Beginning

What started as a message on the student WhatsApp group somehow spiraled into one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve ever had.

The message read:
"Only 10 volunteer slots are available — first come, first served… Selected volunteers will gain invaluable experience and receive a prestigious Letter of Appreciation from ICF Colombo Chapter."

Honestly, that was all I needed to hear.

Did we know what the ICF Colombo Chapter actually was? Nope.

Did we have a clue what “coaching” meant as a profession? Also nope.

But hey, it sounded fancy enough for a bunch of clueless-but-curious Business undergrads to throw our names in. And just like that, deal sealed.

A quick round of short interviews later, we met Ms. Chathuskka, the mastermind who decided to rope in SLIIT students as volunteers for this big-deal event.

(Bless her, because without her, we’d still be sitting at Anohana debating whether iced coffee counts as lunch.)

My first official “volunteer duty” came with backup, my batch rep and fellow volunteer, Sehansa. Together, we trudged over (read: dramatically dragged our tired student selves) to the Smart Quest office to meet the big names behind this mysterious “ICF Colombo Chapter.”

And that’s when we met the wonderful Ms. Andrea Jayatilleka, the President herself, and Mr. Chandana, Executive Committee member, and honestly, the man should consider a side hustle in student counseling. The way he patiently handled our wide-eyed confusion was nothing short of professional-level mentoring.

Our very first task? To invite corporates and individuals in leadership roles to attend the conference. Sounds simple, right? If only! Fast forward through what felt like a hundred phone calls and collecting enough email IDs to make Gmail raise an eyebrow, we somehow got it done.

Pre Conference Shenanigans

One of the perks of being a volunteer? We were invited to attend the pre-conference webinars. And let me tell you, the session with Dr. Ben Koh, founder of Coach Masters Academy, was it.

His take on the Reflective Mind, “a trainable mental capacity that helps you notice how your attention is being pulled,” was equal parts fascinating and mind-bending.

Who knew brains came with hidden upgrade options?

As the days drew closer to the big event, I finally got to meet my fellow volunteers in person. Until then, they were just names floating on Zoom calls. The reality? A beautiful mess… and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Here’s the lineup: four second-year business undergrads (Suvethini, Dhakshinie, Afra, and Mishal), a cool fourth-year senior (Aysha), me and my partner-in-crime Sehansa, our very own third-year influencer Sarmi (because every squad needs one), and the loving Sonali: mom, superwoman, and the natural guardian of the group.

It still amazes me how a group of people who would’ve never crossed paths despite literally roaming the same campus grounds every week, were brought together by this one event. Fate? Absolutely.

The day before the conference, we finally met the rest of the ExCo members. And honestly, if I had to describe them in one word?

Chaos! But the good kind.

There was Mr. Azeem Saheer, Project Chair and Vice President of ICF, basically the living embodiment of “organized chaos.” Then there was Ms. Inouka Dias, whose energy was palpable and Mr. Roshanta Jayatunga, who wore his Batman t-shirt in appreciation of Batman Day. (Apparently, it exists) And the rest of the team? Let’s just say if passion and dedication were Olympic sports, they’d be winning gold medals left, right, and center.

The sheer amount of effort that went into this event was jaw-dropping. Every detail, down to the tiniest things, was thought through, refined, and perfected.

It wasn’t just work. It was extraordinary work.

D-Day

Finally, the big day arrived, September 24th. Day one of the Second International Coaching Conference. The day we’d all been waiting (and slightly stressing) for. We kicked off the adventure bright and early, 6 a.m. at Cinnamon Life, the City Of Dreams (indeed!).

I started things off with Sehansa by welcoming guests and handing out goodie bags. Simple in theory. But when you’ve spent hours in haphazard packing and mild panic mode, every neatly placed notebook and leaflet feels like a personal victory.

Next stop: the interactive social spaces. My assignment? The SuperPower Wall, a spot where participants could write or draw a strength, talent, or quality that brought them success. Honestly, watching people pause, think, and then proudly share their “superpowers” was nothing short of inspiring.

Of course, no grand Sri Lankan event is complete without a ceremonial twist. Cue the bulath leaf ritual. But here’s the plot twist, confusion broke out on which way the leaf should actually be handed over.

After much polite debate (and some subtle side-eye exchanges), it was unanimously decided: Stem facing inwards. Crisis averted. Tradition saved.

The first keynote came from Professor Suranga, who spoke on Assistive Augmentation: Fundamentally Transforming Human Ability. Big title, big ideas. My brain was buzzing.

Session 1 brought us back to Dr. Ben Koh. His message? Don’t focus on the “how” instead, focus on the “what.”

We also had Swetha Handagupta with The Future is Human: Coaching at the Edge of What Comes Next and guest speaker Linda Berlot with Session 2 on Fostering Team Excellence.

What I loved most?

The sessions weren’t just “sit quietly and nod” affairs. They were interactive, engaging, and refreshingly alive.

Not one boring moment…though I can only officially vouch for myself.

(And yes, you, the guy in the last table who was trying really hard not to fall asleep after the big buffet lunch, I saw you. I’m looking at you.)

Day 2

Breakfast that morning? Kiribath. Hands down the best I’ve ever had (sorry, Mom, I know you’re side-eyeing me right now).

And a life lesson from fellow volunteer Aysha: hotel desserts may look fancy, but they don’t always taste as good as they promise.

Next up was a live coaching demo by Team Coach Subash, followed by a panel discussion featuring Shwetha, Mayura Malagala, and Hashitha. Insightful, engaging, and yes, still no chance for boredom. (Maybe just a little)

Then, just when we thought our brains were full, a musical duo, saxophonist and a violinist took the stage and wow, the crowd was officially mesmerized. Talent overload. Literal goosebumps, I tell you.

Shoutout to Suvethini, who was so determined to play all the games at the Thyaga stall… that somehow, I ended up winning a voucher!

Session 3 was led by Asmaa Alkuwari, who walked us through Designing Communities That Hold Us: The Missing Link in the Coaching World. Thought-provoking, interactive, and perfect for reflecting on the “we” in all of us.

And then… a moment to remember: We Will Rock You blasting through the hall, and suddenly, these big-shot professionals, CEOs, coaches, and industry leaders, just let loose and tapped their feet to the beat.

The final session of the day? Kushil Gunasekera, former cricketer, businessman, and philanthropist, who reminded us of the art of giving, sharing stories from his Foundation of Goodness. A beautiful close to a day packed with learning, inspiration, and human connection.

By the end of it all, I was buzzing from meeting people from all kinds of backgrounds, gaining valuable insights, and walking away with takeaways that went far beyond coaching.

The big concept we explored? I, We, and Us.

And honestly, it felt like we had touched a little bit of all three.

Working for and with these incredible people taught me so much about kindness, responsibility, and actually seizing opportunities when they come your way. I got to see the real meaning of “working together,” and learned that work can be fun if it’s done right.

I’m leaving this experience inspired, grateful, and already looking forward to the next opportunity to learn, contribute, and maybe vibe a little too.

Penned By:

Rtr. Amna Thanzeel

Editorial Committee Member 25.26