1The Challenge
What was the challenge?
40 participants from the leadership team of EY GDS, Sri Lanka, engaged in a 2-day Leadership Bootcamp focused on openness, collaboration, innovative thinking, storytelling, and purpose-driven leadership—anchored in EY’s Transformative Leadership Model.
2Our Solution
What solution did we design?
The bootcamp was structured with distinct outcomes for each day: Day 1 - began with the Green Dot Exercise to set expectations and reinforce psychological safety for open sharing. This was followed by Speed Networking to foster team bonding and kickstart collaboration. The main challenge of the day was the Pyramid Challenge, where teams constructed thematic pyramids around concepts such as thought leadership, collaborative mindset, big-picture thinking, and impact-driven communication. Teams presented their pyramids, engaging in reflective discussions that led to a debrief on the Innovation Mindset Model, connecting creativity with collaboration. Day 2 - opened with the Image Pool Exercise, allowing each participant to choose an image and share a personal story, promoting empathy and inclusive dialogue. The next challenge, Laser Bond, tested problem-solving and collaboration under pressure, with a debrief based on the 4 Cs Model—Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity. The final challenge, Solar Fusion, involved building solar lamps, which were later donated to children from an NGO in Colombo. This experience was connected to the EY Transformative Leadership Model and concluded with a debrief using Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle, encouraging leaders to reflect on their Why, How, and What in leading with purpose and impact.
3How We Did It
How was the programme delivered?
Participants worked in teams through a series of immersive, hands-on challenges aimed at strengthening team dynamics, building strategic thinking, and aligning with leadership values. The bootcamp design ensured progressive learning, from openness and collaboration to purpose and impact. Activities were carefully selected to integrate leadership reflection with practical action, enabling high engagement and meaningful takeaways.
4Key Outcomes
What were the results?
The Leadership Bootcamp inspired participants to lead with intention, empathy, and clarity. The integration of storytelling, strategic collaboration, and purpose-driven action created a powerful learning environment. The use of Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle during Solar Fusion left a lasting impression, connecting participants to their deeper purpose as leaders. The bootcamp concluded with strengthened relationships, renewed energy, and alignment with EY’s vision of building a better working world.