Description

A Historic Milestone for IEEE Student Branch of SLIIT Launching the Very First Podcast Series – December 2025 In a bold step toward redefining student-led innovation at the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), the IEEE Student Branch of SLIIT proudly introduced its inaugural podcast series as the cornerstone of the groundbreaking LeadSpring 2025 initiative. This marked the very first time the IEEE Student Branch at SLIIT ventured into podcast production — a creative fusion of digital storytelling, leadership inspiration, and real-world entrepreneurial opportunity. The series was masterfully organized by the IEEE IAS (Industry Applications Society) and IEEE PES (Power & Energy Society) Student Branch Chapters of SLIIT, in strong partnership with the IEEE IAS Sri Lanka Section and the wider IEEE Student Branch of SLIIT . Both episodes were professionally recorded in a state-of-the-art environment at SpaceHub Studio , Malabe, and released on YouTube in early December 2025, instantly making high-quality mentorship accessible to undergraduates, young professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka and globally. Episode 1: Building Confident Leaders Date: Uploaded on December 8, 2025 Platform: YouTube Youtube link: Building Confident Leaders | Mr. Manodya Nabadawewa (Chair – Student Activities, IEEE SL Section) Duration: 43 minutes Speaker name: Mr. Manodya Nabadawewa Hosted by Yohan Joseph, Vice Chair of the Branch Engagement Subcommittee under the Student Activities Committee of the IEEE Sri Lanka Section, this episode featured Mr. Manodya Nabadawewa, Manager at Trace Expert City – Sri Lanka. The session explored Mr. Nabadawewa’s definition of leadership as taking responsibility for decisions and making things happen through effective teamwork, emphasizing that a leader’s greatest strength is their team. A central theme of the discussion was his signature mantra, "When you see there is an opportunity, just grab it," a concept originating from the 2023 "Unravel" event that encourages undergraduates to have the courage to seize chances, noting that such initiative should be rewarded to spark further growth. Addressing resilience, he advised that during difficult periods, individuals should simply "hang in there" rather than forcing motivation, waiting for momentum to build before pushing forward once conditions improve. Furthermore, Mr. Nabadawewa highlighted communication as the most vital skill for solving future problems and encouraged becoming a "global citizen" by learning multiple languages to thrive in an increasingly connected world. The episode, which included a recommendation of the series House of Cards for understanding worldly complexities, concluded with the guest receiving a customized diary from MM Creation and a mug from appliances.lk as tokens of appreciation for his contribution to this landmark IEEE SLIIT initiative.