Humanity and humbleness, secrets of successful leader-Dian Gomes | Daily News

Humanity and humbleness, secrets of successful leader-Dian Gomes

Dian Gomes whose name is synonymous with the apparel industry and boxing in Sri Lanka last week shared how some of his own experiences which helped build the leadership role in him, with a group of business and corporate leaders at a forum organized by CIMA Sri Lanka at its auditorium.

He said arrogance is one major word one should part with. “If you are arrogant you will fall. Remember in life and leadership, the first lesson is humanity and humbleness. You can’t go to Harvard Business School and learn humanity. You have to learn it for yourself,” he said.

Recalling how he built his leadership skills, Gomes said, “I learned two things; I learned humility. If you are arrogant that would be the end of your leadership from the start. Over the years I have realized the higher you go up, the higher the organization, you become simpler and simpler.”

Gomes had found employment and educational opportunities for boxers selected into the program that he initiated and promoted.

He said they have progressed tremendously professionally and personally. “They have all built their own houses; have bought vehicles and have done well. I kept my promises.”

Gomes travelled to Cuba and convinced their administration to assist Sri Lankan boxing. “If people want to help they will help. If they don’t want to help they won’t help. That is the reality anywhere in the world.” Gomes advised the audience to get on the same page as other people.

He said a former boxer, Caldera Hallesage who wrote a book titled “Sri Lanka Proud” referred to Gomes without mentioning his name. “He was kind enough to take my name off; he wrote “he (Gomes) was a very good boxer but he was fighting for the honour of his school. I was fighting for my life.” Caldera knocked out Gomes in a boxing match when they were both youths. Gomes and Caldera later met and discussed the fight later. At the discussion Caldera had told Gomes, “When I (Caldera) looked at the five judges seated around who judged the fight most of them would be wearing the crest of Royal College, St Thomas, Trinity or Ananda or one of the public schools here. On the other side of the crest of the blazer would be the University of London or Cambridge or Oxford. Me coming from (a poor) background I thought there will be no meritocracy.”

Gomes later added, “There were more meritocracies at that time.” Caldera represented Sri Lanka at the Asian games. In 1978 he won a bronze medal for Sri Lanka.


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