In the fast-paced arena where finance converges with technology, Mahesha Amarasuriya emerges as a trailblazing female leader, navigating this dynamic landscape with a visionary touch. As the Director at Mastercard Sri Lanka in International Markets, Mahesha stands as a beacon of innovation, skillfully steering through challenges and seizing opportunities at the nexus of the digital landscape and cutting-edge technology.
With a diverse academic background encompassing degrees in International Relations, English, and Demography from the University of Colombo, coupled with professional certifications including Fellow Membership of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (FCMA), Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), and membership of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Mahesha brings a unique blend of expertise to her role.
Her journey in the banking sector, spanning over 18 years, showcases her strategic acumen and deep understanding of financial services.
Inspired by world-class businesswomen in the card operator industry, Mahesha’s leadership mirrors the innovative spirit of pioneers. Drawing insights from their transformative leadership styles, Mahesha embodies a strategic vision that not only future-proofs financial institutions but also propels them towards unprecedented growth.
As she steers towards new horizons, Mahesha’s leadership echoes trailblazing spirit, relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to driving innovation serve as guiding beacons as she charts a course towards reshaping the future of technology in Sri Lanka.
This article invites readers to delve into Mahesha Amarasuriya’s insights, exploring the challenges and triumphs of her leadership at the crossroads of banking and technology. Discover how her strategic vision has not only future-proofed financial institutions but has also positioned her as a distinguished thought leader in driving innovation within the ever-evolving world of finance and technology.
Can you share with us your journey from your school days to your current position as a prominent businesswoman?
I am an only child, and both my parents were employed full-time. Though they were working, they set an example of being a united, caring, and loving family, laying the foundation for my personal and professional development. Having studied a combination of Arts and Commerce in school, I enrolled at the University of Colombo after A\Levels, and completed my degree in International Relations, English, and Demography. Simultaneously, I completed CIMA (UK) and am now a Fellow Member of the Institute. I am also a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and a Member of ACCA (UK). Thereafter, I completed my MBA at the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), University of Sri Jayewardenepura, becoming the first in the batch and also the valedictorian.
My professional journey started as a Management Trainee at NDB Bank. I was at NDB Bank for 12 years, specialising in the areas of Corporate Banking and Private Banking. Thereafter, I moved to Cargills Bank Limited as the Head of Private Banking and a Member of the Corporate Management. After a few years, I took up a further challenge of heading Cards and Electronic Payments as Assistant General Manager Card Services of Cargills Bank. Presently, I am working for Mastercard as a Director in the area of International Markets. On a less formal note, I have worked part-time as an English News reader for ITN and also hosted a musical show (Living a Crazy Life) for the same channel.
What were some of the major challenges you faced along the way, and how did you overcome them?
One key highlight was setting up Private Banking at Cargills Bank. I had a rare opportunity to set up a department from scratch. In the banking industry where everything is governed by rules and regulations, being given a blank canvas is a rare opportunity. I had the opportunity to set up the entire concept and the value proposition along with recruiting staff and getting involved in branding as well. Another challenge was taking on the role as Head of Cards and Electronic Payments. The issuance of Debit and Credit cards had just commenced at the Bank, and it was a challenge to penetrate the market as a new entrant and also for me without prior experience in this area, but it worked out well. Moving out of banking after 18 years and taking up a position at a technology company; Mastercard was another challenge. The journey over the last two years has been exciting and fulfilling in supporting the country in its digital journey. In all of these situations, the main factor to overcome challenges is to be ready to accept change, keep an open mind to learn, and put in your best effort in every new challenge. Every time you are pushed to the deep end, put all your effort and keep swimming, and before you know it, you will reach the shallow areas.
Could you highlight some of your key achievements throughout your career?
On a professional note, joining Cargills Bank as the youngest Corporate Management member (at the time) was an achievement. Thereafter, I was one of the few female heads of cards and acquiring within the payment industry in Sri Lanka. During my tenure, the bank became the first bank to successfully achieve Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCIDSS) for debit, credit, and acquiring. I then joined Mastercard as a Director. Simultaneously, I do need to mention my journey with CIMA, which also runs over 20 years, having become the President of the CIMA Students’ Society (which was the representative body of approximately 11,000 CIMA Students in Sri Lanka). My journey continued to become the Vice Chairperson of the CIMA Sri Lanka Board and the Chairperson of the CIMA Sri Lanka Country Network Panel (the representative body of CIMA members in Sri Lanka). I have then served on the Regional Advisory Panel for MESANA for Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA). I was then elected to the CIMA Global Council in 2022 representing South Asia and presently serving on the global Membership Committee as well. On a personal note, becoming a mother to my 3-year-old son is one of the most fulfilling achievements, and I am excited to walk through life with him.
How do you define success, and do you feel you’ve achieved your goals in life so far?
Success is subjective, and each person may define success differently. For me, it goes beyond titles and positions to what I would say “making an impact” and “feeling content or fulfilled”. Such an impact need not necessarily be at a national level or even organisational level. Making an impact in one person’s journey / life can make you feel that sense of fulfilment, which is sometimes beyond what you could feel or experience at a national level. In 2012, while I was working for NDB, I was in a cross-functional team (referred to as the Seven Star) responsible for developing special banking products for the North and East. The project was based on creating livelihood opportunities for the youth in the two provinces. This project gave me a lot of personal satisfaction; I was able to make a difference in the lives of many young people who had been deprived of opportunities for years. In another instance, I supported and encouraged one of my colleagues to participate in a speech contest, helping her to overcome her fears and build her confidence. Seeing her on stage as a finalist of the contest was one of the most fulfilling moments for me.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received in your professional journey, and how has it impacted your approach to leadership?
I think the best piece of advice I have received from one of my mentors is “choose your battles”. Whether it is your career journey or personal journey, you should have the “Big picture” or an end goal in mind. As one moves towards one’s goals, there are always setbacks and obstacles that come your way. Incidents that disappoint you, failures that weigh you down, and people who will betray you. But when you have that end goal or the “Big Picture” in mind, it helps you focus and keeps you going without being distracted or disheartened. This has greatly helped me in how I manage people and relationships and how I deal with situations. You have to lose some battles to ultimately win the war.
Considering your experience, what advice would you offer to aspiring businesswomen who are just starting their careers?
My main advice would be do not ever forget your core values and beliefs. Do not compromise on your integrity, honesty, and professionalism. While you achieve your dreams and goals, you also must win respect and acceptance as an individual. Titles and Positions will not last forever. The question you must ponder on is “will you still have friends around you the day you are without any titles and positions?” It is only if you are accepted and respected as an individual you will have true friends. The next advice is to help others on your way up because you will meet them on your way down too. Same as any other law of nature, Success and Setbacks are a cycle too. There are moments of success and there are moments of failures and setbacks. If you have helped others during your moments of glory you can expect a helping hand when you need one. You reach certain heights not entirely by yourself but with the help and support of those around you. Be humble to remember those who helped you and acknowledge and appreciate them without any reservation. Finally, it is all about happiness. Happiness is a journey and not a destination. Celebrate small wins, make pleasant memories, in the midst of all the work, have those special moments with your friends and family.
In your opinion, what qualities make a great leader, and how do you embody these qualities in your own leadership style?
I believe that honesty, integrity, commitment, drive, passion, and the ability to empower make a good leader. I am a believer in committing 200% to anything I undertake. There are many factors that impact success or failure, but if I have given my best effort, then I can be satisfied that the failure (if at all) was beyond my control. Honesty and integrity are my governing principles. Those are the pillars that stand strong. These are what I will not compromise, and I believe that has been a success factor for me. As a leader, it is important to be able to empower others. Allow others to use their creativity, skills, and capabilities to come up with solutions/answers independently. Everyone, especially young people such as Gen Z, expect a greater level of independence and freedom in their work to be able to make decisions and execute. While a leader must empower, he/she must also be there to guide and support and step in when needed.
Can you share your thoughts on the importance of fostering a positive attitude towards employees within an organisation?
An organisation, like everything else, faces continuous change due to internal and external factors. Changes to the external political environment, economic downturns, government policy changes, unexpected changes to the organisational structure including mergers and acquisitions can cause change within the organisation. Change generally causes anxiety, fear, and speculation among the staff, which is greatly detrimental to the productivity and efficiency of the organisation. Hence, on an ongoing basis, senior management needs to maintain open and transparent dialog/communication while creating a positive vibe and a positive attitude. A positive attitude includes encouraging creativity, accepting mistakes, and embracing diversity. Employees should feel their creativity and innovative ideas are being recognised and appreciated and also feel they have some space to experiment and fail without being reprimanded. Often creativity is suppressed due to the fear of failure. Fostering a positive attitude towards creativity will encourage new ideas and new thinking to flow in.
How do you prioritise work-life balance, and what strategies do you use to maintain it in your busy schedule?
There is no perfect work-life balance. It is about managing the imbalance and prioritising and giving your best at each point. When I am at work, I give my best effort there. I am grateful for the support system I have at home with the supervision of my parents that gives me peace of mind to concentrate on work while I am at work. When I am at home with the family especially with my son I give him my complete attention. Though it may be a few hours a day, that time is committed towards quality time with him. There are different phases of life where the priorities also shift either towards home or towards work. For example, the year my son was born my focus was entirely on him. While I was continuing to work I was not willing or ready for any new challenges on the work front. As he was growing up I was ready to take up new challenges, and that was when I moved jobs and careers from banking to tech. It doesn’t mean that family has stopped being a priority but a career change requires a higher weightage on the new job and new challenges. Therefore, it is about managing the imbalance and handling different priorities while holding everything together.
What do you believe is the role of mentorship in career development, and have you had any influential mentors throughout your journey?
I strongly believe in mentorship for professional development. While I was the Chairperson of the CIMA Sri Lanka Country Network Panel, I launched a mentoring program, L.E.A.P (Leadership Engagement for Aspiring Professionals) for CIMA students, which initiative has been continuing within Sri Lanka and at a regional level as well. I have been a mentor for several undergraduates within the national University system. As you start your career or even before starting a career there are many challenges a young person faces, be it work related, people related or about one’s own confidence and personality development. A mentor can guide a mentee through many such situations and difficult phases. I too have had several mentors who have helped me and advised me during my journey. My husband Rajeev Amarasuriya has been a great source of support and inspiration to reach to where I am and often pushing to raise the bar in everything I do.
