In the dynamic landscape of Sri Lankan food manufacturing, Ms Shea Wickramasingha stands as a beacon of transformative leadership.
As the Group Managing Director at CBL Group, a renowned food manufacturer recognised for producing Munchee biscuits and boasting a legacy as one of Sri Lanka’s oldest biscuit makers, Shea Wickramasingha exemplifies innovation and sustainability at the helm of an industry giant.
Driven by a vision of greater overall sustainability, Shea Wickramasingha spearheads CBL’s ambitious efforts, steering the company towards global prominence while fostering robust sustainable practices at its core.
The fruits of this innovation have not gone unnoticed, as CBL has garnered numerous industry accolades for its unwavering commitment to quality, export standards, productivity, corporate social responsibility and “agricultural excellence.”
01. Can you share with us your journey from your school days to your current position as a prominent businesswoman?
I was educated at Ladies’ College until my O/Levels and did my A/Levels in Benenden School in the UK. I was an average student who got decent grades and participated in sports but never really excelled in anything. During the university time in the US , enrolled in Food Science and we had to take some chemistry classes and I was of the mind that I was terrible at the subject and in order not to fail miserably I studied very hard and realised it was not so bad.
It was an “ah ha” moment for me when I realised that I could overcome adversity if effort was applied. I ended up getting a master’s in Food Chemistry from the Purdue University, USA.
02. What were some of the major challenges you faced along the way, and how did you overcome them?
When I came back I was exposed to many roles which have given me further confidence to do what I do. My father encouraged me to start my own business which I did with 4 employees. This is what I consider my MBA. It was a startup business which is thriving today with 250 plus employees and a leader in the category of packaging. We even got recognised by getting an award at the World Packaging Congress.
At CBL I joined as the Quality Assurance Manager an entry level for someone with my qualification and then had many other roles, from Product development manager to heading various functions, etc. When the company applied for ISO I was the management representative which gave me one of the best experiences to interact with the entirety of the staff for documenting our quality system. I also got involved with a lot of product development in the early days as we did not have a huge team then. This is an area I also enjoyed very much.
In my Group Managing Director role I am able to create value by looking at new activities for our Group which is a massive learning opportunity apart from growing the business.
Major challenges varied with the job profile. As a Manager, when road bumps appeared it meant working with teams within and externally to achieve excellence. In my current role during the last few years, many curve balls have been thrown at us. We have survived and come ahead because of the excellent team we have at CBL. They rise up to whatever challenge and my role is to support the process and also drive the purpose of what and why we do things to inspire people to perform at their optimum. Recently the team at CBL was paid a compliment, we were appreciated by a thought leader who said the CBL team had an amazing energy which puts the Group right at the top when we are benchmarked against global companies.
03. Could you highlight some of your key achievements throughout your career?
Key achievements in business
restructuring was being more focused to the different brands and decentralising the operations to give more autonomy to SBU CEOs.
Starting a green field coconut export business for CBL. This was very challenging but today we are the largest coconut milk exporter from Sri Lanka.
Partnership with SPAR South Africa to introduce SPAR supermarkets in Sri Lanka is one of two recent achievements.
04. How do you define success, and do you feel you’ve achieved your goals in life so far?
Success to me is being satisfied with one’s status quo, having no regrets. I believe in the power of positive energy and thoughts to guide me to become a better person and give me insights into what and where I need to focus. Success for me is about how I go forward on my journey not only at work but personally as well. I did not really have defined career goals. I started a job and just went forward with it.
05. What is the best advice you’ve ever received in your professional journey, and how has it impacted your approach to leadership?
A friend and very successful businessman once advised me not to complain about the state of affairs.
If you want to do something, outline the challenges and then start focusing on the solution. I use this advice all the time. I work alongside our team to bring solutions to difficult situations. It’s a collective effort of defining the problems and finding workable solutions.
06. Considering your experience, what advice would you offer to aspiring businesswomen who are just starting their careers?
You need to enjoy what you do. When you do you are always surrounded by ideas for your work. I see things around me. When I walk into a supermarket I am always learning. I can’t switch off. It’s become a part of my insight.
You need to understand what you do and be confident when you need to take decisions. Believe when you do the right things you can find the solutions for what comes in your path.
07. In your opinion, what qualities make a great leader, and how do you embody these qualities in your own leadership style?
A leader needs to inspire people to find a purpose in what they do. I like to think I am authentic, I believe in what I say and do. This I believe is how I reach out and connect with people within my team and externally.
08. Can you share your thoughts on the importance of fostering a positive attitude towards employees within an organisation?
I believe in life we need to be positive all the time. It’s not as easy as it sounds and one needs to work at it to have awareness to catch yourself when you are not. And by extension of course one must be positive towards everyone working with you. focus on the strengths and work on the weaknesses.
09. How do you prioritise work-life balance, and what strategies do you use to maintain it in your busy schedule?
Time management is about prioritising what is important. I never say I don’t have time. If family is important you make time for them.
10. What do you believe is the role of mentorship in career development, and have you had any influential mentors throughout your journey?
I believe mentors are very important. I have been very lucky to have so many people in my life to learn from. While I did not have formal mentors, there are many men and women in my life whose inputs have made me the person I am today. Feedback from people is important. We need to recognise where we need help and look around to see who can support us to become better. Self-awareness is very important.
