Meeting with Tushara Canekeratne in the Studio, Loughborough University

Tushara Canekeratne, fellow at Stanford University, CEO at Nadastra Inc. and Co-Founder Virtusa Corporation had a full day of tours and meetings in order to learn more about current work taking place at Loughborough University. One of her last stop of the day was in The Studio. To welcome her, Meg and 10 entrepreneurs eager to learn from her life experience. The following piece tells what happens and some of the lessons taken from the interaction.

As she came into the room, we felt a rise in energy. She was ready to interact, meet with people and engage with them - eyes wide-opened, curious and interested, a ravishing smile. We could only be fond of her from the get go. She introduced herself. She is an entrepreneur, a mentor, a passionate philanthropist and investor in young people's education, empowerment and leadership development. She is also a mother, a wife, a family member and she cares deeply for the needs of her inner circle.
We are impressed by her achievements as much as her humility.

From what was discussed, these are few things that I am taking with me:

• First, people are VERY important. The strength and cohesiveness of the team you have around you is critical not only when everything is fine but when things get tough too. What we want is someone who is competent and align with the culture of the organisation. The person you definitely do not want is people who are competent but unaligned. Incompetency is not something that someone will usually want. By keeping them on, you are making yourself a disservice and to them too.
• Second, knowing how finance works is a great to know, it helps making the right decisions.
• Third, in regard to philanthropy work,  First, Care for yourself by working and making yourself financially sustainable, then you can care for others.
• Fourth, she said that two things are important in entering an industry: Marketshare & Storytelling. I personally have to look more into it.

The final main thing that I interpreted from the interaction is that having priorities and sticking to them helps to move forward. Having clear goals, remembering them yet let it go of them allows one person to be  fully present and engaged in the now with what needs to be achieved and all other fellow human.

Thanks for Tushara for coming to visit us in Loughborough University and Thanks to Loughborough University and The Studio for organising the informal Q&A roundtable. We were, I am sure, all very inspired.