Reinvention doesn’t always mean changing direction. Sometimes it means seeing the system clearly.

In this episode of Reinventing Sri Lanka, I’m joined by Isura Sirisena, Principal Company Secretary at Ananda Sirisena & Company and the legal and governance backbone behind Hustle With Ease Sri Lanka.

With over 17 years of experience and a portfolio spanning hundreds of companies, Isura works at the intersection of law, business and innovation.

After living in Melbourne and supporting foreign founders entering Sri Lanka, he brings a grounded, practical perspective on what it really takes to build something sustainable here.

We talk about governance as a growth tool, not a checkbox, the realities foreign businesses often underestimate and why modernising systems through platforms like The Boardroom matters more than ever.

This conversation reflects the foundations of Hustle With Ease Sri Lanka — partnerships built on trust, clarity and cultural understanding, ie: creating pathways that actually work for people building across countries.

Everything you need to know to connect with Isura: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isura-sirisena/

And to connect with Kirsty and Hustle With Ease Sri Lanka: bio.site/the.culturalcurator

Podcast Episode Description: Utpatti Creative Collective with Liswith

Fun fact: Serendib is the old Persian name for Sri Lanka and the root of the word serendipity.

In this episode of Serendib: The Reinvention Roadmap, I sit down with Liswith, the founder of Utpatti – The Creative Collective, one of Sri Lanka’s most impactful creative community movements.

Utpatti began in 2021 when founder Liswith recognised a deep gap in how the business world perceived creatives.

His mission was clear and radical for its time:to shift creativity from being seen as a “hobby” to being valued as the engine behind brands, culture, innovation and economic growth.

Fast forward to today, Utpatti has grown into a thriving ecosystem of nearly 900 creatives and businesses, connected daily through its WhatsApp community, a space where:

• Creatives discover opportunities, collaborations and support• Businesses connect with fresh talent and bold ideas• Entire industries witness how creativity transforms outcomes

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why founder Liswith created Utpatti and the early misconceptions about creatives that fuelled their fire• How the WhatsApp community became a real-time hub for jobs, partnerships and inspiration• The shift from 2021 to 2025 in how Sri Lankan businesses now value creative work• Cross-disciplinary collaborations, from artists to studios to tech teams and how they multiply possibilities• Why workshops are becoming one of Sri Lanka’s strongest cultural offerings• What 2026 looks like for Utpatti, including education, upskilling and creative–business fluency• The personal fulfilment Liswith experiences through this work• And why the South Coast remains her grounding place in Sri Lanka

You’ll also hear how Hustle With Ease Sri Lanka is partnering with artists including funding materials, offering gallery space, and bridging art with hospitality truly modelling what conscious creative collaboration can look like.

If you’re a creative, a business owner, a traveller, or simply curious about cultural reinvention in Sri Lanka, this episode will expand your perspective on what’s possible.

And as always…this could be the moment that changes everything.

Where to find Utpatti Co:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utpatti.creativeco/

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/utpatticreativeco/

And you can connect with Kirsty:

BioSite: bio.site/the.culturalcurator

Sneak peek Hustle With Ease Sri Lanka, here: https://hustlewitheasesrilanka.com/surf-skate-unwind-srilanka/

In this episode, we meet Bimalka, the creative force behind Aerona Summer, whose path moves from airline office work in Colombo to crafting handmade fashion by the beach.

What began with nothing but barbecue sticks and a fierce desire to be independent has grown into a full-time creative life on Sri Lanka’s South Coast.

Her story weaves together courage, market culture, community, early-morning sea dips, and the joy of doing what you love. An authentic reinvention shaped by choice, creativity and freedom.

You can find Aerona Summer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aerona_summer/

My guest today is Julyan Patrick Attygalle Dharmasena, a 25-year-old Sri Lankan artist whose work bridges wildlife, mythology and meticulous technique.

Julyan’s artistic journey began as a child sketching animals with just a pencil and over the years, his practice evolved into a unique fusion of acrylic, oil and his signature stippling technique — a method that builds depth and story through thousands of tiny ink dots. His intricate pieces are inspired by mythology and the natural world, inviting viewers to pause and rediscover beauty in detail and devotion.

You can find him on Instagram at @p_a_d_m_a_s or reach him via [email protected].

Episode 6 · Reinventing Coffee — From Hosting to RoastingWhat happens when a hostel owner follows curiosity instead of a business plan? In this episode, I sit down with Shehan, founder of Plan B, to talk about how a space once filled with travelers became home to Sri Lanka’s most-loved brew.

We explore how experimentation, community, and one perfect bean recipe turned a side hustle into a new chapter, proof that reinvention often begins with a single cup of coffee.

Thanks for reading Reinvention Roadmaps by Kirsty Norton! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Welcome to EPISODE FIVE of my podcast!

Today, I’m joined by Mastani, an entrepreneur, Certified Deep Transformation Coach, and the visionary behind HomeTree Co-working, Sri Lanka’s first co-working space dedicated to mindfulness at work.

With over fifteen years of experience in spirituality and mindfulness, Mastani is on a mission to redefine the way we work and live. She’s also the host of The Inner Reset Talkshow, where she leads bold conversations on inner transformation.

In this episode, we dive into what it really means to reinvent success. From leaving behind the corporate silo to stepping into purpose driven entrepreneurship, Mastani shares her journey of alignment, intuition, and creating sacred spaces for transformation.

We talk about how real change happens from the inside out, why mindful work environments matter, and how you can cultivate deeper fulfillment in both work and life.

If you’ve ever felt the pull to break free from traditional definitions of success and create a life that truly reflects your values, this conversation is for you.

Let’s dive in!

Follow Mastani on Instagram:

Inner Reset Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinnerresetHomeTree Co-Working Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hometreecoworking/

Connected with Mastani on LinkedInJoin Mastani and her Mum on retreat in Sri Lanka: https://theinnerreset.info/awakenyourinnergoddess

Real, lasting change can only happen from the inside, out!

Big love,

Kirsty

In this episode of Serendib: A Reinvention Roadmap, I talk with Amaanath, a Sri Lankan digital marketer whose journey into the tech world began in the most unexpected way—discovered on Instagram at just 17.

Now the Head of Growth and Marketing at Poppy AI, a rapidly growing AI startup with over 2,500 paid users, Amaanath has built an impressive career in digital marketing and online entrepreneurship. From leading partnerships and influencer marketing to closing $1.5 million in YouTube sponsorship deals and driving six-figure revenue through email campaigns, his story is a testament to the power of talent, timing, and the digital age.

We also explore his deep connection to Sri Lanka, his insights into the tourism sector, and what it means to reinvent your future in a space as fast-moving as AI.

You can follow Amaanath on Instagram.

Welcome to Serendib: A Reinvention Roadmap, where we explore the journeys of those who have redefined their lives, their work, and their sense of purpose.

In this episode, I sit down with Senali, a Colombo-based ceramicist and ceramic artist. Working predominantly with locally sourced materials, her work blends handmade artistry and sculpture with everyday functional ceramic ware.

This is a conversation about creativity, transformation, and the unexpected paths that shape us.

Listen in and be inspired!

Ivy Ceramics Instagram

Welcome to Episode Two of Serendib A Reinvention Roadmap Podcast where I interview Baxter Founder and Owner of Gaia Soul Guesthouse deep down on the South Coast of Sri Lanka.

Having spent most of his teaching career in the Middle East, Baxter had been saving his Dirhams to make his lifelong dream of owning a little hotel in the tropics a reality. Gaia Soul is that dream come true.

Come surf & skate with Baxter and his family - they’d love to share our little slice of paradise with ya'll!

If you want to connect with Baxter or stay at Gaia Soul Guesthouse, please check the links below:

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaia_soul_sri_lanka

Baxters’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@baxta23

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gaiasoulsrilanka

Website: https://gaiasoulsrilanka.com/

Lala Studio is a purpose driven fashion brand turning waste into genderless, free fit, wearables through upcycling creating climate friendly bags, clothing & accessories from pre-consumer pants & dead-stock while providing LGBTQIA+ community a sense of belonging.

They set out to solve 3 problems with their purpose driven fashion brand

1.⁠ ⁠Upcycling fast fashion waste (which is 30,000 tones per year)

2.⁠ ⁠Providing a sense of belonging to LGBTQIA+ community &

3.⁠ ⁠Guilt free Climate friendly wearables for everyone

They choose discarded pre-consumer pants & converted then into genderless, free-fit clothing, accessories & pride merch) with the help of female artisans & also hearing impaired artisans from time to time

LaLa Studio Founders

Shakya

Shakya had a creative spark with her self acceptance & realization point somewhere during covid where she experimented self expression through wearables. This was such an empowering feeling that she wanted to shout & share with the world and with her climate anxiety wanted to do it without harming people or the planet and that's when Lala Studio idea came to be.

Vio

Was in search of life's purpose and saw this as an opportunity to re-awaken & explore her creative brain that had been beaten down in a logical brain dominated corporate world.

And when they came together Lala Studio was born.