Welcome to Diaspora, the show where we share the remarkable stories of immigrants from the Indian subcontinent. In this episode, host Aditya Mehta interviews Ranil Herath, a senior executive in the education sector. Ranil discusses his journey from Kandy, Sri Lanka, to the UK, then New Delhi, Toronto, Calgary, and finally Seattle. He shares his experiences growing up in Kandy, studying in India, and navigating career shifts from pharmaceuticals to tech to education. Ranil delves into his decision to immigrate to Canada amidst a civil war in Sri Lanka and his challenges securing his first job in Toronto. The conversation also explores his transition to Calgary, cultural integration, and his current role as the Chief Revenue Officer at Shorelight. Additionally, Ranil discusses his involvement with the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship, his interest in angel investing, and the importance of building a professional network. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that touches on adaptability, community, and the pursuit of growth. Remember to check out the show notes for more information and subscribe for more fascinating stories from the South Asian Diaspora.
List of Resources:
1996 Cricket World Cup Semi Final - India vs. Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, Kolkata: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-world-cup/news/world-cup-semifinal-of-1996-a-day-to-forget-for-indians/articleshow/105252281.cms
Calgary Stampede: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary_Stampede
Delhi University: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_University
Kandy Asgiriya Cricket Stadium: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asgiriya_Stadium
Kumara Sangakkara: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumar_Sangakkara
Muttiah Muralitharan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muttiah_Muralitharan
Nigerian Church in Mira Road: https://stjosephchurchmiraroad.com/
Rainier Club: https://www.therainierclub.com/
Raw Mango with Spices Recipe: https://vspiceroute.com/tota-keri-chaat-raw-mango-chaat/
Shorelight: https://shorelight.com/
Sri Lankan Civil War: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_civil_war
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship: https://waopportunityscholarship.org/
About the Podcast:
Diasporaa was the name of Aditya's startup based in Vancouver, BC. It focused on helping new immigrants in Canada find their feet, get off to a running start and ease their assimilation into Canadian life. A big part of the platform were conversations, community and support. Though the startup stopped growing once Aditya moved to Seattle, WA - it remained alive in the form of several discussion groups and online communities.
About Aditya Mehta:
Aditya is a Bombay boy who has lived in Austin, Los Angeles, Washington DC, and Vancouver before making it to his current home in Seattle. He has degrees in marketing, urban planning, real estate and strategy but has spent his career in financial services, social media and now real estate - mostly as an entrepreneur and partly as an employee at Amazon.
Connect with Diasporaa:
-Instagram: @diasporaapodcast
-YouTube: https://linke.to/dspyoutube
-Bio Link: linke.to/diasporaa
-Listen on Spotify: https://linke.to/dspspotify
-Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://linke.to/dspapple
-Diasporaa Podcast on KKNW Alternative Talk Radio: https://linke.to/kknw1150