Why Innovation Moves Slowly in Sri Lanka, Rohan Jayaweera on Reality, Risk & Readiness

In this unfiltered and deeply honest episode of TechTalk360, we sit down with Rohan Jayaweera Principal, Analytics Delivery at OCTAVE, Co‑founder of Antyra, former Google Sri Lanka lead, and one of the sharpest minds in Sri Lanka’s digital ecosystem.

With over 25 years in tech, analytics, and enterprise leadership, Rohan doesn’t offer startup clichés or motivational fluff. Instead, he delivers a reality check on entrepreneurship, innovation, data, AI, and why Sri Lanka struggles to scale big ideas even when the talent exists.

This episode also marks a special milestone: celebrating 2 years of TechTalk360, and setting the tone for a more honest, grounded year of conversations ahead.

What You’ll Learn:

• The “Greater Fool” Mindset – Why believing you can succeed where others failed is both dangerous and necessary

• Why Most Startups Fail Before They Start – The harsh truth about ideas, markets, and false optimism

• Services vs Products – Why Sri Lanka struggles to build scalable product companies

• Innovation Reality Check – Why Sri Lanka hasn’t truly innovated yet — and what’s missing

• Brain Drain & Broken Incentives – Why talent leaves, and why blaming individuals misses the point

• Data Before AI – Why using 6‑month‑old data to make decisions today is “silly”

• Entrepreneurship Isn’t for Everyone – A perspective most people don’t want to hear

• What Young Founders Must Learn First – Finance, resilience, and saying “no” to bad ideas

• The Myth of Digital Transformation – Why tech doesn’t fix broken businesses — foundations do

Chapters to Bookmark:

• (00:00) Why Rohan calls himself a “Greater Fool”

• (04:30) From Google to Antyra: building in uncertainty

• (08:45) The real story behind scaling Antyra

• (12:50) Why Sri Lankan businesses struggle to scale

• (16:20) Brain drain, middle‑class collapse & innovation slowdown

• (22:00) Why public transport & digitization haven’t worked

• (26:10) Why most companies misuse AI

• (30:00) Why entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone

• (34:00) Advice to young Sri Lankan founders

• (38:40) How Rohan wants to be remembered

Listen now on your favorite platform:

Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

Listen now on your favorite platform:

Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

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From 1 Dream to 17 Qualifications – Senuri Munasinghe's Story of Relentless Drive

In this powerful episode of TechTalk360, we sit down with Senuri Munasinghe lawyer, corporate trainer, lecturer, and one of the most inspiring multi-hyphenates we’ve ever featured.

Before 30, she racked up 17 educational qualifications, breaking barriers and rewriting what ambition looks like in today’s world. But this is more than a story about degrees it's about passion, grit, and redefining the limits of possibility in law, education, and life.

• Beyond Labels: Why Senuri doesn’t call herself “simple”—and how she redefined ambition on her terms.
• Mastering the Mind: The study frameworks and mental models that helped her balance law, HR, and corporate training.
• Women & Work: Senuri gets real about stereotypes, representation, and empowering the next generation of women leaders.
• Resilience Through Structure: From handwritten journals to vision boards—how planning became her superpower.
• Sri Lanka’s Future Needs You: Why she urges young talent not to give up on their country—and how we can all help rewrite its story.

• (00:00) Her early mindset and identity as a dreamer
• (04:00) How her quadruple degree journey began (and her parents’ reaction!)
• (10:00) What law taught her about people—and herself
• (14:00) Building a career that bridges TV, academia, and corporate HR
• (21:00) Passionate call to action for youth and Sri Lanka’s future

Listen now on your favorite platform:

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In this electrifying episode of TechTalk360, we dive into the unconventional, inspiring, and deeply insightful journey of Kenny He, Tech Partnerships Lead at Google for Singapore & Indonesia.

Whether you're a student, early-stage professional, or seasoned executive, Kenny's story will challenge the way you think about career growth, branding, and problem-solving.

• From Rejection to Google: Kenny reveals how getting rejected actually led him to land his dream role—and why tenacity beats credentials.
• Building a Personal Brand Like a Product: Learn why treating yourself like a product with USPs and a pitch deck might just be your next career hack.
• Storytelling as Strategy: Kenny explains how human-centered storytelling (not jargon) is the key to influence and leadership in high-stakes roles.
• Leadership = Influence, Not Control: Insights on managing partners across Asia and how to lead without authority.
• AI, Automation & the Human Side of Tech: Why the real value of AI isn’t features—it’s freeing humans to do meaningful work.
• Why Solving Problems = Career Growth: Kenny shares how battle scars from MediaMonks and other roles shaped his leadership edge.

• (00:00) The Rejection That Sparked a New Chapter
• (04:10) From Cafe Del Mar to Credit Suisse to Cloud Tech
• (08:00) The Art of Influence in Multi-Market Leadership
• (14:00) Building Personal Brand Decks That Convert
• (19:40) The Future of Work with AI, Automation & Empathy
• (24:00) Practical Advice for New Tech Talent
• (28:00) Law of Attraction & Visualizing Career Success

Listen now on your favorite platform

Subscribe on YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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Connect with Kenny: LinkedIn

Redesigning Education with Kavindya Thennakoon: From Sri Lanka to Stanford, and the Future of EdTech

In this inspiring episode of Tech Talk 360, we sit down with Kavindya Thennakoon—Stanford researcher, designer, and founder of TILLI—to explore how early childhood education can be radically reimagined for the 21st century.

From Challenging School Norms to Building Impact at Scale

Kavindya shares her incredible journey from questioning rigid school systems in Sri Lanka to building an edtech startup that has already touched the lives of over 21,000 children. Discover how her volunteer teaching experiences sparked a mission to transform learning environments through empathy, emotional growth, and cognitive development.

Why Emotional Intelligence Matters

Learn why Kavindya believes emotional learning should be as fundamental as math. She breaks down the science of early childhood development and how the first 10 years shape everything from mental health to economic opportunity.

Harnessing AI to Empower Teachers

Kavindya dives into the thoughtful integration of AI in education—how it can streamline low-value tasks, personalize learning, and support teachers, not replace them.

The TILLI Model: Building Emotional & Cognitive Skills

Get a behind-the-scenes look at TILLI’s unique curriculum, how it operates across both village schools and elite institutions, and the data-backed emotional transformations it’s catalyzing in students.

️ Chapters include:

• Her early classroom experiences and lessons from Stanford
• The 8 core cognitive skills behind TILLI
• Localizing learning for Sinhala, Tamil, and English learners
• The challenges of scaling emotional learning
• The ethical use of screens and AI in early education
• Funding and the future of purpose-driven edtech startups

If you care about the future of learning, emotional intelligence, or tech for good, this episode is a must-listen.

Connect with Kavindya: LinkedIn

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In this special episode of TechTalk360, we sit down with Anudi Nanayakkara – legal consultant, tech and corporate law expert, and founder of EnoughLove – to explore the evolving intersection of law, technology, and business in today’s digital world.

• Meet Anudi Nanayakkara
• From law student to tech-savvy legal consultant, Anudi shares her journey navigating the corporate legal world, combining innovation and compliance to drive real change.
• The Future of Tech Law
• How AI, blockchain, and automation are reshaping the legal profession – and what legal professionals must know to stay ahead.
• Cybersecurity & Data Privacy
• Learn how to prepare for Sri Lanka’s new Personal Data Protection Act and implement responsible data practices in your business.
• How Legal Tech is Enabling Innovation
• Discover how legal frameworks can drive, not hinder, innovation – while ensuring accountability and access to justice.
• The Story of EnoughLove
• Beyond law, Anudi opens up about her passion project, EnoughLove, and how baking, empathy, and collaboration shape her professional mission.

More from TechTalk360

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Cybersecurity & Digital Transformation with Asela Waidyalankara | Special Cyber Week Episode

In this Cyber Week special of Tech Talk 360, we sit down with Asela Waidyalankara—cybersecurity leader, digital strategist, and renowned tech futurist—for a deep dive into the evolving threats and opportunities of the digital age.

Cybersecurity at Every Level

Asela breaks down the digital security landscape across individual, organizational, and national levels. From managing personal data to shaping national tech policy, he outlines how we can all play a role in protecting digital spaces.

Digital Literacy & Responsibility

Why is cyber awareness vital today—especially for the youth and older generations? Asela discusses the growing need for digital literacy in schools, the risks of misinformation, and how we can foster safer online behavior.

AI & Digital Transformation in Sri Lanka

With powerful insights into AI’s role in agriculture, healthcare, and education, Asela shares how Sri Lanka can leap forward—or fall behind—depending on the digital policies we adopt today.

For Aspiring Cyber Professionals

From ethical hacking to national infrastructure protection, Asela offers advice to young cybersecurity enthusiasts: stay curious, stay ethical, and commit to lifelong learning.

In this episode:

• Who is Asela Waidyalankara?
• The 3 levels of cybersecurity
• Data, privacy, and the fight against digital misinformation
• Why Sri Lanka needs urgent digital literacy reforms
• AI as a tool for development, not just consumption
• Career tips for future cybersecurity leaders
• A rallying call for responsible digital citizenship

Whether you're a student, a parent, a policymaker, or a tech enthusiast, this episode will leave you informed, inspired, and ready to rethink digital safety.

️ Subscribe: www.thett360.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts: [Click here]

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The Power of Empathy with Mimi Nicklin | Leadership, Innovation & Human Connection

In this powerful episode of Tech Talk 360, we sit down with Mimi Nicklin—bestselling author, Chief Empathy Officer, and global empathy advocate—to explore how empathy is reshaping leadership, innovation, and the future of work.

Who is Mimi Nicklin?

From accidental entrepreneur to international keynote speaker, Mimi shares her mission to make empathy a core business and leadership strategy. Her insights reveal why empathy is not just a soft skill—it’s a transformative force for impact.

Empathy Meets Technology

Can empathy drive innovation in tech? Mimi explains how emotional intelligence enhances collaboration, product design, and human-centric solutions in an increasingly digital world.

Inclusive Cultures & Human-Centered Leadership

Discover Mimi’s actionable advice for creating inclusive, connected, and psychologically safe workplaces. She emphasizes the power of listening-led leadership in boosting team cohesion and business results.

Mental Health, Diversity & Belonging

Mimi dives into how empathy can help solve pressing global issues—from workplace burnout to youth disconnection—and why businesses need to prioritize emotional well-being to stay competitive.

For Leaders & Entrepreneurs

Whether you're building a startup or leading a team, this episode reveals how empathy can be your greatest tool for driving growth, innovation, and meaningful impact.

In this episode:

• Mimi’s journey from brand strategist to empathy evangelist
• The intersection of empathy and digital innovation
• Practical ways to embed empathy into leadership
• The ROI of emotionally intelligent teams
• Strategies for cultivating workplace belonging and inclusion
• The future of leadership: more listening, less ego

If you care about the future of leadership and building connected, compassionate teams, this episode is for you.

Subscribe to Tech Talk 360: www.techtalk360.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts: [Click here]

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The Future of Cybersecurity with Yoshika | AI Threats, Deepfakes & Digital Defense

In this special Cyber Week edition of Tech Talk 360, we speak with Yoshika, Chief Security Officer at Alliance Insurance, to explore the fast-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, digital threats, and the urgent need for cyber awareness.

️ Who is Yoshika?

A tech expert turned CSO, Yoshika brings years of hands-on experience in governance, compliance, and defending against next-gen cyber threats. He’s a leading voice on the frontlines of AI-driven attacks, data privacy, and securing digital ecosystems.

️ The Rise of AI-Powered Cybercrime

From a jaw-dropping $25 million deepfake scam to sophisticated phishing powered by generative AI, Yoshika shares shocking real-world examples and explains how cybercriminals are weaponizing emerging technologies.

Cybersecurity in Sri Lanka

Yoshika breaks down the local digital threat landscape, calling attention to generational awareness gaps and the urgent need for nationwide digital literacy programs to protect vulnerable populations.

What’s Next? AI, Quantum Computing & Cyber Warfare

Get a glimpse into the future of cyber threats—including quantum computing’s impact on encryption—and why post-quantum cryptography is the next frontier for digital defense.

For Businesses & Individuals

Yoshika outlines essential security practices everyone should follow, from password hygiene to phishing detection, and stresses the importance of continuous education to stay ahead of threats.

In this episode:

• Yoshika’s journey from techie to CSO
• The evolution of ransomware and deepfake scams
• Digital awareness gaps in Sri Lanka and beyond
• The importance of securing back-end systems
• How businesses can prepare for quantum threats
• Cybersecurity tips everyone should know

If you want to stay ahead of the curve, protect your assets, and understand the digital battleground of tomorrow—this episode is a must-listen.

Subscribe to Tech Talk 360: www.thett360.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts: [Click here]

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