I learned the importance of gratitude and resilience early in life. I grew up in Sri Lanka during three decades of civil unrest between Sinhalese and Tamil communities. I am half Sinhalese and half Tamil. When I was 15, my brother and I narrowly escaped death on a day when thousands were killed. We were spared only because we spoke both languages. That experience could have led to anger, but I chose gratitude. I wake up each day thankful to be alive and try to live fully.

My father died when I was a teenager, and I wanted to ensure my family would be taken care of. I once dreamed of working at Ford building cars, but they did not hire international students, so I joined McKinsey. Years later, I found myself leading Google in India and Southeast Asia. Had I gone to Ford, my path would have been very different.

I am drawn to founders who think big, stay humble, and remain intensely curious. I look for people who learn quickly, adapt, and know their users and markets deeply. That is founder-market fit. I value honest conversations. If you do not have PMF yet, say so. If you do not know an answer, say so. I want founders aiming for billion-dollar revenues, 10x outcomes, and moonshot goals. At the seed stage, storytelling is essential because there is not enough data.

Outside work, I enjoy beaches, history and civilizations, rooftop bars, learning, coffee, and music.