I am a dynamic and results-oriented software engineer, boasting over 15 years of extensive experience in IT and software development with a specialisation in full-stack development, mobile applications, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies. I am a Stanford Seed graduate with a Master's Degree in Information Security and a BSc Hons in Computing. Those academics empowered me with a deep understanding of theories of computer science, digital security, data protection, and innovative tech solutions. I am passionate about technological innovation, leveraging my experience in MVP development, digital growth strategies, and effective team building to assist both startups and enterprises in achieving sustainable development. Passionate about empowering teams and driving change, I seek to connect with like-minded professionals and organisations to explore collaborative opportunities for creating a more connected and impactful future. -------------------------------------------------- 🚀 Key Focus Areas: -------------------------------------------------- 🔸Software Engineering 🔸Cyber Security 🔸Data Privacy 🔸Startups 🔸Team Building 🔸Leveraging Technology for Positive Impact 🔸Cloud Transformation -------------------------------------------------- 💼 Expertise: -------------------------------------------------- 🔸Solution Architecting 🔸Telco and Real-time Communication 🔸Data Security and Protection 🔸Software Engineering 🔸LLMs and Generative AIs 🔸Custom Software Development 🔸UI/UX 🔸Web and Mobile Technologies 🔸Cloud Techologies -------------------------------------------------- 🔍 Consulting Expertise: -------------------------------------------------- 🔸How to build MVP with minimum cost 🔸Web and Mobile technology 🔸Cybersecurity and Digital Protection 🔸Social Enterprises and Social Entrepreneurship 🔸Start-up and Effective Team Building 🔸Digital Growth Strategies 🔸Product and Technology Leadership 🔸SAAS Products -------------------------------------------------- 🌱 Initiatives and Startups: -------------------------------------------------- 📌 Founder of Ifonix, a software development startup on a mission to positively impact one billion individuals globally by addressing common challenges. 📌 Founder of Sinhala Language, the largest community-driven Sinhala language group with over 80K members. 📌 I am committed to driving positive change through technology, empowering social enterprises, fostering startup growth, and contributing to sustainable development. Let's connect and explore ways to collaborate for a better and more connected future.
My Mentoring Topics
- How to build MVP with minimum cost
- Web and Mobile technology
- Cybersecurity and Digital Protection
- Social Enterprises and Social Entrepreneurship
- Start-up and Effective Team Building
- Digital Growth Strategies
- Product and Technology Leadership
- SAAS Products
T.
5.January 2024Very insightful session, was able to get a better understanding regarding the current strategy I am using.
T.
5.January 2024First session and first review from me. I wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude for your insights on modern AI during our recent discussion. Your expertise and guidance, particularly on AI and job safety, have been invaluable. Your passion for this field is truly inspiring, motivating me to delve deeper. Thank you for being an exceptional mentor. I look forward to applying your advice as I continue to explore and learn.
T.
5.January 2024Thank you for the insightful discussion on responsive modern web designs and their evolving landscape. Your expertise and guidance have immensely broadened my understanding of how design adapts to meet the ever-changing needs of users. Your foresight into future developments in this field is truly inspiring. I appreciate the depth of knowledge you shared and look forward to implementing these concepts in my work. Your mentorship continues to be invaluable in shaping my approach to web design. Thank you for your time and expertise!
S.
5.January 2024This is my first mentoring session with Umanda. Being a software engineer myself, being able to openly talk to a vastly experienced Chief Architect link Umanda is very rewarding. Umanda excels in web technologies and cybersecurity. Within, my 1 hour session I clear up some major conceptual pitfalls I had during my university courses. Umanda uses every day analogies to explain technological concepts, without the tech jargon. This makes it very easy to understand higher-level concepts well. I will definitely book another session with him ❤️.
Atomic Habits
James Clear
Key Facts and Insights The power of small, everyday habits and their cumulative impact on our lives. The concept of habit stacking, where you layer a new habit onto an existing one to make it easier to adopt. The idea of making good habits obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. The importance of focusing on systems rather than goals. The role of environment and context in shaping our habits. The difference between outcome-based habits and identity-based habits. The concept of the two-minute rule for establishing new habits. How habits can lead to compound growth in personal and professional development. The significance of the feedback loop in habit formation and breaking bad habits. Understanding the role of dopamine and reward in developing and maintaining habits. The importance of tracking and accountability in habit formation. An In-depth Analysis of Atomic Habits In the book, James Clear posits on the power of small daily habits and their cumulative impact. It underlines the idea that success is not a matter of grand actions or drastic changes, but rather the product of small, incremental habits applied consistently over time. This concept aligns with the theory of marginal gains, a concept often applied in business and sports, which emphasizes on making small, 1% improvements in everything you do. The author introduces the concept of "habit stacking", where a new habit is layered onto an existing one to ensure its adoption. For example, if you already have a habit of brushing your teeth every morning, you could stack a new habit of flossing right after. This is based on the psychological principle of classical conditioning, where a response to a stimulus becomes associated with another stimulus. Clear asserts that for habits to stick, they need to be obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. This principle resonates with B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning theory in psychology, which stipulates that behavior is more likely to recur if it is followed by a reward. Making a habit satisfying or rewarding is crucial for its reinforcement and repetition. Interestingly, Clear argues for focusing on systems rather than goals. Goals, he asserts, are about the results you want to achieve, while systems are about the processes that lead to those results. This perspective aligns with Deming's System of Profound Knowledge which stresses on understanding and improving systems, rather than solely focusing on outcomes. The role of environment and context in shaping our habits is another noteworthy insight. Clear suggests that by altering our physical environment, we can make the desired habits more convenient and the undesirable habits more inconvenient. This approach aligns with the field of environmental psychology, which studies the interplay between individuals and their surroundings. Clear also distinguishes between outcome-based habits and identity-based habits. While the former focuses on what you want to achieve, the latter emphasizes on who you wish to become. This insight is pivotal in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), where changing one's self-identity is often a key step towards changing behavior. The two-minute rule is a practical tool offered by Clear to establish new habits. The rule suggests that when starting a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do. This concept is rooted in the principle of shaping in behavior modification, where a complex behavior is broken down into manageable steps and then gradually built up. The book also explores the phenomenon of compound growth in personal and professional development as a result of consistent habits. This principle mirrors the financial concept of compound interest, where small, regular investments can lead to significant growth over time due to the power of exponential growth. The significance of the feedback loop in habit formation is also explored. Clear discusses the importance of immediate feedback in reinforcing or eliminating a habit. This concept is a cornerstone in cybernetics and systems theory, where feedback loops are used to adjust and control system behavior. Clear also discusses the role of dopamine and reward in habit formation. The release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, reinforces the habit loop. This is a fundamental principle in neuroscience and has been extensively studied in addiction research. Finally, Clear underscores the importance of tracking and accountability in habit formation. Logging your progress and having someone to answer to can be powerful motivators for maintaining good habits. This idea is supported by research in the field of behavior analysis, which has shown that monitoring and accountability can significantly impact behavior change. In conclusion, Atomic Habits goes beyond the usual advice on habit formation and offers a comprehensive framework grounded in scientific research. Its principles and strategies, if applied consistently, can lead to significant personal and professional growth. It's a testament to the power of small, everyday habits in shaping our lives.
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How to win Friends and Influence People
Dale Carnegie
Key Insights from 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' Understanding Human Nature: The book emphasizes that the key to winning friends and influencing people is understanding human nature and the desire for a feeling of importance. Effective Communication: Carnegie underscores the importance of listening and expressing genuine interest in others as a strategy for establishing rapport and influence. Handling People: The book highlights the importance of avoiding criticism, showing appreciation, and arousing enthusiasm among others. Leadership and Influence: The book offers insights on how to win people over to your way of thinking, change people without causing offense, and how to get people to like you. Conflict Resolution: The book provides useful techniques for dealing with conflicts and disputes, such as finding a common ground and showing respect for other people's opinions. Building Trust: Carnegie emphasizes the importance of sincerity, honesty, and integrity in building trust and influence. Psychology of Persuasion: The book explores the psychology behind persuasion and how understanding this can help in influencing others. Motivation: The book discusses the importance of understanding and appealing to what motivates individuals to gain influence and foster cooperation. Practical Application: The book provides real-life examples and practical tips on how to apply the principles discussed. Continuous Learning: Carnegie encourages readers to continually practice and refine these skills to become better at influencing others. Empathy: The book highlights the importance of empathy in understanding and influencing people. Detailed Analysis of 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' Dale Carnegie's 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' is a seminal work in the field of interpersonal relations, leadership, and influence. The book is brimming with insights and practical advice, grounded in the understanding of human nature and the psychology of persuasion. Understanding human nature is central to the book's teachings. Carnegie posits that one can win friends and influence people by understanding and catering to the innate human desire for a feeling of importance. He argues that this desire, more than anything else, motivates people's actions and behaviors. Thus, to influence someone, we must first understand what is important to them and then appeal to that. Effective communication is another crucial element in Carnegie's teachings. He emphasizes that to win friends and influence people, one must become an effective communicator. This doesn't mean being a great talker, but rather a great listener. Listening attentively and showing genuine interest in others not only fosters a sense of importance in them but also helps establish rapport and trust. Handling people is a significant theme in Carnegie's book. He provides a wealth of advice on how to handle people, such as avoiding criticism, showing appreciation, and arousing enthusiasm. He explains that criticism often does more harm than good, causing resentment and resistance rather than change. Instead, he advocates for a positive approach, focusing on appreciation and encouragement to influence people's behaviors. Leadership and influence are closely linked in Carnegie's teachings. He offers a plethora of insights on how to win people over to your way of thinking and how to change people without arousing resentment. These tips range from showing respect for other people's opinions to admitting when one is wrong. Conflict resolution techniques are also discussed by Carnegie. He provides valuable advice on dealing with conflicts and disputes. This includes finding a common ground, demonstrating understanding and respect for other people's opinions, and focusing on interests rather than positions. Building trust is another critical aspect of winning friends and influencing people. Carnegie emphasizes that sincerity, honesty, and integrity are essential to building trust. He notes that people are more likely to be influenced by those they trust and respect. Throughout the book, Carnegie delves into the psychology of persuasion. He explains how understanding the psychological principles that underlie people's behaviors can help in influencing them. He discusses concepts such as reciprocity, consistency, liking, authority, scarcity, and social proof, and how they can be leveraged to persuade others. Motivation is another key concept discussed by Carnegie. He explains that to influence others, one must understand and appeal to what motivates them. He argues that people are more likely to be persuaded to take action if they perceive that it aligns with their interests or benefits them in some way. What sets Carnegie's book apart is its focus on practical application. He provides real-life examples and practical tips on how to apply the principles discussed. From handling people to resolving conflicts, his advice is grounded in reality, making it accessible and relevant to readers. Carnegie also encourages continuous learning. He notes that the skills of winning friends and influencing people are not innate but can be learned and improved over time. He encourages readers to continually practice and refine these skills to become better at influencing others. Lastly, Carnegie highlights the importance of empathy in understanding and influencing people. He argues that to truly understand someone and influence their behavior, one must be able to empathize with their experiences, feelings, and perspectives. In conclusion, 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' is a comprehensive guide to understanding human nature, effective communication, handling people, leadership, conflict resolution, trust building, psychology of persuasion, motivation, practical application, continuous learning, and empathy. The lessons from this book are timeless and continue to be relevant in today's world, making it a must-read for anyone seeking to improve their interpersonal skills and influence.
ViewEntrepreneurial Leadership - The Art of Launching New Ventures, Inspiring Others, and Running Stuff
Joel Peterson
Key Insights from "Entrepreneurial Leadership: The Art of Launching New Ventures, Inspiring Others, and Running Stuff" Entrepreneurial Leadership is a mindset: Peterson emphasizes that entrepreneurial leadership is not limited to those who start a business, but it is a mindset that can be adopted by anyone, irrespective of their position or industry. Importance of Trust: Trust is identified as the cornerstone of entrepreneurial leadership. Without trust, it’s challenging to inspire others, create a positive work culture, or ensure long-term success. Leadership is about inspiring and serving others: The book highlights the importance of servant leadership and the necessity to inspire and motivate team members. Value of Integrity: Peterson emphasizes that integrity is crucial to entrepreneurial leadership, and leaders should always strive to do the right thing, even when it’s hard. Embracing Change: Entrepreneurial leaders should not only be comfortable with change but also actively seek it out. They should recognize when a change is needed and have the courage to implement it. Decision-Making Process: The book provides insights into the decision-making process, including the necessity to make informed decisions and the ability to take calculated risks. The Value of Resilience: Resilience is highlighted as a key quality of entrepreneurial leaders who need to be able to bounce back from setbacks and failures. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Peterson underlines the importance of empathy and emotional intelligence in leadership. Understanding and acknowledging the feelings of others is key to building strong relationships. Building and Sustaining Organizational Culture: The book emphasizes the role of the leader in creating a positive and productive organizational culture. The Importance of Vision: Peterson stresses the role of a clear and compelling vision in guiding a venture's direction and inspiring others. An In-depth Analysis of "Entrepreneurial Leadership: The Art of Launching New Ventures, Inspiring Others, and Running Stuff" In "Entrepreneurial Leadership: The Art of Launching New Ventures, Inspiring Others, and Running Stuff", Joel Peterson explores the concept of entrepreneurial leadership, which he defines as more of a mindset than a specific role or title. He argues that anyone, regardless of their position or industry, can embody the characteristics of an entrepreneurial leader. This is a refreshing perspective that deviates from the common notion of associating entrepreneurial leadership solely with startup founders. Peterson identifies trust as the cornerstone of entrepreneurial leadership. He argues that without trust, leaders cannot inspire others, create a positive work culture, or ensure long-term success. This echoes the thoughts of Stephen M.R. Covey in "The Speed of Trust", where trust is portrayed as the one thing that changes everything. The book also highlights the importance of servant leadership, a concept deeply rooted in the works of Robert K. Greenleaf. Peterson emphasizes that leadership is not about exerting power or control, but about inspiring and serving others. He underscores the need for leaders to be humble and to place the needs of their team before their own. Integrity is another aspect Peterson emphasizes. He suggests that leaders should always strive to do the right thing, even when it’s hard. This aligns with the notion of 'authentic leadership', where leaders are true to their values and principles. Peterson also discusses the importance of embracing change. Entrepreneurial leaders should not only be comfortable with change but actively seek it out. They should recognize when a change is needed and have the courage to implement it. This aligns well with the work of John P. Kotter on change management. One of the notable insights from the book is about the decision-making process. Peterson provides a detailed analysis of how entrepreneurial leaders should make decisions. He suggests that leaders need to make informed decisions based on data and facts, but also need to be willing to take calculated risks. Peterson also highlights resilience as a key quality of entrepreneurial leaders. They need to be able to bounce back from setbacks and failures, a concept echoed in the works of Martin E.P. Seligman on learned optimism and resilience. Emphasizing the importance of empathy and emotional intelligence, Peterson underlines the crucial role these traits play in leadership. Understanding and acknowledging the feelings of others is key to building strong relationships. This resonates with Daniel Goleman's work on emotional intelligence. Peterson devotes a significant portion of the book to organizational culture. He emphasizes how leaders play a pivotal role in shaping, maintaining, and changing the culture of an organization. This aligns with Edgar Schein's work on the significance of leadership in organizational culture. Finally, Peterson stresses the importance of having a clear and compelling vision. He argues that a well-defined vision not only guides the direction of a venture but also serves to inspire and motivate others. This echoes the thoughts of James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras in "Built to Last", where a compelling vision is seen as key to an organization's success. In conclusion, "Entrepreneurial Leadership: The Art of Launching New Ventures, Inspiring Others, and Running Stuff" provides a comprehensive guide to entrepreneurial leadership. It not only provides theoretical insights but also practical advice on how to become an effective leader. The book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to develop their leadership skills and understand the mindset of an entrepreneurial leader.
ViewHooked - How to Build Habit-Forming Products
Nir Eyal
Key Facts and Insights from the Book The Hook Model: This is the central concept in the book, describing a four-step process that companies use to build customer habits: Trigger, Action, Variable Reward, and Investment. Triggers: These are cues that prompt the user into action. They can be external or internal, with internal triggers being more powerful as they are tied to emotions and thoughts. Action: This is the behavior performed in anticipation of a reward. The simpler the action, the more likely it is to occur. Variable Reward: The reward given after the action, which varies in nature to create a sense of unpredictability, thereby increasing user engagement. Investment: This is the user's contribution of time, data, effort, or money, which increases the likelihood of the user returning and repeating the cycle. Manipulation Matrix: This is a framework describing how products can be ethical or unethical based on whether they materially improve the user’s life and whether the maker would use the product. Habit testing: A process for identifying which elements of the Hook Model are working within a product and which are not. The role of frequency: The more frequently a user engages with a product, the more likely they are to form a habit around it. Behavioral design: The process of designing products to guide user behavior through the Hook Model. Importance of user psychology: Understanding user psychology is key to building habit-forming products. In-Depth Summary and Analysis "Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products" by Nir Eyal is a seminal work in the field of behavioral design and user engagement. The book provides a comprehensive guide for companies aiming to create products that are not just useful, but habit-forming. The central concept in the book is the Hook Model, a four-step process that companies use to build customer habits. This model involves a trigger, an action, a variable reward, and an investment. Triggers, acting as cues that prompt the user into action, are an essential first step in the Hook Model. They can be external, like notifications or emails, but the most powerful triggers are internal, tied to the user's emotions and thoughts. This concept aligns with numerous psychological theories, such as classical conditioning, where a conditioned stimulus triggers a conditioned response. The second step in the Hook Model is the Action. This is the behavior performed in anticipation of a reward. Eyal points out that the simpler the action is, the more likely it is to occur, corroborating Fogg's Behavior Model which posits that behavior happens when motivation, ability, and a trigger come together at the same time. The third step, Variable Reward, is perhaps the most intriguing. By varying the nature of the reward, companies can create a sense of unpredictability, thereby heightening user interest and engagement. This concept draws from B.F. Skinner’s operant conditioning theory, which found that variable rewards are more engaging than predictable ones. The final step, Investment, is the user's contribution of time, data, effort, or money. This step not only increases the likelihood of the user returning and repeating the cycle, but also aligns with the psychological concept of the sunk cost fallacy, where people continue a behavior due to the investment they've already made. Beyond the Hook Model, Eyal introduces the Manipulation Matrix – a tool to help makers understand where their product stands ethically. He argues that if a product materially improves the user’s life and the maker would use it themselves, it can be considered ethical. The book also discusses the importance of Habit Testing – a process for identifying which elements of the Hook Model are working within a product and which are not. This iterative approach aligns with the Lean Startup methodology of build-measure-learn. Eyal also emphasizes the role of frequency in habit formation. He argues that the more frequently a user engages with a product, the more likely they are to form a habit around it. This reflects the psychological concept of repetition and reinforcement in habit formation. Finally, Eyal delves into the realm of behavioral design – the process of designing products to guide user behavior through the Hook Model. At the core of this process is understanding user psychology, which is key to building habit-forming products. Here, Eyal echoes the sentiment of many behavioral economists and psychologists, emphasizing the need to understand cognitive biases and heuristics that influence user behavior. In conclusion, "Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products" provides valuable insights into the principles of behavioral design, user psychology, and ethical manipulation. It offers a robust framework for creating habit-forming products, making it an essential read for anyone involved in product development, marketing, and user experience design.
ViewThe Legend of Lakshmi Prasad
Twinkle Khanna
Key Facts and Insights from "The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad" Female Empowerment: The book highlights the importance of female empowerment, shedding light on the struggles women face and their resilience in overcoming them. This is a theme that runs across all four stories in the book. Societal Norms: By portraying the lives of women from different socio-economic backgrounds, the book brings to fore the rigid societal norms and expectations that often limit women's potential and freedom. Change and Evolution: The stories in this book emphasize the importance of change and evolution in society, particularly in the context of women’s rights. Power of Individuals: The book highlights the power of each individual to effect change, irrespective of their social status or circumstances. Human Relationships: The book delves into the complexities of human relationships, and how they shape individuals and their decisions. Feminine Strength: The book champions the strength and resilience of women, showing how they can rise above adversity and make a difference. Importance of Education: The stories underline the importance of education, particularly for women, as a tool for empowerment and social mobility. Realistic Portrayal: The book offers a realistic portrayal of Indian society, devoid of romanticism and idealism. Cultural Diversity: The stories represent the rich cultural diversity of India, with characters hailing from different regions and communities. Humor and Satire: The book employs humor and satire to highlight the absurdity of certain societal norms and prejudices. Storytelling Technique: The book employs a simple yet effective storytelling technique, making it accessible to a wide range of readers. An In-Depth Analysis of "The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad" "The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad" is a collection of four short stories written by Twinkle Khanna that delve into the lives of women from different socio-economic backgrounds in India. The stories tackle various societal norms and expectations that limit women's potential and freedom, serving as a stark reminder of the deeply ingrained gender biases and prejudices that persist in Indian society. The titular story, "The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad", tells the tale of a 17-year-old girl who changes the tradition of dowry in her village, demonstrating the power of individuals to effect change. This story also emphasizes the importance of education in empowering women to challenge and change societal norms. In the second story, "Salam, Noni Appa", we see an older woman finding love in an unconventional relationship, challenging societal norms about love and relationships in older age. The complexities of human relationships are explored here and the idea of feminine strength is underscored. The third story, "If the Weather Permits", is a satirical take on the societal pressure on women to marry. Elisa Thomas, the protagonist, is a woman who is pressurized into marrying multiple times due to societal and familial pressures. This story uses humor and satire to expose the absurdity of societal norms that often reduce women to their marital status. The fourth story, "The Sanitary Man from a Sacred Land", is inspired by the real-life story of Arunachalam Muruganantham, who revolutionized menstrual health for rural women in India by creating low-cost sanitary pads. This story emphasizes the importance of breaking taboos around women's health and the role of men in promoting women's rights. The book's realistic portrayal of Indian society makes it a compelling read. It does not shy away from depicting the harsh realities that women face. At the same time, the stories also celebrate the resilience and strength of women, showing how they can rise above their circumstances to bring about change. In conclusion, "The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad" is a significant piece of literature that explores the nuances of gender, societal norms, and women's rights in the Indian context. Each story carries a powerful message about female empowerment, making it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of Indian society and the role of women in shaping it.
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K.
7.March 2024Umanda has vast experience within building and scaling MVP products. He listens actively and prepared the session which made it time well spent. I experienced Umanda as kind, helpful and welcoming and he contributed with a few appreciated thoughts based on his own experience. Thank you for taking your time today!