🚀 Tech Career Compass 1.0: Where Curiosity Met Career Clarity

On January 10, 2025, something incredible happened at the OREL IT HQ. We didn’t just talk about tech careers. We lived them. In a first-of-its-kind collaboration between STEM Link and OREL IT, we brought together some of Sri Lanka’s most forward-thinking tech leaders and CXOs for a full-day immersive experience: Tech Career Compass 1.0.

This wasn’t just another event. It was a live career accelerator. Custom-built for our internal STEM Link learners who are gearing up to enter the tech space. The goal? To give them raw, real-world insight into how the industry operates, what different roles truly involve, and how to carve out their own path in the evolving tech ecosystem.

🎯 Why It Mattered

We know the traditional classroom can only take you so far. Tech Career Compass was designed to close that critical gap between "learning to code" and "becoming career-ready." Our students got face time with experts who’ve actually built the systems, led the teams, fought the fires, and shipped the products. People who’ve lived the job titles we all aspire to.

From cybersecurity to AI, cloud to UI/UX, it was a rare chance to unpack what these careers actually look like, what skills are in demand, and how to start building those competencies now not after graduation.

👨‍🏫 The Mentor Panel: Real Talk from Real Experts

What made this event extra special? The mentor panel. We’re talking about a powerhouse lineup of industry veterans, each bringing decades of experience, hard-earned wisdom, and practical advice straight to the room.

Here's who showed up and showed out.......

Leading the charge were Mr.Mahesh Atapattu, CIO/CISO at OREL IT, and Mr.Sudeysh Thomas, Associate Project Manager in Cybersecurity, who laid down the foundation on security, leadership, and risk in the digital world. The brilliant Mr.Akshaan Bandara, Machine Learning Engineer, broke down how AI is transforming everything from automation to decision-making. Mr.Janith Soysa, UI/UX Engineer, made sure we understood that design is just as technical as code and just as critical. Cloud conversations were next-level thanks to Mr.Vihanga Godakumbura, Cloud Engineer, and Mr.Tharindu Meepagama, VP of Infrastructure and Data Center, widely recognized as one of Sri Lanka’s top-tier infrastructure experts.

On the strategy side, Mr.Kalinga Ihalagedara, Chief Product Officer, and Mr.Asela Sampath, Chief Solution Architect, talked about building products with purpose, not just features. We also heard from Mr.Sameera Abheysinghe, CTO, who shared a vision for future tech leaders. Mr.Abdul Gaffor, Chief Quality Officer, and Miss.Harshika Wijesundara, Senior QA Engineer, demystified how modern QA is way more than testing, it's about user trust. Business meets tech was the theme with Mrs.Asika Sumudunie, Senior Business Analyst, while Mr.Chinthaka Wijeysinghe, Project Manager, made it clear that no good code ships without solid project leadership. Finally, Mr.Dureksha Wasala, Associate Tech Lead, showed what leadership looks like in real development teams.

👩‍🎓 Student Reactions? One Word: “WOW.”

From technical deep dives to coffee-table chats with CXOs, the energy in the room was electric. Students asked tough questions. Mentors gave real answers. There were lightbulb moments, note-filled notebooks, and new dreams being mapped out in real time.

Everyone left a little more inspired, a lot more informed, and truly career-ready.

Here’s what a few had to say:

“It was an amazing session. we learned so much on that day. Personally, I took away insights that I can use right away.”

— Delwo Athauda, STEM Link student

“Thank you for this amazing session. I learned so much and gained valuable insights that will definitely shape my tech journey.”

— Gimhani Sandareka, STEM Link student

“Thank you for such an inspiring session. I learned a lot and really appreciate the insights shared.”

— Tharushi Madubhashinie, STEM Link student

“It was great to be part of this amazing event! 🌟 The sessions truly opened my eyes to the endless opportunities in the tech industry, and I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned on my career journey. A huge thank you to the mentors from OREL IT and STEM Link for their valuable insights and inspiring stories!”

— Vihan Rojitha, STEM Link student

🌟 What’s Next?

This is just the beginning. At STEM Link, we’re serious about preparing the next generation of tech talent not just for their first job, but for impactful careers. We're doubling down on creating real-world, high-touch, experience-driven learning.

Tech Career Compass 1.0 was the launchpad. Watch this space, because we're building the future.