The Tamil Creator

EP #29: Indira Samarasekera - Former University President & Current Board Member (Of Several Publicly Traded Companies), Co-Authors Book To Help Create More Female Leaders

September 19, 2021 Ara Ehamparam Episode 29
The Tamil Creator
EP #29: Indira Samarasekera - Former University President & Current Board Member (Of Several Publicly Traded Companies), Co-Authors Book To Help Create More Female Leaders
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Show Notes

Indira Samarasekera is the former president of the University of Alberta and a current board member of several large market cap companies in Canada. Indira joins Ara on this week’s episode to discuss co-authoring a book called Nerve , growing up in Jaffna, the future of education, what resources she uses to continuously learn, and the benefits she has experienced as a result of rediscovering her Christian faith - in addition to so much more!


Timestamps

00:53 - Ara introduces this week’s guest, Indira Samarasekera
05:21 - Indira’s experience as a woman in engineering
08:23 - The older Sri Lankan generation’s expertise with staying in touch with old friends
09:49 - If it weren’t for the war, could Sri Lanka have become the Silicon Valley of the East?
13:30 - How Indira secured her role on the Board of Directors for multiple companies
19:26 - How much of a time commitment is involved with such a role, and what responsibilities are involved
22:15 - How Indira determined what University would be the best fit for her to work with
25:02 - The most difficult challenge Indira had to endure and how she overcame it
29:03 - What does the future of education look like?
36:48 - Collaborating with Martha Piper to write Nerve, and the intent behind publishing this book
41:42 - The legacy Indira wants to be known for by her friends and family
46:56 - Indira’s view on money; perception, investing strategy, and more
50:07 - Indira is insecure about not feeling good enough
51:07 - What does Indira read?
52:56 - How Indira’s faith has improved her quality of life
55:23 - Who is Indira inspired by - in the Tamil community, and in the global community
58:32 - Advice Indira would give to other aspiring Tamil creators
1:00:04 - Creator Confessions
1:03:56 - The Wrap Up

Intro Music

Produced And Mixed By:
- The Tamil Creator
- Yanchan

Written By:
- Aravinthan Ehamparam
- Yanchan Rajmohan   

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