Gayani Ratnayake

Tell me about your career journey at Capgemini.

I’ve been with Capgemini for 17 years. I started as a campus hire and I moved into our transformation consulting practice. I also saw our Accelerated Solutions Environment (ASE) in Toronto and basically begged them to take me, which they did. After working with them, I moved to the Netherlands to work as part of the design centers, and then when I had my first child I moved back to Toronto and I worked internally with our people supply chain practice. Today, I am the Head of Operations, Commercial and Contract Management (CCM).

That sounds like a lot of great career mobility. Tell us about how you went from a campus hire to head of operations.

While I was supporting an event through the Accelerated Solutions Environment, I met with the Dutch team and I made a great network of individuals that worked there, and I asked the VP just for fun, “Could I move to the Netherlands?” And she was like, “Absolutely, we’d love to have you.” So I basically emailed her and I said, “I’m really serious.” And she said to come over. So I worked with my network to make that happen for myself.

After two years in the Netherlands, my husband and I said we’d love to start a family and we wanted to do that closer to home, where we have our family. So we decided to come back to Toronto.

When we moved back from the Netherlands and had our first baby, I was traveling quite a bit with the ASE and I said to my practice staffing partner at the time, I really didn’t want to travel anymore because I wanted to be home, to be with my baby. She offered me a position with the people supply chain, and she said there’s an opportunity to develop their communication strategy. I interviewed with the team, and worked with them for the last five years.

After being in my last role for a few years, I felt a strong desire to challenge myself and broaden my skill set. I was excited about the opportunity to learn a different part of the business and to further develop my leadership capabilities. This motivation ultimately drove my decision to pursue a new position within the Commercial and Contract Management team.  

What does the Head of Operations, CCM do?

I drive strategic planning, optimize processes, and lead teams to achieve peak performance. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, I ensure seamless operations and drive organizational success.

The experience has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve had the opportunity to apply my skills and knowledge in a new context, and I’ve been supported by both my team and senior leadership every step of the way. While there have been challenges, I’ve found them to be valuable learning experiences that have helped me grow professionally. 

You are truly living the Capgemini brand promise, Get the Future You Want! What is next for you?

This new role provides me with an invaluable opportunity to further develop my leadership skills and expand my professional network within the company. By successfully leading the Operations team, I am not only contributing to the company’s success but also positioning myself for future career advancement opportunities. Additionally, the experience gained in this role will be transferable to other leadership positions both within the company and in the broader industry, ultimately helping me achieve my long-term career goals.