Thusha Agampodi Is Building a Legacy Her Children Can Be Proud Of

Power of Why with Naomi Haile

How will you be remembered?

When her parents suddenly passed away, 11-year-old Thusha saw how their devotion to others kept them alive — an unquenchable force, multiplied in the hearts they touched.

Today she carries their torch, seeking spaces where her impact can grow.

Building engineering teams at BlackBerry and Magnet Forensics. Advocating for diverse representation in tech. Mentoring the next generation of women in STEM. Accelerating the adoption of sustainable energy as Aurora Solar’s Director of Engineering.

Here’s how she keeps her eye on the horizon.

This episode is for you if:

• You’re passionate about social impact and tech
• You’re considering a career change, but worry it’s too late
• You struggle to negotiate at work
• You’re a manager who wants to create stronger, more collaborative teams

Looking for a specific gem?

• [2:39] What it’s like to grow up in Sri Lanka
• [3:15] Book fairs = Thusha’s happy place
• [4:42] When work is an extension of your childhood self
• [8:50] Giving kids space to grow, experiment and explore
• [11:42] The irresistible world of climate and solar tech
• [12:27] To generate good ideas, normalise sharing bad ones
• [14:54] Is self-doubt stopping you, too?
• [15:40] Thusha’s work is about making (and growing) herimpact
• [17:00] You have to ask for the things that you want
• [21:00] The electrifying power of women on stage
• [24:52] Who aren’t you hearing from?
• [27:19] When someone makes a mistake, how do you respond?
• [36:17] You have more transferable skills for tech than you think
• [38:00] The courage to change careers makes some of Thusha’s best hires

Connect with Thusha

• LinkedIn: Thusha Agampodi
• Thusha’s Medium Blog

Connect with Naomi

• Website: naomihaile.com
• Instagram: @naomiahaile
• Twitter: @naomiathaile
• LinkedIn: Naomi Haile