How IT changed my life:

‘IT helps a person grow...’

Ashan Kumara

I recently got the opportunity meet a schoolmate of mine, in his school days I remember him as a very active scout and a person with fine leadership skills. Presently the Manager Software Development at IFS Research and Development (Pvt) Ltd, Azmaan recalls how his life shifted, through the vista of ‘IT’.

“I didn’t have a specific ambition as a child. However during my A/Ls I wanted to pursue my higher studies in the IT field as a result of increased awareness in the field and personal interest” said Azmaan. Describing his background he said, “I come from a business oriented family and resided in Colombo where I schooled at Wesley College.

Seyad Azmaan

I was brought up in Colombo where I completed my degree in Information Systems from Manchester Metropolitan University, UK where I graduated with first class honours. While studying I commenced my career at IFS as a trainee and thereon my career developed rapidly. Subsequently I completed the Master of Business Administration program at Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

I asked him why he selected IT for his future, he answered “I chose a career in IT for many reasons. One, it provides a challenging work environment where you can learn and develop a wide range of skills. Furthermore it’s a field where if you are to succeed you have to be abreast of the hottest technology.

This takes the monotony away as you are always working with cutting edge technology and have the ability to create new and innovative solutions for even the most complex problems.

Additionally as I am working for an ERP implementation company I have the opportunity to work with customers from various industries globally where the aim is to improve their business processes and productivity using IT based solutions”. It is explicable that IT provided him with all the opportunity to travel to many countries and appreciate different cultures and keep track of the brisk change in the industry.

He described the impact IT made in him, “Working in the IT industry for nearly eight years has helped me grow both personally and professionally. The exposure I have received by implementing ERP solutions in different countries across different industries has enabled me to take up any challenge irrespective of the process size or complexity,” he said.

“IT being considered a boring field remains a notion of the past. I feel it gives one the opportunity to explore new areas in technology which in itself is a challenge. If you are keen to continuously learn and committed to deliver, these are two key attributes a person needs to be successful not only in IT but in any Industry,” he said.

IT indeed changes lives, lifestyles and break the barrier of poverty. The gap of digital divide needs to be thin in order to build a society more economically and socially strong.