1. What’s a decision you made in your career that felt risky, but ended up making your career path better?
Leaving my first job in Sri Lanka was a huge risk. I had worked there for nearly five years after graduating in Quantity Surveying. It was a semi-government job, very stable, familiar, and safe. I got it through a recommendation, and for a while, it gave me a sense of security.
But something inside me said this isn’t where I am supposed to grow (I had to step out from this comfort zone). So I took a risk. I booked a ticket to Dubai and arrived on the 5th of May. I started applying for jobs the very next day. By June 7th, I was working at Stonehaven, and within a week I had my confirmation. I had to prove myself fast, and I did.
I had other offers. One from a large European firm, and another that tested me through handwritten estimations. But I chose Stonehaven because it felt different. There was something about the potential here that called me to stay.
2. Who’s your dream mentor you would have around you, any prominent figure from around the world?
Albert Einstein, without question. I'm a mathematics person through and through. I studied Maths for my A-Levels because I genuinely love understanding how things work. I don’t just want to solve a problem quickly—I want to understand all the ways it could be solved from a multi-faceted angle. I want to know every angle, every possibility. Einstein inspired that kind of thinking for me.
But my second mentor? Myself. I believe in being my own guide. I learn from my mistakes. I know when I’m doing well, when I’m not, and when I’m capable of more. That inner voice is powerful. If I do something wrong, I’m the one who gets to reflect, adjust, and grow. Making mistakes is something we take for granted as humans, it is our conditioning.
And for a third? Maybe someone creative and visionary. I haven’t thought about it. But most likely, someone who challenges the normal path and brings in bold ideas. But at the end of the day, I rely most on myself and the pursuit of new things.
3. What kind of life are you quietly building after your 9-5 at Stonehaven?
I wouldn’t say I’m a 9-to-5 person. We work long hours, and that’s just the nature of the job. I used to be a morning person, but since graduating and becoming a Quantity surveyor, I’ve become more of a night owl.
Outside work, I still keep my QS skills alive in personal ways. I’ve done freelance house designs for friends and colleagues. I’ve helped with estimation reports for bank loans of individuals.
The biggest project I took on was for a close friend who built her own house. I handled the design, the quantity surveying, and project management for the whole thing. Now that her house is completed, it’s something I’m genuinely proud of.
Weekends are definite for the family. I like to be a homebody, stay quiet, and enjoy the slower pace. That’s what recharges me.
4. What’s one thing about working at Stonehaven that you think outsiders often overlook or underestimate?
Most people think Quantity Surveyor’s just prepare BoQs. That’s the misconception. At Stonehaven, BoQs are just a small slice of the pie of what we do.
We handle post-contract, pre-contract, variations, project management, cost planning, everything. I had a friend from another firm who asked me, “So you do BoQs, right?” I told him, BoQs are just one mountain in a valley of mountains. Here, we see the full picture. We contribute to the design decisions, to commercial strategy, to construction planning.
Back in my old place of work, I was mainly post-contract. Here, I do both. That learning curve has elevated my skills. And working in the Dubai market? It’s a very very high-standard environment. The projects never stop there, new buildings, demolitions, renovations. That type of pace keeps you sharp.
And being a Quantity Surveyor in the UAE gives you experience that you can take anywhere.
5. If you could design your dream project from scratch—what would it be, and where would it be?
It would be a luxury villa on Palm Jumeirah, no doubt.
I remember visiting a Villa project we were working on there. It had this amazing view—an infinity pool on the rooftop that was visible through the below floor. I stood there and thought, “Wow, This is it.”
Dubai inspires me. I haven’t travelled much outside Sri Lanka and India, but I love the city. If I ever get to build my dream project, it would be a villa right on the leaf of the Palm.
6. What’s one skill you think everyone in the AEC industry should learn—regardless of their job title?
Communication, No doubt.
On site, miscommunication can cost you time, money, and understanding. I’ve seen projects start in one direction and end up somewhere completely different because of a lack of alignment between contractors and teams.
BIM also plays a big role. If everyone, QSs, architects, project managers—truly adopts BIM, it improves communication across the board. You get transparency and accuracy. It’s a smoother, more accountable process.
I also use OpenAI tools like ChatGPT. We use it on the regular to deliver sharp and quick reports, and we receive appreciation on how our cost reports turn out. Because at the end of the day, everyone is focussed on outcomes, not the process.
But I still feel like sometimes AI replaces creativity. Back during college, when OpenAI didn’t exist, we had to think critically and write from scratch. We are now living in an age of convenience culture. It’s easy to let the machine think for you. But, AI should assist you, not replace your imagination.
So yes, communication is key. But don’t lose your creative voice either.
7. If You Could Restart Your Career, Would You Return to the Beginning?
If I look back, my first job was safe, structured, and fine.
But I took a leap for something more. I knew I had to grow. That leap brought me to Dubai, to Stonehaven, and to the kind of projects and people that keep me learning every day.
I’m grateful I took that risk. It shaped me and who I am as a Cost Manager today.
