BEC 3180: Personal and Professional Development : From Classroom to Career: Inspiring Lessons from Alumni
The Department of Business Economics of the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, successfully organized a guest lecture under the course BEC 3180: Personal and Professional Development on 01 January 2026. The session, titled “From Classroom to Career: Inspiring Lessons from Alumni,” was designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice by connecting current undergraduates with accomplished alumni.
The guest speaker for the session was Ms. Pawanya Balasooriya, an Analyst attached to the Management Consulting Division at KPMG, who is also a recently passed-out alumna of the Department of Business Economics. Drawing from her own academic journey and early professional experiences, Ms. Balasooriya shared practical insights on navigating the transition from university life to the corporate world. Her presentation highlighted the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, effective communication skills, and maintaining a strong professional ethic in a competitive global environment.
During the lecture, Ms. Balasooriya reflected on how academic foundations in business economics, combined with extracurricular engagement and personal initiative, contributed to shaping her career pathway. She emphasized the value of leveraging opportunities such as internships, leadership roles, and professional networking while still at university, encouraging students to be proactive in shaping their own career trajectories. Her discussion resonated strongly with the objectives of the Personal and Professional Development course, which aims to prepare students for real-world challenges beyond the classroom.
The session was well received by students, who actively engaged in discussions and posed questions related to career planning, professional growth, and managing early-career challenges. The interactive nature of the lecture created an open platform for knowledge sharing, inspiration, and mentorship between alumni and current undergraduates. The event was successfully coordinated by Dr. M. P. K. Withanawasam and Mr. Binura Shaminda, whose efforts ensured the smooth organization and relevance of the session to course learning outcomes. Through initiatives such as this guest lecture, the Department of Business Economics continues to strengthen alumni engagement and enhance students’ exposure to practical career insights, reinforcing its commitment to holistic student development and employability.
