“I believe that it’s critical for us to adapt as the world changes; there’s so much digital transformation, and I want to be a part of that movement.” - Nadun Thilina Elvitigala, SCS learner
Nadun Thilina Elvitigala came to Canada from Quatar in November 2020. Needless to say, the challenges of moving to a new country were exacerbated by a global pandemic, and almost immediately Nadun decided that the best way to find solid ground was to grow his skills. “I started my career in chemical engineering. However, I quickly realized that I wanted to focus on my people and project management skills instead, so I pursued an MBA while living in the UK. After graduating in 2016, I moved to Qatar and began working as a Regional Strategic Manager, managing forty people, and multiple large-scale projects across many countries and regions,” says Nadun. “Coming to Canada in 2020 posed many challenges, but it also felt like the perfect time to explore something that had been of interest to me for a while, but I hadn’t had time to formally study: Lean Six Sigma project management.”
Lean Six Sigma is a proven strategic tool that delivers value for customers, generates returns for shareholders, and improves the workplace environment. Nadun was eager to up his game, and grow his abilities during such an uncertain time, so in December 2020, he enrolled in the Lean Six Sigma Certificate at the School of Continuing Studies. “My instructor, Michael Mladjenovic, was an amazing lecturer. He did a fantastic job of making theory practical; it wasn’t just book learning. His classes expanded my knowledge, and gave me the opportunity to connect and collaborate with classmates who are still in my professional network today,” recalls Nadun. “After I earned the certificate in 2021, I went on to earn my American Society of Quality Certification. The program at SCS helped me pass the very rigorous exam on my first try.”
Today, Nadun is a Continuous Improvement Manager, using knowledge he gained at SCS to improve efficiencies and work with large data sets. “In my current role, I’ve reduced quality errors by 95%, improved customer wait times from three to five days to one day, and enhanced product quality. I want to keep my progress going! In fact, I’m now enrolled in the Data Science Certificate at SCS, which is a partnership with the University of Waterloo, to further develop my analytic and machine learning abilities,” shares Nadun. “I believe that it’s critical for us to adapt as the world changes; there’s so much digital transformation, and I want to be a part of that movement. You’re never too old or settled to make a change, learn new skills, and achieve your goals.”