- Data scientist Chathra Hasini Hendahewa on the value of learning by experience
By Jennifer Anandanayagam
Chathra Hasini Hendahewa (40) is passionate about education and research, which is possibly how she ended up as a senior data scientist based in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. As an only child growing up in Sri Lanka, she was taught about the value of education, social skills, and good manners.
“My parents always encouraged learning by experience over merely studying; this always helped me gain valuable experiences. I travelled both locally and abroad, engaging in practical experiments, art, and other extracurricular activities.”
Hendahewa completed her secondary education at her “dream school” – Devi Balika Vidyalaya – after transferring there on her Grade Five scholarship. At the University of Moratuwa, she studied information technology, and went on to nurture an increasing interest in computer technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI). Although she graduated, completed CIMA, and even found work as a business systems analyst, she couldn’t ignore her desire to learn more about AI.
After a lot of research, she applied for a highly competitive International Fulbright Science and Technology Award and became a proud recipient, going on to embark on her dream – doctoral studies at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in the US. “It was a real eye-opening experience for me to be a part of the Fulbright network and meet lots of international students with various backgrounds and skills and share my experiences with them,” she shares.
After graduation, she worked as a research engineer at a FinTech startup in New York, and eventually migrated to Canada, and worked as a senior data scientist at TD Bank in Toronto leading data science and analytics projects across the bank. Today, she works at Microsoft, and is part of the Intelligent Conversations and Communications Cloud team that is responsible for applications such as Microsoft Teams and Skype.
We sat down with Hendahewa this week to discuss the value of education, the role of research, and more. Here are some excerpts from the chat.
When and why did you move abroad?
I moved to Canada from the US in 2018, because Canada is very immigrant-friendly. Settling down in Canada after living and studying in the US for a decade was easier.
I also like the calm, family-oriented lifestyle most Canadians have. I liked the social structure in Canada as well – province-wide healthcare system, top-notch education and universities, and other social aspects which I found to be extremely important when raising a family.
How was your experience of settling in a new country?
Personally, settling in Canada was pretty easy, it might be because I was used to the North American systems by then. As a family also, settling in Canada was seamless; even doing administrative tasks was quite straightforward as an immigrant. The hardest part was the weather, as Canadian winters are pretty bad even compared to the east coast of the US.
I actually interviewed for jobs while I was in the US once I got my Permanent Residency approved in Canada. With the experience I had in the US, I was able to get multiple offers even before I landed in Canada so professionally, I found it very easy to adapt. The professional environment was very friendly with amazing co-workers and managers.
The Canadian people are absolutely amazing. Well-defined processes are in place for everything so things are easy to navigate though sometimes time-consuming. There is so much law and order in everyday life, so as long as you follow the rules and norms, adjusting to life is very easy. From neighbours to co-workers to random people you meet, everyone is very friendly (reminding me a bit of Sri Lankan people) and helpful.
Why are education and research of interest to you?
Education to me is not just about earning a grade, earning an award, or getting a degree. To me, it is the process and work you do to get there. The journey is far more important than the final outcome. I want to inspire students to enjoy the process, learn from mistakes, and make a unique journey for themselves in education because that is something no one can take away from them ever. It is something that will be with you; you keep growing as you learn new things throughout your life.
Research is how the sciences get advanced and without that, this world will not improve. Research is not straightforward as a subject – you are touching the unknown, trying different new methodologies, and inventing something new so there are a lot of failures as well as successes. Learning from these enables you to be a good scientist, advance science, and provide betterment to society.
What is your advice to Sri Lankan students looking to move to Toronto for their studies – the ‘dos and don’ts’?
Be you! Be your genuine self and give your best to everything you do.
The “dos” include: Pursuing studies in an area you like and what you are interested in. That goes a long way than doing a subject area you have no interest in. Keep reading books and online material and be up to date about study areas and research areas.
When applying for international programmes, early preparation is vital. You have to do all tests such as IELTS, GRE, etc. plus you have to prepare your personal and research statements. Be honest and explain why you want to do so because when you write whole-heartedly and have the relevant material, this will come through and the selection committee notices it.
Always apply to multiple universities to increase your chances.
As for the “don’ts”: Don’t stress over it – even if you fail with applications once or even multiple times. Keep trying. Consistency and learning are key.
Don’t ever apply just because someone else is pressuring you. It has to come from genuine interest.
Don’t worry about immigration aspects at the beginning. Focus on your studies first and excel in those and once you complete your education, you can focus on a career path and eventually settle in Canada through proper skilled migration processes.
Race relations are something lots of people talk about, especially in the context of settling in a foreign country. Did you have any challenges in this regard?
To be honest, I haven’t faced any discrimination as such in the US or Canada. It could be because I was always open-minded to anyone and never saw them through the lens of race or religion. With the social skills I got from my childhood to be open to all people, and also the international experiences I got in the USA living with multicultural students on campus, and due to the Fulbright network, I embodied the differences and found so much joy in learning about other cultures and races.
Do you have any advice for new immigrants setting in a foreign country?
- Always abide by the law and follow the rules and procedures – then most of the immigration and administrative work can be done easily
- Always be extra prepared for changes/unknown situations; be on time and make a good impression, especially in a professional environment
- Try to make friends from early on by being humble and open-minded
- Keep your own identity intact although you are in a foreign land, but adjust and learn the good things from the society you are coming into. This would enable you to be authentic but easily navigate the new norms
What are your thoughts on what’s transpiring in your home country of Sri Lanka right now?
It is a very sad situation, but it was inevitable with the way the country has been managed. I still worry each day as my parents, relatives, and friends live there, and I try to do my best to help fellow Sri Lankans right now.
How do you think expats such as yourself can meaningfully help our country through this crisis?
Based on your area of expertise, assist and volunteer your time. For example, if technology is your area, assist in generating a future plan to advance the tech sphere in Sri Lanka to further contribute to the economy. Also, from a financial perspective, donate to any worthy causes (e.g., donating to medicine shortages, food shortages) the best you can.
Another thing I strongly encourage as an expat is to buy Sri Lanka-made products whenever possible via legitimate channels (e-commerce, online shopping) so foreign currency would flow to the country. As Sri Lankans, we should be proud of our products whether it be food, spices, tea, clothing, etc.
(The writer is a journalist and editor with over 15 years of experience in Sri Lanka’s print and digital media landscape. She is also a freelance contributor with the SaltWire Network in Canada. She spends her time between both countries)