By Ingrid Green
What do ultra-running, palliative care and cutting edge technology have in common?
When I sat down with Vajira, it was immediately clear that he is passionate about all of them. It was intriguing to learn how he has managed to combine all three with his role as the Chief Technology Officer with Microsoft Services Asia and also as a father of two.
At work Vajira leads a team of architects who create innovative digital business transformation solutions for customers across Asia. He revels in being at the leading edge of the industry, the challenge of working with complex projects, and finding ways to simplify and deliver them successfully.
Leaders are shaped by many life events. It was clear that Vajira's leadership and coaching styles have been honed through his running experience - among many others.
Several years ago he could barely run 5km, yet he managed his first marathon in 2015. He has since completed eight marathons and four ultra-marathons – the longest an 83km race in Canberra at the Australian Institute of Sport track. Currently he’s training for his next ultra-marathon of 100km. How can someone who has never done long distance running get to this level of endurance and mental motivation? I found that’s where we can all learn a lesson.
He got into running with a friend. After two years he finally managed to run a half marathon. Every time he tried to go beyond the 21km distance he had pain injuries. He was ready to quit until he read a book by one of the elite ultra-marathon runners in the US.
Dean Karnazes’ book 50 Marathons in 50 Days changed Vajira’s perspective, and he set out to learn all about the science of running. He re-adjusted his approach and training resumed. This time, he managed to break through the perceived barriers.
“Once I managed to get to 35km in training, I knew that the 42km distance was within reach. It was at that time I decided that I need to find a bigger cause to help through my running”.
Leading up to the Canberra marathon, a good friend of Vajira, Dr. Suharsha Kanathigoda (founder of Shanthi Foundation) approached him looking for help in raising awareness and funds for the not-for-profit organisation. The focus of the foundation was to build the first ever palliative care hospital in Sri Lanka. Vajira decided this would be a great cause to support and dedicated his first marathon to the foundation. The decision to put his running efforts towards helping a bigger cause proved life-changing. Three-and-a-half hours into the Canberra run, on a lonely road, his knowledge that the pain of running was to help someone else provided the boost he needed.
“It occurred to me during the marathon, I’m no longer running for myself, I’m now running to help someone else, so keep going and don’t stop.
"To push yourself beyond what you think is your limit, you need a purpose bigger than yourself.
"If you can find that, you will get pulled towards your dream and purpose rather than having to push. It’s an amazing experience.”
After this running experience, Vajira decided to write a book that would capture his life experiences with success and failures in building high performing teams. In his book Motivating Mavericks, The Secret to High Performing Teams, Vajira reflects on everything he’s learned about leadership and team building, and combines it with insights from other business leaders and high performing coaches.
His altruism continues – he’s donating all proceeds to the Shanthi Foundation and towards the work his wife Kali is doing to help children in need through letkidsfly.org.
Microsoft Services Asia CTO Vajira Weerasekera explains
how running makes him a better leader
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