LIFESTYLE
Dilupa Pathirana
In conversation with Nirmali Ameresekere
What is a typical day like for you – and do you have any specific habits or routines that help you remain productive?
Reading, walking, working, eating, watching movies and sleeping almost 80 percent of the time
If your career were to be the subject of a movie, what would its title be – and who would play you?
Ford v Ferrari – Ken Miles (I will die trying!)
What passion project or business idea would you pursue if you had unlimited time and resources?
Work on a project to eliminate hunger and poverty
A soundtrack that typifies your workday…
Believer – by Imagine Dragons
And your ‘go to’ song or playlist to remain happy during the day…
Any song by Bob Marley
The best piece of advice you’ve received…
What gets measured gets done!
What is your mantra to recharge when you feel overwhelmed?
If you are going through hell, keep going – this was on a billboard displayed at the Lion Brewery office at the time I was employed there
An item on your bucket list that you’d like to achieve in the next few years…
Travel to 30 more countries
How would you spend your time if you could unplug from technology for a week?
Pack my bags and travel
What other work do you think you would excel in – and why?
I like teaching – I think I’m good at explaining things
A failure that turned out to be a blessing in disguise…
I failed badly in building a local Sri Lankan restaurant chain but that experience proved valuable in establishing the cafe chain
And a guilty pleasure that helps you unwind at the end of a stressful day…
Beer and chips on my way home
Quirky habits that help you during working hours…
The ability to work any moment of the day – 24/7
Advice you’d give your younger self if you could travel back to the beginning of your career…
Play a team sport more seriously
If you could work from anywhere in the world for a month, where would you go – and why?
Dubai – they don’t do small; they dream big and I like that vibe
And if you could collaborate with any person (past or present) on a project, who would it be? And what would you create?
I’d like to collaborate with Howard Schultz to make coffee more accessible and affordable for people around the world
If your team members could switch roles with you for a day, what do you think they’d find most surprising about what you do?
The number of calls I handle from customers and franchisee seekers
One thing you hope people will remember most about your contribution to work or society in general…
I hope people will say: “He kept learning until his death and gave his best”
When you dance, you look like…
I have two left feet
The first thing you notice about someone…
His or her eyes
You know it’s going to be a bad day when…
I see two missed calls in the morning from my head of operations
You’re challenged by…
The speed of the business world and changing consumer behaviours
You recently laughed out loud when…
I watched The Death of Stalin – an old movie
You are saddened when…
A day is unproductive
Love has the power to…
Repair and recharge
Happiness is when…
I know I did my best
Sri Lanka will have a chance to develop when…
People unite in demanding a better life
A message of positivity in these trying times…
If you want a rainbow, you’ve got to put up with the rain
You are most productive in the morning, noon or night…
Morning
Tea or coffee?
Black coffee
Eating outside or cooking at home?
Eating outside, please!
The most delightful word you can think of
Please
