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Alumni

Suriyakumara Tikiri Bibile

Career Path: Territory Manager (Sri Lanka, Maldives & Nepal), Pearson Education
Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka

I have always been passionate about business. Whilst I chose marketing as my profession, my ambition is to become a successful investor and a corporate leader. Since 1999 when I first started working at a popular radio network as a Newsreader, I was keen to move in the direction of marketing. With a passion to sell, promote and to build brands to be market leaders, I have worked with many teams under diverse circumstances which have played a key role in my career successes.

I always took the view that one need not stick to one industry so long as you have the passion for learning and adaptability and as long as you stay within your profession. However, later my entry education in 2009 came as a surprise to me as well although I took the challenge. Almost 8 years on I have every reason to be happy of my decision, whilst in the education space I took advantage of the ethos and topped-up my professional marketing qualification with a degree from the Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University as a distance learning student of Business Management School (BMS) in Colombo.

What are you doing now?

I am currently the Territory Manager for Sri Lanka, Maldives & Nepal at Pearson Education with a remit to manage higher education qualifications, resources and Pearson Test of English - Academic. I was previously responsible for Pakistan.

What was it about Northumbria that made you decide to study here?

It's the brand name, when I wanted to qualify with an academic degree I wanted to study a university programme that would add value to my career and help me as I transform within my career. The rank of Northumbria University's Newcastle Business School also played a key role in my final decision.

What was it like studying at Northumbria?

It was great blended learning, most importantly the lecturers and their commitment to teaching was first class.

What impressed you most about our academic staff?

Their commitment and the expertise in taking the students through to the next level.

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