Empathy and authority are two qualities often seen as opposing forces in leadership. But what happens when a leader in academia finds the perfect balance between the two? This is the inspiring story of Amali Jayasinghe, Director of ESOL College International, who has
successfully navigated this delicate balancing act – from forming meaningful connections with her team to guiding them towards success without compromising her vision. She holds a collection of valuable lessons on leading with both compassion and conviction.
As the Director, Amali manages a multitude of responsibilities. She is tasked with ensuring the academic success of the students, maintaining the financial stability of the institution, and fostering positive employee morale. This is no easy feat, but her years of experience in academia have allowed her to master this complex role. In her words, ”Success is something that all of us who live on this beautiful planet strive for”
Amali embarked on her journey from the stepping stones of inspiration. She initially delved into language experimentation and pedagogical applications due to her belief that learning English through English (to be clarified by the interviewee) itself can be challenging. Eventually, she began teaching English to three-year-old children utilizing the tool “Total English”, which has now been widely adopted by reputable educational institutions across the globe.
During her pursuit of CELTA at the British Council, Amali was encouraged to incorporate
creative activities into her English teaching. She recognized that such methods could effectively teach the language to urban and rural students who struggle with traditional learning techniques. With this belief, her passion for fun and interactive teaching methods led her to rise through the ranks and eventually become the provost of ESOL, marking the first of many educational institutions she would lead.
Amali has made strides in accomplishing her objectives as ESOL now comprises 5 branches and has evolved into one of Sri Lanka’s foremost educational institutions, catering to over 5000 students and employing 150 lecturers. Furthermore, having commenced in 2022, the ESOL Premier Campus is yet another expansion, addressing the distinctive requirements of the corporate sector.
How does an exceptional woman like Amali continue to empower herself and those around her?
By fortifying her mindset. Bold indeed.
Since her prime, Amali has been instilled to have a comprehensive outlook. Her sense of
confidence flows within, and it empowers her team. In return, their confidence empowers her. She describes the culture at ESOL as distinct, as it progressively enhances the calibre and quantity of work, moulding her team into well-informed, self-sufficient individuals who
ultimately gain empowerment and adapt effortlessly to any environment. Amali commends her team for their expertise in cultivating divergent thinking and demonstrating creativity and
innovation in their work, despite having limited experience. Drawing a comparison to diamonds, she describes her ability to identify, refine, and enhance her team’s potential to increase their value and brilliance on their professional journey.
When it comes to decision-making, wise leaders are more likely to take a collaborative approach. Why so? They understand that there is strength in numbers and are more likely to solicit input from others before making a decision. Amali observes that ESOL has a longstanding tradition of promoting female leadership. She remarks that the organization values the contributions of women, including their perspectives on decision-making and their innovative ideas, which are actively supported and nurtured. Notably, she highlights that the majority of the organization’s members are women, which is a testament to their significant presence and influence.
Leading an organization comes with its fair share of juggling many different responsibilities. But according to her team, Amali does so with grace and empathy. Below, a few share their thoughts on the measures implemented to promote women’s leadership.
Hector Madurangi Umeshika
(Senior Branch Manager)
Joining ESOL as a trainee English teacher and subsequently being promoted to Senior Branch Manager was a momentous occasion for Madurangi, representing a significant turning point in both her personal and professional development. The trust placed in her was a catalyst for her growth, affording her the chance to gain valuable experiences, uncover new opportunities, and realize her true potential.
She praised, “Since the day I started at ESOL, Mrs Amali Jayasinghe has been an immense inspiration to me. Identifying my passion and capabilities, she has supported me in turning them into skills. Thus, her guidance to discover me and perform as an individual was the great stimulus behind my achievements. I am thankful to her for making me a strong professional and creating a lively environment for myself and my peers to work in by positively impacting thousands of lives.”
Thushanthi Ramanayaka
(Manager – Student Development)
Thushanthi began her career at ESOL in 2019 as an English teacher and has since been the
recipient of continuous professional coaching and regular feedback. In recognition of her outstanding performance, Thushanthi was awarded the title of “Highly Performed Teacher” in the same year, which motivated her to further her education. As a result of her hard work and dedication, she was promoted to the roles of Assistant Branch Manager and Assistant Manager – Student Development in 2021. Thushanthi firmly believes that recognizing and rewarding employees based on their performance is crucial for motivating and retaining talented individuals, and she is grateful that ESOL has been implementing this approach for years.
“As the Director and the Principal of ESOL College, Ms Amali Jayasinghe has been a role model who I always look up to. Her success story has been a great inspiration to the person I am today. The training and constant professional development opportunities provided by her great leadership enabled me to take the next step of being the Manager – Student Development. Her constant guidance trained me to avoid crises by solving problems promptly and making the right decisions. I believe that the quick pace at which I was able to move up and continue to perform by leading my team is due to the mentorship I received from Ms Amali which I am grateful for.”
Ama Narendra Ranaweera
(Academic Manager – ESOL Premier Campus and CELA Global UK)
Since joining ESOL in 2018 as an English lecturer, Ama’s career has flourished with numerous opportunities and challenges. Today, as the Academic Manager of both ESOL Premier Campus and CELA Global UK, she has gained a wealth of experience. Ama began by teaching Cambridge English to young adults, adults, and professionals, but later transitioned into curriculum development and teacher training, as well as administrative responsibilities.
In her words, “Ms Amali Jayasinghe, our dearest directress, has been my mentor shaping me into the determined professional today. She has been a pillar of strength who was with me through every step of the way guiding me towards my career growth and widening my scope to explore many opportunities within the field of education. Throughout these years she has taught me how vital ideal decision-making is at the most crucial times. This is my first job and without giving up I have been able to emerge as a confident professional who aspires to share experiences and knowledge with the coming generation. Strengthening the relationships with colleagues within the organization and outside is yet another charismatic quality that was passed down by Ms Amali and over the years I have experienced the validity of it since I am building rapport with many stakeholders related to the field of education. Last but not the least, I hope to empower many young ladies with adequate assistance, accurate guidance and pure intentions so they will excel as empowered women who can empower other women.”
Nissansala Gunawardena
(Manager – Examinations)
Nisansala’s journey at ESOL has been exceptional, as her academic background did not align with the job requirements for an English teacher when she first applied. However, choosing to embark on a career in English education as an ESOL employee has proven to be one of the most significant and rewarding decisions of her life, without a doubt. Before long, she discovered her passion for working with children and relished the novel experiences and opportunities that ESOL provided. These experiences not only helped her to grow as a teacher but also as an individual.
Nissansala cites, “If it weren’t for Ms Amali Jayasinghe, who saw my ability in this profession
and decided to give me the opportunity to be a member of the ESOL family, I would not be
sharing my happy story with you here. She can be defined as one of the major pillars of my success and I admire the way she carries herself with great leadership qualities and a humble attitude despite the titles or positions. I am privileged to be empowered by her and to see many individuals learning, growing and building themselves up like me under her wing every day. She is a leader in every sense of the word.”
Isuri Kathriarachchi
(Manager – Teacher Developments)
After nearly three years of working at ESOL, Isuri continues to find each day exciting and invigorating. With several years of experience in education, she has had the privilege of working with individuals from various nationalities as an English Language trainer and consultant, volunteer teacher, and coordinator. However, it is at ESOL that Isuri has truly had the opportunity to collaborate with a vibrant group of staff members from diverse educational and professional backgrounds. By granting Isuri independence within her division, Amali has enabled her to recognize her potential and become more imaginative and innovative as a teacher trainer. This has allowed her to reinforce the efficacy of teacher development training programs.
Isuri shared her thoughts, “I was blessed to have Ms Amali as my supervisor. From her, I learnt that empathy should not be coined as a negative term in leadership. Through her, I have learnt that by giving second chances and showcasing care we can enrich the skill set of an individual. Ms Amali’s guidance has paved the way to be an approachable, empathetic open-minded and impartial manager.”
Are you familiar with the expression, “Empowering women isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s
the smart thing to do.” (- Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada)?
In this context, Amali acknowledges that having empowered women in her organization has the greatest benefit of enriching the work culture. She details that senior staff members function as role models and inspire new employees to thrive within. As a result, they develop a sense of ownership and personalize the goals and objectives of the organization, associating their success with their abilities.
As a female figure in academia, Amali is uniquely positioned to inspire and empower other women. She has made it her mission to mentor and support female academics, strengthening their morals and helping them to navigate the challenging terrain of higher education. Along with offering practical advice, Amali acts as a role model, demonstrating that success is attainable in a male-dominated field, while also reinforcing their values.
On the topic of institutional and societal changes that need to be driven for women to be empowered on a broader scale, Amali feels that policymakers need to focus their actions on five clear priorities: allowing women the autonomy to carry out their job duties independently; their potential must be appreciated and recognized, and they should be given credit for their efforts, implementations, and successes; women’s views and opinions should be given equal
consideration and respect alongside men’s; the role of women in leadership must be socially accepted and viewed equally to that of men; and women must be provided with equal opportunities regardless of their gender.
Alas, Amali is a prime example of how empathy and authority can work in tandem to create a positive and effective leadership style. By prioritizing both the needs of her employees and the goals of the organization, she has fostered a culture of respect, collaboration, and innovation. Through her approach, she has shown that empathy and authority need not be opposing forces, but can complement each other to create a balanced and successful leadership style. As we navigate a rapidly changing world, leaders like Amali who embrace both empathy and authority are well-positioned to lead resiliently.