In the highly competitive apparel industry, leadership is more than just managing teams; it’s about inspiring continuous growth, fostering innovation, and navigating complex global challenges. Tharika Gamage, the Group QA Manager at Jay Jay Mills Lanka, exemplifies these traits, through her empowering approach.
For Tharika, leadership isn’t just a buzzword; it is the cornerstone of her management philosophy. In an industry where innovation and high standards are critical, she understands that leading from the front requires more than just setting goals—it demands inspiring people to believe in those goals. “People are often reluctant to step out of their comfort zones to achieve new heights,” she says. “One main reason is that they do not believe higher standards or innovation are achievable, especially because they haven’t tried before.”
She ensures that her team has a clear understanding of the vision she sets forth, aligning it with their personal goals and passions. By connecting organizational objectives with individual purpose, she creates a sense of ownership among her employees, encouraging them to strive for excellence. This, according to Tharika, is not just about achieving short-term targets but also about building long-term capabilities within the team.
In a rapidly changing business environment, communication plays a pivotal role in ensuring alignment and understanding. “I’ve learned that people interpret the same message in various ways due to many factors,” Tharika explains. Whether it’s cultural differences, professional experiences, or varying roles within the organization, she makes it a priority to communicate clearly and empathetically, ensuring that her team understands the vision and feels supported every step of the way. This commitment to open and transparent communication has helped her maintain high productivity levels, even under tight deadlines.
One of the key challenges she faces as a leader is ensuring that her team embraces continuous improvement in an industry that is constantly evolving. For her, the approach is simple: appreciate, train, and empower.
Tharika firmly believes that appreciation plays a huge role in motivating employees. “Appreciation doesn’t always have to be monetary,” she says. “Simple gestures like a pat on the shoulder or genuine recognition can be incredibly effective.” She recounts how she has often witnessed individuals surpass their limits simply because they felt valued. However, she also recognizes the importance of tailoring her methods to suit the diverse backgrounds of her team, as not everyone is motivated by the same factors.
Training is another vital component of Tharika’s leadership strategy. In an industry where new trends and technologies are constantly emerging, continuous education is necessary to stay competitive. She is particularly passionate about mentoring young professionals, helping to fast-track their careers through structured and unstructured training. She sees this not only as a way to build her team’s skillset but also as a means of staying in touch with the expectations and ambitions of the next generation.
However, Tharika stresses that training alone is not enough. “Empowering people is essential,” she says. Her leadership approach involves giving her team the autonomy to make decisions, experiment with new ideas, and implement their solutions. “I’ve achieved a lot by fostering an open and free environment for my team to work in,” she adds. This culture of empowerment has resulted in self-motivated teams that take initiative and require minimal supervision—allowing Tharika to focus on higher-level strategic objectives.
Leadership is often tested during times of crisis, and Tharika has had her fair share of tough decisions to make, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. When she joined an organization amid this global crisis, it became clear that the existing structure couldn’t support efficient operations. She proposed a radical restructuring of the quality assurance (QA) department—an idea that was met with resistance from employees, some of whom had been in their roles for decades.
“Some were genuinely worried about job security, while others felt unsure about transitioning into new roles,” she recalls. To address these concerns, she took a compassionate approach, emphasizing frequent communication to build trust. She assured her team that their job security was not at risk and that the restructuring could lead to better career growth and compensation. She also provided extensive training, both in the classroom and on the job, to ensure that everyone was fully prepared for the changes.
The restructuring wasn’t an overnight process. Tharika worked closely with the company to ensure a smooth transition, revising timelines and implementation strategies to make the shift as seamless as possible. Today, the organization is reaping the benefits of her bold decision, with a more efficient and motivated QA team driving the company’s success.
In addition to managing her internal team, Tharika works closely with high-profile global clients, each of whom brings their own set of demands and expectations. Balancing these external pressures with the need for operational efficiency requires a unique leadership approach—one that she has honed through years of experience.
“My vision is to delight our customers through the quality of service we provide, whether that involves optimizing processes, developing our people, or incorporating new technologies,” she explains. While the apparel industry is still heavily reliant on human factors, she has embraced advancements in AI and other digital tools to streamline operations. This not only benefits the company by improving efficiency but also gives employees opportunities to grow and develop new skills.
However, there are times when clients demand conflict with operational realities. Tharika approaches these situations with transparency, ensuring that her clients are aware of any limitations without compromising the high standards they expect. She has surrounded herself with technical experts who can offer flexible solutions, often finding ways to meet client expectations while maintaining operational excellence.
By fostering a culture of transparency and trust, she has built strong relationships with both her clients and her team. This alignment has not only ensured customer satisfaction but also motivated her team to continually strive for the highest standards of quality.
Tharika’s journey is one marked by courage, vision, and a commitment to her team. From navigating the complexities of the apparel industry to making bold decisions during a global crisis, she has shown that true leadership goes beyond simply managing people—it’s about inspiring them to believe in their potential, empowering them to take ownership, and guiding them toward a shared vision of success.
As she continues to lead Jay Jay Mills Lanka into the future, she remains focused on her core leadership values: visionary thinking, continuous improvement, and fostering an environment where her team can thrive. In a world where the only constant is change, Tharika’s leadership serves as a reminder that resilience, empathy, and empowerment are the keys to long-term success.