When Maheeka Nimalaratne first began exploring graduate business programs, she wasn’t only looking for an academic credential. She wanted transformation, a place where learning would shape her character as much as her skillset, and where leadership was defined by service, not just success.
That search led her from Sri Lanka to Trinity Western University’s Executive MBA program, an experience she describes as “anchoring my decisions in purpose” and “giving me friendships and mentors I still carry with me today.”
From Sri Lanka to Canada
Before coming to Canada, Nimalaratne spent over 15 years in apparel manufacturing across Asia. Her career was fast-paced and high-pressure, working with global brands and overseeing operations that employed tens of thousands. “You earn your money at the needle point,” she laughs, recalling the tight deadlines and constant problem-solving required in the manufacturing setting. It was a rewarding career, but Nimalaratne sensed there was more ahead, not just professionally, but personally.
“I was inspired to learn about authentic leadership, leadership that comes from values, not just a title,” she said. “I wanted to explore what it means to lead with purpose, and I wanted a program that reflected that.”
Discovering TWU’s Executive MBA
Her search brought her to TWU, where she connected with professors and the MBA program team. She remembers her first conversations with staff clearly. “They were so welcoming and really wanted to know what my journey had been and what business looked like back in Asia,” she recalled. “That set the tone, I felt valued from the very beginning.”
Nimalaratne was part of TWU’s very first Executive MBA cohort, a small, intimate class of just 12 students. “We were the first group, so we were really close-knit,” she said. “Everyone brought such different perspectives. Some of my classmates were senior leaders at Trinity itself, and others came from industries completely different from mine. We learned so much from each other,” she said.
Learning Through Community
The small cohort size became one of the program’s greatest strengths. For Nimalaratne, collaboration wasn’t just encouraged, it was essential. “We shared so many case studies from our own workplaces,” she said. “Most of us had 10 years or more of management experience, so every class felt like a leadership roundtable. We weren’t just learning from the professors, we were learning from each other.”
Professors at TWU played a pivotal role in shaping that dynamic. “They were so down-to-earth,” Nimalaratne said. “Even though they were experienced professionals, they treated us as peers. They wanted to mentor us, not just teach us.” She highlights the authenticity of TWU’s faculty, people who modeled integrity and servant leadership. “You could tell they genuinely cared about who we were becoming, not just what we were learning.”
This alignment between TWU’s academic rigor and its values was what Nimalaratne had been searching for. Courses in strategy and leadership challenged her to think critically and integrate her personal beliefs with business decisions. “The purpose behind what we do, that was huge for me,” she said. “Whatever we do should inspire others and be anchored in a deeper sense of organizational and personal purpose.”
Navigating Challenges and Growth
Balancing work, school, and life wasn’t easy. Nimalaratne worked while completing the EMBA’s 16-month intensive program. Classes were often on Fridays and Saturdays, leaving little downtime. “You have to be really organized,” she advised future students. “Time management is key, and your family needs to understand the commitment, because it’s not just your journey; it’s theirs too.”
The capstone strategy course, a six-credit, two-in-one project, was one of the most demanding. Her team researched Aritzia, a major Canadian fashion brand, producing a comprehensive 100–200-page analysis and running a simulation business. “That project pushed us,” she said. “But it also brought our group closer together. We became friends for life.”
Bringing Perspective and Serving Others
Nimalaratne’s global background brought a unique lens to classroom discussions. Having worked in Sri Lanka, she carried with her a passion for creating space for underrepresented voices, particularly women in leadership. Back home, she spearheaded initiatives in manufacturing plants to mentor and equip female employees for leadership roles, a commitment she’s carried into her current work.
Women’s representation is a thread that runs throughout her career. “I’ve always believed women bring a different perspective to the table,” she said. “Back home, there weren’t many women in senior leadership. I want to create space for female leaders to grow.” Today, Nimalaratne leads a team of women, encouraging each of them to pursue leadership development opportunities and confidently carve out their own career paths.
A Launchpad to New Opportunities
The Executive MBA didn’t just deepen Nimalaratne’s leadership philosophy, it opened doors. Shortly after graduation, she transitioned into a senior role at one of Vancouver’s leading global brands.
“Doing the EMBA at Trinity helped me set myself up here in North America and join a brand I really wanted to work for,” she said.
More Than a Degree
For Nimalaratne, the EMBA was never just about career advancement. It was about becoming the kind of leader who inspires trust and cultivates purpose in others. TWU’s holistic approach, integrating character, competence, and compassion, made that possible.
“At Trinity, I felt welcomed,” she said. “The professors, the classmates, everyone was so down-to-earth. We were learning business, yes, but we were also learning how to be better people.”
Her advice to future students is simple: “Be ready to give 100 percent,” she said. “Bring your experience to the table and be open to learning from others. It’s challenging, but it gives you so much back.”
Nimalaratne’s passion and leadership were recognized when she received TWU’s Women in Business Scholarship, awarded to outstanding female EMBA students who demonstrate inspiring career journeys and clear industry impact.
Nimalaratne’s story is a reminder of what happens when professional ambition meets personal calling. It’s the story of a woman who crossed oceans to find not just a degree, but a community, and, in the process, became the kind of leader she always hoped to be.
About TWU's Executive MBA program
Trinity Western University gives you the tools you need to advance your business acumen, organizational leadership, management, and problem solving skills without interrupting your career. Thrive in a team-based, peer-to-peer learning environment filled with opportunities to lead and be led. Learn more at TWU's Executive MBA program.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students for life. Uniting faith and reason through Christian teaching and scholarship, TWU is a research institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in the humanities and sciences as well as in several professional schools. It has campuses in Canada in Langley, Richmond, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn. For media inquiries, please contact: media@twu.ca.