Samantha Epa
General Manager-Technology & Program Management
Colombo
Summary
Dedicated Technology Professional and analytical problem-solver with talents for management of modern technologies for business, Digital transfomation, leading and motivating, as well as excellent customer relations aptitude and relationship-building skills to enhance employee/customer engagement and boost performance.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
Work History
General Manager- Enterprise Program Management
Dialog Axiata PLC
Colombo 02
01.2020 - Current
- Business Strategy alignment to the Execution channels establishing OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) through projects and programs for effective and visible execution with most applicable technologies
- Maximized operational excellence mentoring & coaching personnel on management principles, industry standards and practices, technology systems and company procedures.
- Trained and guided cross functional team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics in multiple working set ups.
- Developing business resilience through focus programs collaboratively to win the challenges of dynamism in the socio political environment
General Manager -Group Technical Delivery
Dialog Axiata PLC
Colombo 02
01.2016 - 12.2019
- Managed Technology and Network development Capex/Opex budgets for complete cycle with focus vendor specific dashboards.
- Drove year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision, and long-range planning with internal teams and overseas corporate center.
- Executed extensive cost rescaling exercises with internal portfolios and Consultants to improve the optimum technology deployment and operation.
- Managed engineering training and development
- Lead a collaborative team to plan, develop and operate cost effective disaster recovery and business continuity for the complete Telco network and eco system.
Head- Group Technology Operations & New Technology
Dialog Axiata PLC
Colombo 02
01.2012 - 12.2015
- Lead the complete Telco CORE network modernization program while the live customer operation is on going
- Applied effective time management techniques to meet tight deadlines while collaborating with SMEs, Customer Services depts, contractors and government authorities for a smooth execution.
- Acted as a team leader in group projects, delegating tasks and providing feedback.
- Lead a team of new technology product developers in the company in collaboration with a university research lab.
Education
MBA - General Management
08.2014 - 01.2016
Bachelor of Science - Electronic & Telecommunication Engineering (Hons)
01.1994 - 12.1998
Higher National Diploma - Software Engineering
01.1993 - 01.1995
No Degree - Harward AXcelerator-Advancing Next-Gen Leaders
04.2001 -
No Degree - Leadership in Digital Age
04.2001 -
No Degree - Organizational Leadership
04.2001 -
No Degree - Project Management And Leadership
04.2001 -
No Degree - Scrum Master
04.2001 -
No Degree - Telecommunication Systems And Services
04.2001 -
Have extensive experience with Ericsson, Huawei, Cisco and Alcatel Telecom equipment and networks in Network designing & Planning, Procurement, Deployment and Project management since 1998 till 2019.
Skills
Technology Management
Project, Program and Portfolio Management
Digital Transformation
People management, Coaching and Leadership
Cost Rescaling and optimization
Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning
Digital customer experience transformation
Accomplishments
- National Fuel Pass to the Nation in 2022 with MIT, ICTA and Ministry of Energy and Petroleum
- Tourist Fuel Pass system with MIT & Sampath bank PLC
- Digital Transformation
- Analytic model based AI products and service development programs
-Customer Experience management
-Agile project management, coaching and leadership
Affiliations
Chartered Engineer and Corporate Member of IESL, Sri Lanka -2005 to date
Associate Member – Australian Computer Society – up to 2017
Member of IEE, UK – 2001 to 2015
IEE Sri Lanka Committee Member – 2003-2005 IEE Sri Lanka Chapter
Member of Project Management Institute (PMI) - 2023
Member of Scrum Alliance
Additional Information
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Final Year Student Mentor – Dept of Chemical Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (2012 to date)
Honorary Treasurer – 2001-2002, IEE Sri Lanka Chapter, Younger Members Section
Honorary Chairman – 2002-2003, IEE Sri Lanka Chapter, Younger Members Section
Committee Member – 2002- 2005, IEE Sri Lanka main committee
AWARDS
Special CEO Award: National Fuel Pass for the nation (2022)
Dialog Gold Awards: Strategic Support Initiative of the year (2017); NW Cost Re-Scaling -Co-Leader (2015); NW Cost Rescaling (2014); MBB Projects 2013, Network FTK Project (2012)
Dialog Silver Awards: Co-leader NW Cost Rescaling (Engineering Project Team of the year 2015)
Dialog Bronze Awards: Internal Support Team of the year-EPMO (2021); Business Plan Accelerated Project (2015);
First Mobile Telecom Network in the Northern Province (2002) – Lead Network Planner
Divisional Trainer – Radio Network Planning /Group Technology (2003)
MSC Scholarship winner (Digital Communication Systems and Technology) of Chalmers University, Sweden in 2001
Quality Improvement Team – Runner up – (Leader) in 2003
Final Year student Mentor for continuous 10 Years- The Dept of Chemical engineering, University of Moratuwa
Timeline
General Manager- Enterprise Program Management - Dialog Axiata PLC
01.2020 - Current
General Manager -Group Technical Delivery - Dialog Axiata PLC
01.2016 - 12.2019
Australian Institute of Business - MBA, General Management
08.2014 - 01.2016
Head- Group Technology Operations & New Technology - Dialog Axiata PLC
01.2012 - 12.2015
Harward Business School - No Degree, Harward AXcelerator-Advancing Next-Gen Leaders
04.2001 -
INSEAD - No Degree, Leadership in Digital Age
04.2001 -
Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore - No Degree, Organizational Leadership
04.2001 -
Project Management Institute - No Degree, Project Management And Leadership
04.2001 -
Scrum Alliance - No Degree, Scrum Master
04.2001 -
Ericsson, CISCO, Huawei & Alcatel - No Degree, Telecommunication Systems And Services
04.2001 -
University of Moratuwa - Bachelor of Science, Electronic & Telecommunication Engineering (Hons)
01.1994 - 12.1998
Australian Computer Society - Higher National Diploma, Software Engineering
01.1993 - 01.1995