Interview with CNA
Watch Suranga discuss innovation, education, and his journey from Sri Lanka to Singapore.
Intimidated?
The lecture I never gave
For those who have aspirations for a better life but are held back by resource limitations and self-doubt.
This book is for those who have been seeking me out for years. The talented young people who are hungry for higher education, upward mobility, and the design of a meaningful career.
Unfortunately, I am not always able to answer everyone individually, so the answers to their most commonly asked questions are found in the stories of this book.
This book is also for the young people who feel a bit stuck and uncertain about themselves and their futures. I hope you'll find parallels in my stories and those of my students. We came from less-than-ideal backgrounds, but if we were able to move forward, then so can you.
This book might also be for up-and-coming young academic leaders and entrepreneurs who are looking to design a workplace culture that balances the delicate scales of leadership and collegiality, fun and serious work, and empowerment and control.
-Suranga Nanayakkara
About Suranga
I come from a humble, lower-middle-class background, where my entire family was supported on a single income—my mother's. Growing up, I spoke only Sinhala, had never used a computer or smartphone, and had never travelled anywhere. Somehow, I gathered enough courage to come to Singapore alone, with $1,000 of my mother's hard-earned salary in my pocket and a determination to pursue a Computer Science degree—in English.
From there, I graduated at the top of my class, interned at the MIT Media Lab, and rose through the ranks of academia to become a tenured professor of Human-Computer Interaction at the National University of Singapore. Alongside my teaching role, I also direct an internationally renowned research lab called the Augmented Human Lab.
I was a nobody—from a nobody family, living in a nobody town in Sri Lanka. Yet, I managed to create an extraordinary life for myself. I hope that through the lessons shared in this book, my readers will reflect on and celebrate their own achievements, and be inspired to dream even bigger.
Co-authored with Hanjun Wu
When Suranga first asked me to co-write his memoir, I was skeptical. Suranga and I did not share a similar upbringing—could I truly relate to his stories, draw out the emotions and rationale behind his decisions, and craft a narrative that authentically reflected who he was? One that would evoke the intended feelings in his readers?
There it was: self-doubt and imposter syndrome—the very tenor of the book. This was one shared experience I could draw on emotionally to fuel the writing. I also knew there would be more, because for the past five years I have been a student in Suranga's lab. During this time, I have experienced and benefitted from his leadership through the many roles I have held—design intern, research assistant, master's student, and CEO of my own startup. Suranga's leadership, the lab culture he has thoughtfully cultivated, and the kind humans he has carefully chosen for his "lab family" will forever be my reference points when it comes to leading with empathy and building teams that bring out the best in one another.
What makes me a complementary co-author is my insider–outsider status, which allows me to write this book with conviction, authenticity, and a lot of heart.
Awards of Recognition
- Young Inventor Under 35 (TI35 award) in the Asia Pacific region by MIT Tech Review
- Outstanding Young Persons of Sri Lanka (TOYP)
- IBM Fellowship 2018
- Research Excellence Medal by the University of Auckland in 2020.
Key Takeaways
Selected Media
INK Fellow 2016
Suranga shares his story on stage at INK Talks - a platform for bold ideas and inspiring stories.
Talk with Chathura
In Sinhala - Suranga discusses technology, education, and the future of Sri Lankan youth.
ITN Wenasa
Suranga talks about his lab, research, and how he's helping students dream bigger.
Metro Magazine, People to Watch . How inventor Suranga Nanayakkara is humanising technology
Smithsonian. Inside Professor Nanayakkaras Futuristic Augmented Human Lab
Echelon . Making Technology more Humane
Ada Derana. Young inventor, engineer, AI expert share his "secret formula" for success
The Sunday Times . Creating the next generation of innovators
Be the Turning Point in Another Young Person's Story.
Every year, Suranga hosts the coveted ICE (Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship) workshop in Sri Lanka. Over 1,000 students apply, but only 30 are selected. Many continue to reach out to him, seeking guidance on building meaningful careers. This book is his way of democratising the lessons and wisdom that have defined his own journey—now available to all.
A small act, a lasting impact. Donate USD 5 to give a free book to 5000 public schools in Sri Lanka.
50/ 5,000 schools fulfilled (1%)
Interested in a philanthropic project? Please get in touch via suranga@ahlab.org