After a challenging journey that began in Sri Lanka and continued through education and a career in New York, Thathsara found herself in Sweden, searching for a career in business. However, breaking into the Swedish job market proved difficult. Through Mitt Livs Chans and the support of a mentor at Volvo, she not only secured her dream job but is now also helping others find their way.
Growing up in a small beach town in Sri Lanka, Thathsara's life revolved around her father's garage, where she spent her childhood covered in grease, helping fix engines. Her father, an engineer who owned an automotive services business, was her role model. However, her life took a turn when her father passed away when she was only eight years old. This loss marked a difficult period for Thathsara and her family, with her mother taking over the family business and needing to focus on her much younger siblings. “I felt like I lost both my worlds at the same time,” she recalls.
Thathsara Palliyaguru, previous mentee in Mitt Liv's mentoring program.
Despite the hardships, Thathsara’s resilience shone through. She moved to New York to pursue higher education, where she thrived in a diverse environment, earning scholarships to complete her studies."I was surrounded by all kinds of people, from teenagers trying out college to 70-year-olds with PhDs learning business," she says, reflecting on her time there.
Her journey eventually led her to Sweden, where she sought to further her education in sustainability and innovation economics at Lund University. However, despite her qualifications and experience, finding a job in Sweden proved to be a significant challenge. "I realized how difficult it is for an outsider to blend into the local culture," she explains.
It was during this difficult period that a friend introduced her to Mitt Livs Chans, a mentoring program designed to help individuals with a foreign background integrate into the Swedish labour market. "My friend told me, 'This is how you make it happen - you need to make connections'," Thathsara shares.
Encouraged by her friend, she decided to join the program. Her experience with Mitt Livs Chans proved to be a turning point. Paired with a mentor from Volvo Cars, she not only gained insights into the Swedish labour market but also learned about the cultural nuances in Sweden. "The mentorship provided me with undivided attention and guidance on everything from improving my CV to understanding the cultural dynamics in Sweden," she recalls.
With her mentor’s support, she was able to navigate the job market and eventually secure a position at Volvo Group, where she worked in the field of business intelligence, contributing to the company’s sustainability initiatives - a field she is deeply passionate about. "It’s inspiring to be part of this giant effort to transform the world, to electrify our industry" she adds. Today, Thathsara holds the position of Business Office Director at Volvo Trucks Digital & IT.
In addition to her main role, Thathsara has also supported coordinating mentors from Volvo into Mitt Liv’s mentoring program, ensuring that the next generation of mentees receives the same support that helped her.
Her advice to future mentees is clear:"Keep going, trust your instincts, and don’t let rejection define you. The person you are is so much more than just a CV."
For those considering becoming mentors, she emphasizes the profound impact they can have: "One person can be a beacon of hope for someone trying to find their way. Investing your time and knowledge as a mentor, is an investment that can change someone’s future."
In 2023, Thathsara shared her story on stage at Mitt Liv's symposium. She takes us on her journey from Sri Lanka via studies in New York, to Gothenburg and her dream job in Volvo's strategy team. Per Utterbäck, who recruited her, tells us how he uses Mitt Liv's talent pool as a source of ambitious talents.