Tell us about your DBA Research – Dilshan Samarasekera
Manubi Group Pvt Ltd – Founder / Managing Director
Dilshan Samarasekera (Manubi Group Pvt Ltd – Founder / Managing Director) successfully completed his DBA degree programme at the Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Colombo, in year 2024.
The title of his DBA thesis is “The Role of Mindfulness in Ambidextrous Individuals Within an Organizational Context”.
How did you develop an interest on this topic?
My interest in researching mindfulness for ambidextrous individuals stems from my 30-year corporate career, where I navigated dual demands meeting immediate goals while pursuing future growth especially in the automobile and education sectors. This constant juggling led to stress and burnout. Seeking a sustainable solution, I explored mindfulness and, after experiencing its benefits, made it the focus of my doctoral research to help others in similar high-pressure environments.
What are your main findings?
The study reveals that mindfulness mitigates stress and cognitive strain in ambidextrous individuals, enabling them to manage the dual demands of exploitation and exploration more effectively. It enhances cognitive flexibility, focus, and emotional stability, fostering resilience and openness to new ideas. Additionally, mindfulness leads to improved innovativeness and supports better decision-making and creative problem-solving, balancing short-term goals with long-term innovation. The Sri Lankan context, with its Buddhist roots, underscores the broader relevance of mindfulness in organizational settings.
What are the implications of your research?
This research links ambidexterity and mindfulness through paradox theory, showing how mindfulness reduces stress while boosting innovation and resilience. By enhancing cognitive flexibility and emotional regulation, mindfulness equips individuals to manage conflicting demands. The study contributes to theory by positioning mindfulness as a tool for navigating ambidextrous paradoxes. Practically, it offers insights for organizations, demonstrating that mindfulness training can improve employee well-being, enhance innovation, and help leaders navigate challenges with clarity, focus, and equanimity, particularly in culturally aligned contexts like Sri Lanka.
What was it like to do a DBA at the University of Colombo?
It has been a challenging yet fulfilling journey in the first batch doctoral program at the University of Colombo. The rigorous design of the program deserves the highest praise, as it truly brings out the best in student researchers. Transitioning from industry to academia presented its challenges initially, but this very rigor has shaped me into a more competent and a better researcher. The high expectations set throughout the program pushed me to excel, and I thoroughly embraced the challenge. My confidence has grown immensely, reinforcing the belief that no obstacle is insurmountable. This is precisely what the DBA program at the Faculty of Management and Finance offers an opportunity to develop resilience and expertise in a supportive academic environment.
Finally – what will you do next?
I plan to advance my research along multiple avenues. From an industry perspective, I will engage with professionals and corporations to foster collaboration and explore how mindfulness can serve as a strategic tool through tailored programmes to overcome negative experiences and build resilience. In the academic realm, I aim to deepen my research into mindfulness and explore interventions through mindfulness to address the challenges of fast-paced work environments, fostering greater work-life balance. Additionally, I aspire to initiate a comprehensive mindfulness centre that can lead national-level interventions, raising awareness and implementing activity-based approaches that demonstrate the practical benefits of mindfulness.
