Why Human Centered Thinking Outlasts Technology

With over 27 years of experience in IT, education, telecommunications, and healthcare, Dr. Dhanesh R. Jayathilaka has built a career at the intersection of technology and leadership. As the CEO of Xiteb (Pvt) Ltd and Xiteb LLC-USA, he has transformed the company into a global award winning digital solutions provider. He is also the founder of xCommerz®, an acclaimed e commerce platform trusted by leading brands in Sri Lanka and across the Asia Pacific region. 

Beyond the boardroom, Dr. Jayathilaka is a mentor, trainer, consultant, and academic who has guided more than 20,000 professionals and 11,000 students worldwide. He has advised the Parliament of Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Education, and governance initiatives backed by USAID. His vision of technology is deeply human, it must create measurable business value while improving lives. 

Vision that Shapes Leadership 

From the outset of his journey with Xiteb, Dr. Jayathilaka has sought to position the company not just as a service provider but as a trusted partner in digital transformation. His belief is clear: technology has no real meaning unless it drives growth, empowers clients, and improves people’s lives. 

This vision inspired the creation of xCommerz®, an e commerce solution that enables businesses to sell seamlessly online and scale revenue. By anchoring innovation in client success, he has ensured that Xiteb’s growth is tied directly to the value it creates for others. For him, leadership is not about delivering products; it is about creating platforms that transform industries. 

People and Workplace Culture as Drivers of Excellence 

For Dr. Jayathilaka, Technology alone does not create excellence; people do.People are the heart of any technology company, and culture is the soul that sustains it,” he explains. 

At Xiteb, respect, fairness, and recognition form the foundation of the workplace. Every team member is encouraged to recognize the value of their contribution. The company’s success stories, including platforms like xCommerz®, are not just technical milestones but human achievements born from creativity, collaboration, and trust. By empowering employees and nurturing culture, Xiteb has built a reputation for excellence that extends beyond technology.

“Agility without culture becomes chaos. True innovation thrives when freedom to experiment is guided by trust, accountability, and teamwork.”

Entrepreneurs often face tough decisions where business priorities seem to conflict with employee needs. For Dr. Jayathilaka, these goals are interdependent, not competing. He believes a healthy, motivated workforce is the strongest driver of long term business growth. 

When faced with difficult decisions, he prioritizes transparency, fairness, and empathy. Even in high pressure projects, the company supports work life balance, flexible arrangements, and open dialogue. For him, the true measure of leadership is how a company treats its people during difficult times. Employees who feel valued and supported, he says, will always give their best back to the organization. 

One of the hallmarks of Xiteb’s approach is breaking down silos between creative, technical, and business teams. Dr. Jayathilaka sees real innovation as the outcome of diverse minds working together. 

The company fosters this through regular brainstorming sessions, transparent project ownership, and aligning all teams with client goals. Every perspective, technical, creative, or strategic, is given equal importance. This ensures that solutions are not only technically strong but also user centric and impactful in the real world. By championing cross functional collaboration, he has built a company where innovation is collective, not compartmentalized. 

Lessons in Resilience for Future Leaders 

Resilience has been a defining lesson in Dr. Jayathilaka’s career. He emphasizes that resilience is not about standing alone, but about standing together with a team. For future tech leaders, mastering empathy, adaptability, and courage is as important as mastering technology. 

He believes resilience comes from staying calm in uncertainty, learning quickly from failure, and having the vision to challenge the status quo. The ICT sector, despite its importance to Sri Lanka’s economy, still faces systemic challenges. For him, resilience means having both the voice and vision to confront these challenges while guiding teams toward innovation and growth. 

Dr. Jayathilaka’s advice to aspiring IT leaders is clear: start early, stay practical, and keep learning. He encourages young people not to wait for the “perfect job” after school or university but to gain practical exposure while continuing their studies. In his view, companies increasingly value hands on experience over qualifications alone. 

He also calls on his industry peers to embrace fair competition and adopt “blue ocean” strategies that create new opportunities for all. To clients, he advises transparency through multiple quotations to build trust. And to businesses, he stresses that software is no longer optional, it is essential for streamlining operations and unlocking new revenue streams. In the digital economy, only those who adapt will thrive. 

Purpose Beyond Technology 

Dr. Dhanesh R. Jayathilaka’s leadership journey illustrates that technology is not an end in itself but a means to create impact. By anchoring innovation in vision, culture, and collaboration, he has built a company that reflects both entrepreneurial drive and human centered leadership. 

His story is also a message to Sri Lanka’s broader business community: sustainable growth requires agility with culture, financial strength with empathy, and innovation with purpose. For Dr. Jayathilaka, leadership is not just about building companies but about inspiring people, transforming industries, and guiding the next generation toward a future where technology truly serves humanity.