This International Women’s Day 2026, we move beyond celebration and into documentation. Women Who Did It Anyway is a curated article series featuring women who progressed not because conditions were perfect, but because they chose to move forward anyway.

Across industries, from entrepreneurship to corporate leadership, these women navigated systems, expectations, resistance, and trade-offs. Their stories are not motivational slogans. They are lived decisions. This series brings those decisions to light, in their own words.

Dilushi Mendis

Chartered Architect/Managing Director of DM Interior Studio/Founder of Styling Deco by DM and Cafe Delizo

1. There is usually a moment when continuing feels harder than stopping. What was that moment for you, and what made you go ahead anyway? 
There was a moment during my journey when continuing felt much harder than stopping. My parents had invested financially and emotionally to help me become an architect. Because of that, I felt a deep responsibility to give justice to everything they had sacrificed for my education.

During the middle of my architectural studies, I realised that my true passion was moving toward interior design. It was a confusing time, because my heart was discovering a new direction while my responsibilities were already defined.

But stopping architecture was never a choice for me. I wanted to honour my parents’ investment and complete what they had supported me to begin. So, I continued all ten years and finished my architectural education with commitment and gratitude.

At the same time, I followed my passion for interiors alongside my studies, balancing both paths. Today, architecture stands as my strong foundation, and interior design has become my voice.

2. Not all obstacles are loud. Some are structural, cultural, or quietly exhausting. What kind of resistance did you face that people may not immediately see? 

The resistance I faced was mostly internal and quiet, balancing expectations, self-doubt, and the process of discovering my own design identity. While everything appeared smooth from the outside, building confidence in a new creative direction required patience and emotional strength.

3. You didn’t just progress, you navigated systems along the way. What did you have to learn, unlearn, or negotiate to move forward? 
Along the way, I had to learn confidence, especially to trust my own ideas even when I was the only one who believed in them. I learned that talent alone is not enough; communication, patience, and consistency matter just as much.

I had to unlearn the need for perfection. Earlier, I waited until everything felt “ready.” Growth taught me that progress comes from starting before you feel fully prepared.

I also learned to negotiate expectations, between work and family, creativity and business realities, tradition and modern thinking. As a designer and a mother, I realised balance is not something you find once; it is something you adjust every day.

4. Doing it anyway often comes with trade-offs, personal, emotional, or professional. What did this journey cost you, and what made it worth paying that price? 

Both personal and professional. I gained independence, confidence in my own vision, and the freedom to create work that truly reflects my values and creativity. Seeing ideas turn into reality, and knowing that I built something through years of learning, effort, and courage, made every sacrifice meaningful.

5. Has your definition of success changed since you began this journey? What does success look like to you now? 

Success has changed significantly over time. Earlier, success meant stability, recognition, and reaching professional milestones. It was about proving my abilities through achievements and external validation.

Then success felt more personal and meaningful. It is the freedom to create work that reflects my vision and values, the confidence to make my own decisions, and the ability to grow continuously while staying true to myself

Now, success means building something sustainable, inspiring others through my journey, and creating a life where professional fulfilment and personal purpose can exist together.

6. If another woman is standing at the edge of a difficult decision today, what would you want her to know, not as advice, but as truth?

If you are standing at the edge of a difficult decision today, I want you to know this: You are not weak for feeling torn. You are not selfish for wanting more. And you are not wrong for choosing differently than expected. As a woman, as a mother of three, and as someone who builds spaces for a living, I’ve learned something deeply personal. The most important structure you will ever build is your own life. People will always have opinions. They will always talk. But your heart knows your truth. Difficult decisions do not break you. They reveal you. And whatever you choose, choose it knowing that you are capable of carrying it.

Women Who Did It Anyway Curated by FireCircle by G International Women’s Day 2026
FireCircle by G 071 192 5004