Success should be measured not by the position we reach in life, but by how we overcome the challenges that we face. One such individual who greatly personifies this saying is budding entrepreneur Shyara Seneviratne, CEO of Starforce HR Ltd and Director of Para Freight Inc. Her story is one rooted in resilience and determination, a tumultuous journey filled with trials and tribulations. Her path has proven to be more than a showcase of obstacles; it is also a transformative story spanning years of corporate build-up and planning. Taking inspiration from her Sri Lankan heritage and culture, Ms Shyara has crafted an influential name for herself in the world of human resources and fashion, one a skill and the other a passion. She was gracious enough to sit down with us and recount her life story, taking us through the years of drawbacks and hindrances to the stunning business-savvy persona she is now, acknowledging her influences and thanking those who have helped shape her as both a person and a businesswoman.

“I left Sri Lanka in 1989 and moved to Canada with my family. It was a challenging experience to relocate to another country during such a transitional age. Everything was different: the culture, the people, the prices. However, my father managed to look after us, and my brother and I handled things quite well. Everything about it was both daunting and exhilarating. I attended the University of Toronto for higher education, where I studied Human Resources, and that is where my vision for my own company began to develop.”

Ms Shyara talked about how she became pregnant shortly after, with her daughter, Shyann. She remembered the turbulence of those early days of her career, trying to balance motherhood responsibilities with her entrepreneurial dreams. She spoke about how her partner at the time passed away quite young, leaving her a single mother fighting through it alone. She recalled that time as a blessing rather than a hindrance, which brought her empowerment and purpose.

“I’m a proud single mother. It was difficult, of course, but fulfilling. My children are my world. I have two: my daughter, Shyann, and my son, Ashain, studying criminal law and business law, respectively. I am very proud of them and owe much of my success to their influence.”

She recalled how, not long after earning her degree, she started working at an agency for human resources, ‘On Time Personnel’. She worked there for ten years before entering into a three-year partnership. She mentioned that this was a particularly difficult period for her, as there was quite a Machiavellian environment surrounding it, which eventually ended. She reflected on how much of a setback it felt like and how much she relied on her own grit and self-belief to push forward. This proved to be rewarding when she launched her own company in 2019.

“I started my own company in 2019. Initially, it was just a few of us, and it certainly wasn’t without its challenges. Especially with the COVID-19 pandemic's global impact looming in the face of our startup.”

The company had to be closed down in 2020 due to the virus's global upstaging and economic impact. However, true to the philosophy of success, Ms Shyara used all her strength and resilience to push forward and ensure the company's revival and longevity.

“I was working day and night to bring in new clients to prevent the company's deterioration. Finally, in 2021, I moved to a new office and hired my own internal staff, around six of them at the time, before finally moving to a bigger, more spacious office. I worked around the clock, with very little time for anything else, but it was all worth it in the end.”

She elaborated on this by reflecting on the patriarchal environment of the corporate world and how that in itself will always pose a challenge for aspiring women in business.

“Even in Canada, there is a significant lack of female representation in the workplace. There is little understanding of our boundaries and preferences, especially since most offices tend to cater more to men than to women. Even as a single mother, there is hardly any support or basic decency for women, which urgently needs to change.”

She discussed the considerable time and energy invested in ensuring the highest-quality service. She recalled the countless hours spent visiting sites to verify that the labour services the company provided met the required standards. This meticulous attention to detail propelled her company into becoming a global hub for human resources. Para Freight Inc. has been based in Canada and Dubai since its inception in 2023. She shared her current efforts to expand the business in Sri Lanka and reflected on the positive and negative experiences they have encountered, mentioning that she had recently been scammed by a real estate agent and explaining how such experiences can discourage people from pursuing international investments.

“How can we expect to invest in Sri Lanka when these sorts of incidents occur?”

She emphasised the importance of remaining vigilant in the corporate world. She also shared that her tentative experiences have made her realise how cautious you must be when navigating it all, both as a woman and as a foreigner seeking entry into the international market. She discussed how such experiences discourage people from investing in a country, emphasising the need to promote more transparency and authenticity in the workplace. Despite this setback, there have been some positive developments, including her finding a suitable real estate agency, ‘Dina Ali Realty’, which has been a real blessing throughout the process. She spoke about how advantageous it is to have a good support system backing you, particularly in other countries. She wanted to mention a few close friends who have been a vital part of her journey.

“My friend Rosie Senanayake has been indispensable as of late. She’s always been a dear friend and an ardent supporter. She has always come through for me. I owe a lot to her.”

Ms Shyara also spoke at length about her other passions and interests, revealing her deep love for fashion.

“I’ve always loved taking part in fashion shows, even judging Mrs World Sri Lanka in 2025. I would like to thank Chandima Jayasinghe for inviting me to serve as a judge for it, as well as for helping me with many other fashion-related endeavours I’ve wanted to pursue.”

She spoke about her hope of continuing to pursue this passion in the future, stating that human resources may be her profession, but fashion will always be her passion, and how each event and idea is transformative and forms the makeup of who we are as idealists.

“We can always try no matter what. There’s always something new to learn, to experience. There is no easy way around growth. It takes time and effort, but the result is always worth it.”