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. 

Ayomi Gunawardena

Co-Founder/Chief Operating Officer - Inivos Consulting (Pvt) Ltd
ACMA, CGMA

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?
When we started Inivos in 2019, none of us imagined that within a year the world would come to a standstill. By early 2020, the COVID-19 lockdowns had created uncertainty everywhere. As a young company, we suddenly found ourselves navigating a situation where meeting clients was impossible, projects slowed down, and the future felt very unpredictable.

At the same time, we carried a deep sense of responsibility. Clients had trusted a new company like ours, and a group of employees had chosen to join us at a very early stage of the journey. That trust meant a great deal to me.

We focused on adapting quickly. We embraced virtual collaboration, strengthened communication with our clients, and looked for new ways to continue delivering value despite the circumstances. Holding on to our integrity and honouring our commitments helped us move forward during that difficult period. Looking back, what once felt like a setback became a defining moment for the company. Today, Inivos has grown beyond borders, building partnerships and exploring new markets around the world.

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?
Some of the most challenging moments in a growing organisation are not always visible from the outside. When a company begins with a small team, communication is simple, roles are flexible, and decisions happen quickly. But as the organisation grows, the dynamics naturally change.

As our team expanded, it became increasingly important to ensure that people were placed in roles where they could truly grow and contribute. At the same time, we wanted the early members of our team to feel valued and continue seeing opportunities ahead of them, while welcoming new employees who brought fresh perspectives and experiences.

Balancing these dynamics required patience and thoughtful leadership. We focused on building trust across teams, reinforcing shared values, and creating an environment where people felt supported as the company evolved. In many ways, it was about empowerment, helping individuals discover their strengths and enabling them to grow alongside the organisation.

3. You didn’t just progress—you navigated systems along the way. What did you have to learn, unlearn, or negotiate to move forward?
Integrity has always been one of my core values, and through this journey, I learned that trust is the foundation of every successful professional relationship. Working with top leadership teams requires credibility that is built gradually through transparency and delivery. It comes from showing up consistently and doing what you promise to do.

Personally, I also had to unlearn the habit of responding too quickly in high-pressure situations. Earlier in my career, I often felt the need to provide immediate answers. Over time, I realised that leadership sometimes requires stepping back, reflecting, and approaching a situation with clarity before responding. That shift helped me make better decisions and approach challenges with a more balanced perspective.

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?
Entrepreneurship inevitably comes with trade-offs. Building something meaningful requires time, energy, and continuous commitment. However, one of the most important lessons I have learned is that success should not come at the expense of the other important parts of life.

As women, we often carry multiple responsibilities at once as mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, professionals, and entrepreneurs. Managing these roles requires flexibility, discipline, and the ability to prioritise what truly matters.

For me, the goal has always been to maintain balance between family, business, and the people who depend on us. While there are sacrifices along the way, those sacrifices become meaningful when you see the impact of what you are building.

Today, Inivos empowers more than 50 women within the organisation, many of whom hold leadership roles. Seeing women grow in confidence, take on leadership responsibilities, and make meaningful contributions is incredibly rewarding. Knowing that the organisation has become a place where women can thrive makes every challenge along the journey worthwhile.

5. Has your definition of success changed since you began this journey? What does success look like to you now?
In many ways, my definition of success has remained consistent since the beginning of this journey. For me, success has always meant growing professionally while ensuring that family remains a priority.
I make a conscious effort to spend meaningful time with my family. When work becomes demanding, we intentionally create opportunities to reconnect, whether through travel, shared experiences, or simply spending time together.

Beyond personal balance, success also means building an organisation where people feel valued and motivated to contribute. It means earning the trust of loyal clients and creating a positive impact beyond the company itself. Bringing foreign revenue into the country and creating employment opportunities is something I take great pride in.

Ultimately, success is not only about building a company. It is about building people, creating opportunities, and contributing positively to the wider community.

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?
Standing at the edge of an important decision can be overwhelming. It is natural for fear and doubt to appear, and many women find themselves asking questions such as, “Am I capable of this?” or “What if it doesn’t work?” But the truth is that strength often reveals itself only when we take a step forward.
Women already carry immense resilience through the many roles they navigate in life. That strength is often greater than we realise. Growth rarely happens within comfort zones, and some of the most meaningful opportunities appear when we choose to move forward despite uncertainty.

If you find yourself standing at that edge, trust your strength and take the step forward anyway. Sometimes, the very moment that feels uncertain is the one that leads to the greatest growth.