The Values That Guide Me

I was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in a warm, close-knit, middle-class family. My father’s entrepreneurial spirit and my mother’s caring nature shaped many of the values I carry with me today, including responsibility, service, humility, and concern for others.

From a young age, I was fascinated by technology. Inspired by my maternal uncle and cousins, I eagerly learned about computers and soon discovered that I found just as much joy in sharing what I knew and helping others. That early curiosity eventually led me towards a career in technology, consulting, and advisory work.

Recognising the individual

One of my core beliefs is that no two people experience life in exactly the same way. We each bring our own history, values, strengths, challenges, and perspective to the situations we face.

This belief shapes how I work with people. Before offering advice or exploring a solution, I try to understand the person behind the challenge. What matters to them? What have they experienced? What might they be seeing, feeling, or carrying that is not immediately visible?

"Everything begins with your 'WHO'. The way you experience life is uniquely your own." - Aslam Cader

I was fortunate to be raised in a family that supported my choices and nurtured my interests. At the age of twenty, I moved to the United Kingdom to study Computing at the University of Portsmouth. I later completed a master’s degree in Information Systems and Technology at City University London.

Moving to a new country was a significant step. I was far from home for the first time, but daily video calls with my parents helped to ease the homesickness as I shared my experiences and adjusted to a different environment.

That period taught me something I have continued to recognise throughout my life: growth often asks us to move beyond what feels familiar, but we do not have to lose our connection to the people and values that ground us.

Putting people first

I began my career as a software consultant, guided by the belief that technology should serve people, rather than the other way around.

Technology, strategy, and organisational change may appear to be about systems, processes, and tools, but their success ultimately depends on people. It depends on whether people understand the purpose, feel heard, have the confidence to contribute, and can see how their work creates meaningful value.

Throughout my career, I have worked with organisations of different sizes across a range of industries and sectors. These experiences have strengthened my belief that lasting progress rarely comes from technology alone. It comes from bringing people, purpose, strategy, and execution together.

I care deeply about creating value for my clients. However, I also believe that value should not be measured only through financial return or short-term performance. Sustainable value should benefit the organisation, the people within it, its customers, and the wider communities it serves.

Passion with purpose

Continuous learning has always been an important part of my life. I enjoy exploring new ideas, developing my understanding, and sharing what I learn with others.

However, passion by itself is not always enough. It becomes more meaningful when it is connected to a purpose beyond ourselves.

"Pursue your passion with purpose. It can keep you in flow and help you create meaningful value." - Aslam Cader

For me, purpose is not only about professional achievement. It is also about how we serve, how we treat people, what we learn from our experiences, and what we leave behind for those who come after us.

Gratitude, faith, and family

I am deeply grateful for the opportunities, relationships, and lessons life has given me during my years in the United Kingdom.

I am a husband, a father of three, a son, a strategy advisor, a coach, a technologist, and an author. Each of these roles has shaped me in a different way. They have taught me about responsibility, patience, humility, growth, and the importance of being present for the people who matter.

Everyone I have met has contributed something to my journey. Some have supported me, some have challenged me, and others have helped me see life from a different perspective. I remain grateful for the relationships I have formed and for those I have yet to make.

My faith has taught me to say Alhamdulillah, meaning “all praise and gratitude belong to Allah”, not only when life follows my plans, but also when I am still trying to understand what an experience may be teaching me.

These reflections shaped my book, Alhamdulillah Through Stress: Finding Abundance in Life’s Hardest Moments. The book began as a personal gift to my children and grew into a reflection for anyone navigating pressure, uncertainty, disappointment, or changed plans.

It does not suggest that stress is always good or that gratitude removes pain. Instead, it explores how difficult experiences can sometimes reveal what matters, show us where growth is needed, and create space for gratitude, humility, learning, and trust.

Leadership begins with the self

I believe leadership is not limited to a position, title, or responsibility for a team.

Leadership is also expressed through the choices we make, the way we respond to difficulty, the responsibility we take for our actions, and the influence we have on the people around us.

"Everyone is a leader, whether you are leading a team or making choices for yourself." - Aslam Cader

Before we can lead others well, we must learn to lead ourselves. This includes developing self-awareness, recognising our values, understanding our responses, and making choices that reflect the person we want to become.

I do not believe leadership requires us to have mastered every aspect of life. It also involves the humility to keep learning, the courage to acknowledge when something needs to change, and the willingness to ask for support.

Growth that benefits others

I believe meaningful growth is about more than individual achievement or short-term success. It also asks us to consider how our choices affect our families, colleagues, customers, organisations, and communities.

The aim is not growth at any cost. It is progress that is responsible, purposeful, and lasting.

I continue to learn from the different roles I hold and the people I meet. I do not claim to have mastered life or to have all the answers. I am simply trying to live with greater awareness, remain grateful for what I have been given, and use what I learn in ways that may benefit others.