Being a Part of a ‘Young’ Team That’s Not Just Developing Buildings but Creating New Worlds.

Companies often talk about their ‘vision,’ but rarely do you get to see these visions come to life. Over the past year working at John Keells Properties (JKP), I’ve had the privilege of witnessing just that. “Creating New Worlds” isn’t merely a vision statement on paper; it’s the very essence of every endeavour in every department here at JKP.

Our team, with an average age of around 30, may be considered ‘young,’ but within JKP, collaboration knows no boundaries. Experienced professionals and younger talents work hand in hand, creating a dynamic learning environment. I love how we are encouraged to voice our opinions, where even someone as young as myself always feels heard and part of something greater.

When I initially joined JKP as a member of the marketing team, I assumed my role would be limited to digital marketing, my area of expertise. Little did I know that I would have the opportunity to be directly involved in the core team responsible for launching our latest project. Market research was a field that I had no prior experience in – but being given the chance to handle market research for this project was an opportunity I was immensely grateful for. It not only speaks volumes about JKP’s confidence in ‘young’ professionals taking the lead on such projects but also shows the remarkable growth opportunities that we are offered within the team.

Being in the same room as planners, engineers, and architects is something I would never have dreamed of. What I love about this is that I get the chance to be exposed to so many different aspects of the product development process. Whether it’s deciphering the meaning of a purlin, understanding which car parking allocation is the most efficient or gaining insight into the thought process behind the design of common spaces – there’s never a day I step out of a meeting without learning something new!

The real estate market in Sri Lanka has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the past year, but the one thing that always remains constant is the passion of our team. At JKP, we don’t merely confront challenges; we wholeheartedly embrace them. We don’t simply encourage out- of-the-box thinking; we celebrate it. We don’t just succeed individually; we thrive as a team. This is the remarkable mindset that defines our culture at JKP. They say that nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion – and I genuinely believe our team is a testament to this.

Something that Nayana always tells us is that “the things we are working on now are fundamentally going to change the city for years to come” – and I think the day I really understood this was during a walkthrough of Cinnamon Life last year. The sheer magnitude of the project, the thought behind the design of every single space, and the remarkable experiences it will offer upon completion are truly extraordinary. I wholeheartedly believe it will transform Sri Lanka and South Asia, and I have no doubt about it. More recently, witnessing Viman evolve from mere table discussions into a tangible product that will redefine Sri Lanka’s suburban market has been nothing short of exhilarating. It’s moments like these that make me pause and reflect on how fortunate I am to be part of a team that is truly ‘creating new worlds.’