In Conversation with Gayathri Liyanage

Legal Operations Director at IFS

- By Dr. Sulochana Segera

Gayathri Liyanage is not your typical corporate executive. A multifaceted professional with expertise spanning law, business strategy, procurement, and education, she currently serves as Legal Operations Director at IFS. An Attorney-at-Law with postgraduate qualifications in Business Administration and Intellectual Property, Gayathri has also dedicated over a decade to lecturing in Contract and Public Law under the University of London’s External Programmes.

Beyond titles and qualifications, she is a change-maker committed to challenging norms, whether in the boardroom, classroom, or at home as a single mother. With a deep-rooted belief in the power of critical thinking over rote learning, Gayathri is passionate about reshaping systems to be more inclusive, dynamic, and future-ready. In this candid conversation, she opens up about her career journey, her views on education, motherhood, and what it really takes to thrive at the intersection of law, business, and life.

You describe yourself as someone who always changed the game, even as a child. How has that mindset influenced your legal and business career?

Change really is the only constant you'll need to accept every day of your life. For me, that has meant being willing to learn, and unlearn, as situations evolve. I started out like many others, as a legal intern. But I was never satisfied just doing the job, I wanted to understand everything so I could provide real solutions. That mindset helped me move from law into compliance and eventually into legal operations. I've always believed that we can't solve new problems with old methods, and sometimes, the only way forward is to challenge the rules themselves.

How do you balance the legal rigor of your profession with the creativity needed to create "phenomenal experiences through change"?