Professor Rajalaxmy Senathiraja is a distinguished academic and Professor in Management & Organization Studies at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. With more than three decades of excellence in teaching, research, and academic leadership, she is widely recognized for her contributions to the advancement of management education, entrepreneurship development, and gender-focused economic empowerment across South Asia and beyond. Over the course of her career, Professor Senathiraja has held several prominent leadership positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Management & Finance, Head of the Department of Management & Organization Studies, and Director of the Centre for Indian Contemporary Studies (CCIS). She also co-founded the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (CIED), which has become a hub for entrepreneurship education and research in Sri Lanka. Her academic credentials include a PhD in Management from the University of Madras, alongside advanced qualifications in management and higher education, which have enabled her to build a strong academic portfolio that blends research excellence with institutional leadership. Her research and scholarly interests span a wide range of contemporary themes such as women’s entrepreneurship, microfinance, gender finance, emotional intelligence, social and open innovation, entrepreneurial orientation, organizational leadership and culture, small and medium enterprise (SME) practices, and higher education innovation. She has published extensively in reputed international and national journals, authored numerous conference papers, and contributed chapters to edited volumes. Her scholarship has been showcased at leading academic forums in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and the United States. In addition, she has been invited to deliver keynote addresses, serve as a resource person in workshops, and provide advisory expertise to government, academic, and non-governmental organizations. As a committed mentor and educator, Professor Senathiraja has supervised numerous doctoral, MPhil, and postgraduate candidates, guiding them in developing innovative research with real-world impact. She has also been actively involved in curriculum reform and in promoting entrepreneurship-focused academic programmes that support students’ professional and personal development. Her dedication to inclusive education is particularly evident in her sustained efforts to advance women’s participation in management and finance disciplines, reinforcing her role as a leading advocate for gender equity in higher education.
Beyond her university service, Professor Senathiraja has played a significant role in advancing entrepreneurship and innovation nationally. She has served as a judge for national entrepreneurship and training awards, acted as an editorial board member and reviewer for peer-reviewed journals, and contributed to capacity-building initiatives across South Asia. Her leadership has been recognized through prestigious international fellowships, including the Women in University Administration Fellowship (University of Nebraska, USA, 2016) and the EducationUSA Leadership Program Fellowship (IIE, USA, 2017). Her honors include the Commonwealth Scholarship, multiple Best Paper Awards, and the University of Colombo Senate Research Awards for Research Excellence (2019 and 2022).
As a National Gender Finance Specialist, she has collaborated with development agencies and governments to promote women’s empowerment, inclusive growth, and sustainable entrepreneurship. Her expertise has informed policy dialogues, training programmes, and institutional initiatives that support gender-sensitive financial practices and economic inclusion. Through her wide-ranging publications, international collaborations, academic leadership, and unwavering commitment to inclusive development, Professor Senathiraja has made a lasting impact on both the Sri Lankan and global academic community. She continues to inspire students, researchers, and professionals alike, serving as a role model for future generations of scholars and leaders in management and organizational studies.