Jayangi Wanigasekara Recognized in Hozpitality's Best 30 HR Leaders Powerlist in the Middle East for 2025
Jayangi, a leader in Marriott’s Khebra initiative and the UAE HR community, champions a culture of inclusion and performance at Aloft Abu Dhabi. Her work stands out for blending financial acumen with people-centric strategies that drive measurable results.
Jayangi Wanigasekara's remarkable 13-year hospitality journey has earned her a distinguished place in Hozpitality's Best 30 HR Leaders Powerlist for 2025. As Director of Human Resources at Aloft Abu Dhabi, Wanigasekara brings a unique dual perspective to HR leadership, combining her financial expertise with deep people management acumen to drive organizational success.
Beginning her career as an Accounting Clerk in Sri Lanka in 2010, Wanigasekara joined Marriott International in 2015 at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, where she initially honed her financial skills before making a strategic transition to Human Resources in 2018. This unconventional career path has become her signature strength, allowing her to develop HR strategies that are both people-centric and commercially astute.
A certified HR professional with CIPD-UK Level 3 and 5 qualifications, Wanigasekara is currently advancing her expertise through an MSc in Business Psychology, demonstrating her commitment to understanding the science behind workplace engagement and performance. Her academic foundation in Business Management and Financial Accountancy informs her data-driven approach to talent development and organizational culture.
As a key contributor to Marriott's Khebra initiative and UAE HR community, Wanigasekara actively shapes HR best practices across the region. Her leadership at Aloft Abu Dhabi focuses on creating an inclusive, high-performance culture where business objectives and employee wellbeing advance in tandem. This recognition celebrates her ability to translate financial discipline into human capital strategies that deliver measurable results while fostering genuine workplace connections.
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