Meet Ruvinath Mutukumarana, the Customer Design Authority at GCX, whose nearly two-decade career in IT has been marked by continuous growth, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. Starting as a network engineer, Ruvinath has evolved into a key figure at GCX, overseeing complex projects like redesigning data center networks and optimizing global connectivity.
He credits his success to his ability to think outside the box, the mentorship he’s received, and the collaborative spirit of his colleagues. Ruvinath’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, teamwork, and staying motivated through continuous learning and innovation.
Ruvinath Mutukumarana, could you share some insights into your background and how you came to join GCX?
I started my IT career in 2004 as a network engineer for an IT company that outsourced IT services to various industries.
After a couple of years, I was promoted to senior network engineer and assigned to work at one of their major clients, a popular energy company in Europe. I was based at the UK head office, performing various IT-related tasks, and ensuring the smooth operation of said tasks, which were worth millions of pounds to the company.
This included working with various vendors, managed service providers, and ISPs, including the satellite service providers, who provided connectivity services to offshore oil and gas rigs.
When I wanted to focus on Wide Area Networking technologies, I found an opportunity to join Global Cloud Exchange (then Reliance Globalcom) as a Customer Design Authority in March 2012.
What motivates you in your role at GCX, and how do you maintain your inspiration?
The exposure to various networking and security technologies within GCX and our clients has kept my motivation alive. Furthermore, the internal and external team members that I work with daily to complete various tasks successfully have been an immense source of motivation for me.
It inspires me a lot whenever I get a chance to work on new technologies, design state-of-the-art solutions, resolve complex network issues, and deliver important projects to meet clients’ expectations.
Is there a detailed project or achievement at GCX that you are particularly proud of?
The CDA role is a complex and hybrid position that acts as a technical hub for both internal and external stakeholders. This allows me to assist my team members and the teams/ individuals from clients in many ways. This would also extend to third-party ISPs, vendors, etc. who are working on various IT projects as well.
I’ve been assigned as the primary CDA to own and maintain a very large network of an important customer at GCX and am proud of maintaining the highest standards when fulfilling the expectations as a successful CDA. Also, I find that the CDA role is a very refreshing and dynamic position to hold.
I remember a major project that involved refreshing my client’s LANs in Data Centres with expensive equipment some time ago. I was able to redesign the DC LANs across EMEA and APAC networks to facilitate implementing the state-of-the-art network devices that cost a fortune without any failures and also provide multi-gigabit future scalability.
I’ve achieved many milestones when delivering a large number of key projects for my clients over the past 12+ years and I cannot overstate the great level of support I receive and continue to receive from my fellow team members at GCX and clients’ when completing the projects successfully and I would like to thank them all for their support so far!
Ruvinath Mutukumarana, how do you approach challenges and overcome obstacles in your work?
I like to think “outside the box” and use my instincts, skills, and experience in an innovative way to resolve any challenges that cross my path.
I also maintain a calm approach when facing such situations to achieve positive results and teamwork plays a big role in these scenarios too!
What role do your colleagues and team members play in your success at GCX?
I believe in the concept of “People make the company” and believe this is the key secret of any extraordinarily successful organisation.
At GCX we’re a big family that is made of members coming from various continents, countries and cultures who are working towards the same goal: to thrive with GCX!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the past and present team members for the success achieved by GCX as a well-known managed service provider in the telecom industry.
Are there any mentors or individuals who have had a significant impact on your career here?
Definitely! Firstly, I would like to thank Joseph Gangemi (ex-Technical Director) and Ziad Dar (then Snr. CDA, Head of SASE products at present) for allowing me to join GCX (then Reliance Globalcom) as a CDA more than 12 years ago.
Secondly, I highly appreciate the support I receive from the CDA, TDA IST, Level-3, Assurance teams (and other technical/ non-technical management teams, TCs, OSS, IT/Helpdesk, Provisioning, etc.) and various teams at my client’s.
I apologise if I have missed any team members while mentioning the above list! and would consider the support I receive as a key part of my success as a CDA.
Having said that, I would like to offer my heartiest appreciation for all the support I get from the team members (internal and external) on a daily basis.
How has your role evolved since joining GCX, and how have you grown as a professional?
Prior to joining GCX, I was involved with LAN (Local Area Network) technologies.
When I joined GCX, it allowed me to widen my knowledge in various networking technologies and broaden my experience which would allow me to deliver a vast range of technical solutions for my clients.
Other key skills I have developed as a CDA include communication skills, which are crucial when fulfilling customer services and managing customer expectations over the past years in GCX.
Also, my self-confidence has been growing along with other key areas such as project management skills, consulting with internal and external stakeholders, and prioritising and managing day to day tasks.
Ruvinath Mutukumarana, what advice would you offer to new employees or those striving to excel in their careers at GCX?
We must succeed in our roles as individuals and as colleagues and be mentally strong and agile as well as contributing our best to succeed in every situation.
It is especially important to stay focused and motivated by knowing the key elements of your preferred area. Improving yourselves with new skills and experiences and collaborating with your fellow team members will enable everyone to thrive together.
Also equip yourself with the key aspects of life such as love, share, care, trust, respect and maintain good ethics towards yourselves and other individuals all the time.
Join the GCX Family
As Ruvinath Mutukumarana’s journey illustrates, innovation, collaboration, and continuous growth are at the heart of everything we do at GCX. Whether you’re looking to advance your career or partner with a team that drives results through cutting-edge solutions, GCX offers the environment and expertise you need to thrive.
Explore career opportunities at GCX or learn more about how we can help your business achieve its connectivity goals.
