9, July 2025
by: Arreoblue
Welcome to the Arreoblue Data Blog! This time, we’re switching things up—rather than hosting an external guest, we’re diving into an inside conversation. Our guest today? None other than Suranga Fernando, Arreoblue’s co-founder and Head of Architecture and Advisory. Having worked together for over seven years, from Microsoft days to launching their own venture, Suranga and Stephen sat down to reflect on the journey of building Arreoblue and what we’ve learned along the way.
Taking the leap from a large corporate into the world of startups is something many people think about, but few actually do. It’s exhilarating, unpredictable, and, at times, overwhelming. For Suranga, the biggest shift wasn’t just about working hard (that part never changed), but about shifting from an individual contributor mindset to a leadership role focused on people and culture.
“It’s been a wild ride,” Suranga admits. “The biggest change for me is moving away from just delivering work myself to focusing on how we build an organisation where others can thrive.”
This shift has required new skills, from building company culture to balancing remote-first work structures, and ensuring every team member feels engaged and supported.
As a boutique consultancy, Arreoblue has found itself operating in the same space as global giants. Earning our Microsoft specialism in analytics, for example, placed us among an elite group of UK partners—most of whom are large, multi-national firms. That’s a huge achievement for a young company, but it also speaks to the strength of our team and the partnerships we’ve built.
“Sometimes, we forget to stop and celebrate the wins,” Suranga says. “We’re always looking ahead at what’s next, but when you think about where we’ve come from, it’s pretty incredible.”
Moving from technical delivery to leading a business comes with challenges—one of the biggest being imposter syndrome. Suranga reflects on how, as an employee, it’s easy to critique leadership. But when you’re in the seat yourself, you realise how complex those decisions really are.
“You want to do right by your team, but you also need to balance priorities, growth, and the direction of the business,” he explains. “You sometimes wonder, am I doing this right? Am I talking to people enough? But the key is to keep learning, keep listening, and keep adapting.”
One of the biggest challenges of the startup world? Time.
All four Arreoblue co-founders juggle leadership with client-facing work, ensuring we stay hands-on while also shaping the company’s future. Add in family life—each of us has kids—and work-life balance becomes even more critical.
“We’re lucky to have really experienced people on our team,” Suranga notes. “But managing time, staying engaged, and making sure we’re giving people what they need—those are always areas we’re working on.”
And it’s not just about personal balance—it’s about creating an environment where our people thrive too. Remote-first work has its advantages, but keeping employees connected, engaged, and supported requires constant refinement.
Arreoblue is at a stage where we’re scaling rapidly, which means adjusting how we operate. One of the biggest upcoming shifts is transitioning more leadership responsibilities—from client delivery to broader business strategy.
“It’s tricky,” Suranga admits. “I love solving technical problems. But as we grow, we have to shift into more leadership, coaching, and strategic roles. That’s going to be an adjustment, but it’s also exciting.”
At the same time, staying true to our approach matters. One of the things clients value most about Arreoblue is that we embed within their teams, guiding rather than dictating, and helping organisations build internal capability rather than relying on external consultants forever.
“We’ve had clients tell us, ‘You don’t come in with a pre-set view of how things should be—you actually embed, listen, and help us build the right solution for us,’” Suranga says. “That’s exactly what we aim for.”
The next 12 months will be crucial for Arreoblue. We’re growing, refining our processes, and making sure we’re keeping the agility that makes us unique, even as we scale.
“Who knows what’s ahead?” Suranga says. “But we’re prepared for whatever comes next, and we’re ready to take on new challenges while staying true to our values.”
As for the future? Expect more innovation, more growth, and a continued commitment to helping businesses unlock the full potential of their data and AI strategies.
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