Proud of their past, focused on everyone’s future

For Pratheep Tharan and Suleyman Said, life could have taken a dramatically different path.

Both were born in the U.K. to immigrant parents who’d escaped unrest in their native lands.

In Pratheep’s case, his father fled civil war in Sri Lanka. Armed only with a bag of books, he made the treacherous journey south to catch a flight from Colombo to the U.K. after successfully enrolling on a master’s course at Loughborough University.

Having overcome unimaginable adversity, he touched down safely in London with nothing but the books on his back.

“Proud of who I am and where I’m from”

On his quest for a better life, Pratheep’s father was also forced to separate from his wife. Six long years later, she joined him in the U.K. as a refugee. Their new life had begun—and, soon after, they welcomed two children into the peace and tranquility of their home in central Wales.

But it wasn’t until joining PMI in early 2020 that Pratheep delved deeper into his heritage.

“These conversations, which are actively encouraged by the company, really spurred on my own desire to learn more about my parents’ stories, so that I could better represent who I am,” says Pratheep, Senior Specialist, Communications, Global Studio.

“This began with speaking at length to my father about his story and his struggles. Knowing just what my parents went through to secure my education, the lifestyle that I’m living today, and the career path I’m on has made me a completely different person to who I was before.

“Now, never a day goes by where I’m not eternally grateful to them, and proud of who I am and where I’m from.”

Pratheep Thara, Senior Specialist, Communications, Global Studio, Philip Morris International.

Making sacrifices, working hard

Amidst the dangers of civil war in their native Somalia, Commercial Systems Manager Suleyman’s parents and his elder siblings fled by boat to Kenya in the 1990s.

It was meant to be a temporary solution. However, with the conflict refusing to abate, they subsequently arrived in the U.K. and settled in North London—where Suleyman was born.

From a young age, his parents instilled in him the importance of working hard—so eager were they for Suleyman to seize opportunities never available to them.

“Putting my head down and studying was normality to me,” he says. “I had to get the best grades and be top of the class in everything I did.

“It was quite normal for me to sacrifice certain things—like hanging out with friends—to ensure I was achieving my potential. And it paid off, because it got me to where I am today.”

“Life taught me how to be adaptable”

At school, Suleyman was surrounded by likeminded individuals from similar backgrounds.

That all changed when he went to university to study chemistry: “Suddenly, I was in the company of this broad demographic of people with completely different experiences to me.”

This, he says, taught him the art of adaptability—a skill that’s proved pivotal to his success and development at an agile, transforming company like PMI.

“Since university, I’ve always had to adapt to different environments,” Suleyman reveals.

“Some people call me a chameleon, fitting in wherever I go.

“This isn’t something I force myself to do; it comes naturally to me. And it’s a rewarding experience, giving me the opportunity to learn from other people and their experiences. This has helped me to become a more rounded individual.

“And being adaptable is super important to the role I’m in. Success will always depend on how well you adapt to a situation, understanding that not every person is the same, not every situation is the same, and not everyone thinks the same.”

Suleyman Said, Manager, Commercial Systems, Philip Morris International