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by Chamitha Kuruppu

Roshi Ramanathan Schebue

One could define 25-year-old Roshi Ramanathan Schebue as the first Sri Lankan female to clinch the unique experience of Sky diving and another might rate her as a beauty queen who has stamped Sri Lanka in the world map. But the most apt introduction of this courageous lass is that she is the success story behind a 100% export business, of design and manufacturing of silver jewellery.

As the Chief Executive Officer of RKS Lanka, which manufactures silver jewellery for famous designer brands such as Calvin Klein, Marco Polo, Joop and Nina Ridehi, Roshi has to make sure that all pieces manufactured match optimum quality. "Being the boss of 100 odd employees does not make me stay inside an air-conditioned room giving instructions because I enjoy working closely with my workers", says Roshi with a radiant smile.

A product of Methodist College, Colombo young Roshi initially had a dream of following her father's footsteps to become a lawyer. Her father had an outstanding practice in India who served in the High Court. Naturally this paternal inspiration was Roshi's strong decision.

But destiny had other plans for her. After completing school education pretty Roshi got into modelling, which she describes as a hobby but made her well known figure among the fashion world.

During her four-year career in modelling Roshi bagged the Miss Photogenic title at the Asia Model Search in 1994 and also represented Sri Lanka at the Queen of the World pageant held in Germany in 1997.

During a recent visit to Germany Roshi had her maiden experience in Sky diving”. I had butterflies in my stomach when I jumped down 4,000 meters high. It was a ‘full fall’. The parachute opened at the height of 1,500’ meters. And I was amazed to hear that I was the first Sri Lankan female to do sky diving, says Roshi.

What made this beautiful model turn to being a courageous businesswoman? "It's a long story" Roshi chuckles. In the golden city of Europe, a city in Germany famous for jewellery business Roshi first met her husband Roland Schebue, a German in 1997 and her life which revolves around the fashion industry started to change.

"Even though my husband was an engineer by profession he was also into the jewellery business. He encouraged me to study jewellery designing and manufacturing in Germany and since I was fluent in my German I too wanted to give it a try", she said.

Roshi holds a Masters Degree in Goldsmith from the Goldsmith College in pforzcein, Germany and an MBA BWL University Stuttgart, Germany. She also boasts of a Diploma in Diamond Grading from Ida Oberstein, Germany.

"After my studies were completed we wanted to come back to Sri Lanka and start a business. Setting up a business here was the most difficult task we had to face, recalls Roshi. We took great trouble to find a plot of land and when we got this land (RKS Lanka is at the Katunayake Export Processing Zone and it was like a jungle. Before the construction work began I too worked with our workers; It was a tough job".

Initially we started with four workers. With their support and God's blessings RKS has more than 100 workers today. We hope to recruit another 100 once the ongoing construction work for the next expansion project is completed Roshi said.

"I have this golden rule of interacting and working with my employees - unless it's necessary I hardly distance myself from them, she said.

What I learnt during my studies in Germany was that if you want to be a good boss one should be able to maintain a good relationship with the workers and work with them. The experience I, gained in Germany working along with the workers enabled me to fit into any situation and environment says Roshi. Especially in jewellery manufacturing if you do not have a sound knowledge about the subject, you could be easily taken for a ride, says Roshi with a serious tone.

Roshi speaks fondly about her mother who she describes as her tower of strength. Parents play a very important role in one's life when achieving goals and I am glad I was always blessed with that, she said.

I have devoted my entire life for business. Sunday is the only day I could spend in leisure. Four times a year I visit many countries to promote business. But I enjoy my life to the fullest. Roshi hopes to do her MBA in jewellery making in English.

I should be grateful to my husband Roland for all that he has done for me. His courage, motivation, advice and his mere presence in my life has done wonders, says Roshi.

Roshi believes that Asian women are more talented and courageous. All they need is motivation. I did not become the CEO of this company overnight. I started from the bottom. With hard work, dedication and God's blessings I have come up fast, Roshi said.

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