The Wendy Whatmore Academy:

Helping people communicate better

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

Inheriting a family concern and reaching greater heights is not an easy task in a competitive business environment. Standard and quality are two ingredients, which is essential for an educational institution. The Wendy Whatmore Academy of Speech and Drama has been successful in attracting students, maintaining and sustaining the high level of reputation with the calibre of its Principal Wendy Holsinger. She is instrumental in making the Academy meeting international standards during her 22 years of Principalship in the academy.

She was interviewed by the Daily News Business for this week.

Q: What is the business you are engaged in and how do you set about it?

A: The Wendy Whatmore Academy of Speech and Drama is an ongoing business which began in 1940 by my mother Wendy Whatmore. She was the pioneer in this field. This is a very significant year for the academy as it reached 70th anniversary this year. The students are taught English, literature, drama and speech.

My mother who had the passion to impart her knowledge in literature and English and to educate students set up the academy. She started with five students in her father's house. She was also engaged in teaching in schools such as Holy Family Convent, Visakha Vidyalaya, St Bridget's and Lindsay Balika as speech and drama were in their school curriculum. The Galle and Matara Convents were the first to start speech and drama classes in the outstations.

I took over the academy after her demise in 1989. I have expanded the school and trained more teachers to accommodate the students who want to join the academy.

The academy's intake age group ranges from three and half years to adult group. The academy has a proven track record and stands tall among the other similar institutions.

Q: How do you balance your family life and business?

A: I am married to Monte Holsinger. He was a planter and moved into the hotel sector. He is retired now and has taken over as the Finance Director of the Academy. We have four daughters Rozanne, Rochelle, Tracy and Tamara.

Three are very actively involved in the academy and in teaching. The family places an important part for me. It has always been a constant struggle to keep family going and being with the family and keep time for teaching as I teach in week days except on weekends.

However, I think spending quality time always took place of pride. It is difficult to fit everything in, but I manage time efficiently and effectively to strike a balance between family life and business.

We are very close as a family and discuss things as how to improve the school and so on.

I have eight grandchildren and they play a big role in my life. It is a pleasant experience to be with them.

Q: What were the challenges you faced?

A: The first challenge was to live up to the reputation of my mother and then to maintain and better the standards set up by her. It is important to keep abreast of what is happening in the international arena. Drama is not a subject that standstill and it moves with time.

We need to move on. It is essential to ensure that we keep going ahead and according to the changing environment in international standards of drama. The challenge in future will be to see how we could extend our service and help people from all walks of life to improve communication skills.

Q: What are your goals?

A: My goal is to help people realize the importance of learning the language especially for those who are in the business field. This is to overcome the inability due to lack of English knowledge and vocabulary skills. This holds people back and our goal is to see that people from every community both in Colombo and outstation has a fair opportunity of learning the language.

Q: Being a woman was it an advantage to be in business?

A: Being a woman you can appeal to people in a charming way. Most women are polite and courteous and when you have that pleasing attitude it is easy to deal with people.

Teaching is a profession many women excel. Women can build up a natural rapport with any age group. I influence my students to bring out the best in them being a woman and a mother.

Q: What is your advice to women in business?

A: Women need to have a proper plan. One should work methodically towards achieving what one wants. You need to set goals.

The important thing is when you carry out a plan set a time duration when to achieve goals. You must never be disheartened when you fail.

Courage is a must. I advice all women to be positive in their approach.

Q: What are your achievements in family life and business?

A: I am fortunate to have a husband who understands me and above all loves me and guides me.

We have a great bond between us and share common interests. I am very proud of my four girls and each one is a special person and has achieved so much.

With regard to the business, I am satisfied with the level it has reached so far. It has won recognition, earned goodwill and reputation as a quality education service provider.

I won the award for the Cultural Woman few years ago.

I also won the joint Silver Award for the medium category in the service sector at the Woman Entrepreneur Awards ceremony organized by the Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

These awards are encouraging and are a motivation to go that extra mile.

Q: What is your contribution to society?

A: I have contributed in lifting the standards of speech and drama in English theatre.

I help children and adults to learn and use English language for their advantage.

I pay for the education of very poor children and is also interested in the work of the Protecting Environment and Children Everywhere (PEACE) Movement. I am concerned about women and children and involved in this movement for their betterment.

I am a God fearing person and I start my day with prayers and meditation and by asking for guidance in whatever I do. You are who you are for a reason and God has placed you where you are for a particular job to be done.

It is up to each of us to make a better society together and our contribution is vital and valuable to reach the end-result. It will ensure a brighter tomorrow for all.

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In Sri Lanka although women contribute more than men to the national GDP, their participation is much less in many other areas including business and politics. Some women who do well in business are not featured in the media.

Therefore, Daily News Business began a Women in Business column to encourage and highlight women in business to fill this void.

We invite women in business (large and medium sectors) to send their details to the [email protected] or by post. The suitable applicants will be featured in this column.