Sulochana - Developing through HRD

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

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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 [email protected] or by post. The suitable applicants will be featured in this column.

Women are strong in different aspects. They often excel in their chosen fields and become second to none. Though, they take in to many trades with time they give up, especially when they become mothers. What is more important is to sustain, continue and grow with the ventures selected and launched that were done with much hard work.

Sulochana Segera always strive to do something novel and her target was to benefit more.

She is the live wire behind an organization exclusively dedicated for women involved in management. Her untiring efforts have made a diverse set of professional women to create a network and share and care for each other’s well-being.

This organization is sure to become one of the premier women management ventures in the country. She has set an example for what women could achieve when united.

She was interviewed by Daily News Business.

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

A. I am involved in two businesses, one in the medical supplies distribution through Deep International (Pvt) Ltd, in the role of Chairman and Human Resources Head and with Women in Management (Pvt) Ltd as its Managing Director.

I started my career as a trainee secretary just after my A-Ls, during which I had this need to make people see things differently, therefore I got into human resource development. By nature I am a very open and straight-forward person.

I believe a person can succeed only if they have a desire to make a difference. In 2007, I thought it was time to put some of my dreams to work, so I started my own human resources consultancy company with the help of Trendex Lanka (Pvt) Ltd Managing Director Sirosha Gunathilaka. I started the company with only two employees.

As time passed, my business grew and so did my hunger to find the missing pieces of the puzzle to see change and to be a part of something that benefits everyone. While I was thinking this, one of our other Directors (Nilam Imtiyaz) suggested investing in medical distribution and that’s how Deep International was formed in 2009. While my main focus was always human resources, I felt that women in businesses in senior positions did not have an organization to make the best use of their skills and networks. And with that in mind, four professional lady-founders (Sunara Samsudeen, Yashica Thelis, Hanna Issik and I) started Women in Management (WIM).

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

A. Balancing family life and a business is never easy. My highest priority is my two children, they come before anything else. My day runs from 4.00 am to 6.30 pm, so it is around 7.00 pm when I get home to my children. My mother helps me with taking care of the children while I am away and she is my strength.

Q. What were the challenges you faced?

A. There should be more than a thousand. The first thing I faced was leaving a good professional job and starting on my own. Secondly it was my family. My family does not come from a business background. So I was the first to break the rule, making a name in business. It was not easy as most Sri Lankans believe that you are only eligible to start something new or a business if you have gray hair and have passed 40 years of age. This is true in especially in the trade of human resource.

People recruit consultants when they have retired and not when they are just 30.

I remember when I went to do a program at a leading bank a lady participant asked me “How old are you?”, when I answered she told me daughter is older than you” But she further added that “We thought younger “my generation knew only about theory and not practical... but you changed all that. “Being in business as a lady it is very difficult as there are people out there trying to make you feel uncomfortable, both men and other women. But with my inner desire and with God’s strength and love, I’m here today.

Q. What are your goals?

A. My goal is to take WIM internationally. And to develop the self-esteem of young school leavers and university students. I have noticed that due to the lack of personal development in schools, our future generation is fast losing their own self-esteem.

Most of Sri Lankan Training Institutes help develop skills when they become employees and this is a very costly thing for any company. If companies can recruit employees who have objectives and personality at the onset, it will be a valuable asset and definite investment to the company.

Q. Was being a woman an advantage to be in business?

A. Yes of course. It feels natural when a woman is the head, people feel comfortable and they develop trust towards the company. When a woman makes a presentation they are received with feedback, either positive or negative. And I believe it is the woman impression that makes a company succeed.

Q. What is your advice to women in business?

A. Remember we never can be equal to men. Believe in yourself and what you set out to do but always listen to your head. Never take “no” for an answer. Do not give up. Keep business relationships out of your personal life. Business friends are not your family. Always go home to your family.

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

A. My achievements in my personal life are my two children. They are the reason for my living. My 12-year-old son Malinda and 10-year-old daughter Malinthi are my life.

I want them to do well in life and I am always there for them. In business I am happy with my achievements with the two companies and especially with WIM and how far we have come in such a short time.

Q. What is your contribution to society?

A. With various WIM concepts we contribute a great deal to society. We recently started a Single Mother Development Program. We have a committee to run this. Also I conduct free personal development programs for schools that cannot fund their students. My passion is to groom people, especially women for a brighter future.

I would like to invite professional career women to join with WIM through our website.

www.womeninmanagement.org