Michelle moulds young minds with Chokolaate

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

The inborn skills of any person could make them go a long way if these skills are harnessed properly.

Having a flair for writing from small days motivated Michelle Gunesekera, the Managing Editor of Chokolaate, the ultimate teen magazine in the country to carry on with her cherished dream. Today she is one of the younger generation media personnel that provides inspiration for the youth to follow.

She was interviewed by Daily News Business.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q. What is your business and how did you set about it?

A. We are in the business of publishing in broad terms. More specifically we run the only teen Magazine in the country which is known by the name Chokolaate. It has been a childhood dream of mine to publish a magazine and what more - a teen magazine. I ventured out in 2006 by launching the first issue of Chokolaate. Even though I felt the need as a teenager, it was the idea to launch Chokolaate that got me down to getting the opinion of other teens.

I carried out my initial research and identified that there was a void in the market that needed to be filled and got working on the magazine. My initial group of writers were a group of school friends and very close associates. With the focus to be a very special magazine we have managed to maintain it up to date.

With that and lots of hard work and sleepless night I got my dream on the shelves. At the time the work on the magazine began I was in full time employment, one year into my marriage and pregnant with my son. Indeed it took a lot of commitment to get there.

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

A. I always believe that my family is a very important part of my life and whatever sacrifices I make I make sure I give my fullest to my family first. Today I am blessed with a lovely five year old son, Tristen who was my initial inspiration in setting up the magazine, a little girl, Tia who is just over one year whom I need to dedicate a lot of time to and a very supportive husband, Emile who has always been by my side no matter what the challenges are with work.

I believe that a supportive formula should be there within the family and nothing matters if this inner unit is not healthy and in place. So I always strive to make sure my responsibilities towards my husband and children are met. My mother Shanti and father Brian also help me immensely and are behind me every step of the way. I am where I am today because of them.

As a matter of fact we all play our parts and I try my best to organize myself that my family does not even feel that I have taken time off from them. Of course there are days that work really gets busy, but that is where my strong support system comes in with my husband and children.

Q. What are the challenges you faced?

A. Working towards deadlines is a challenge we face all the time. It is a magazine and it has to be released on time. It’s inevitable and at the production stage we got to deal with it. So it takes a few sleepless nights to make up for time.

The other challenge would be to make sure that the contents of the magazine is well balanced and accepted. We have been very successful in this and it is a thin line. I am proud that most schools have unofficially accepted the magazine as one that their students could read. Similarly we get numerous feedback from parents that they too enjoy reading it. Even though the magazine is pitched at the teenage audience, we see it being appreciated even beyond.

Therefore managing the content is something that we make a special effort towards and we keep the fun, fashion, excitement, inspiration, motivation and education all included. The magazine is like cooking a special dish and all the ingredients need to be just nice. Salt is good, but too much of it can spoil the dish.

It is also known that brands and values instilled during teen years remain with you for a very long time. You may recall many of the products and services that you have experienced or have been associated with during your teen years. They last a lifetime.

Q. What are your goals?

A. Through the magazine we would like to give as many teenagers the opportunity to stand up and be seen and heard. This has always been one of our prime objectives, to give them that much needed platform that they never had. Today I have seen many use Chokolaate as a stepping stone to pursue greater things in their lives and we are very proud to be that stepping stone for as many as possible.

Over the past five years and twenty issues we have seen many people come forward and take the big stage starting from journalists, academics, sportsmen and women, fashion designers, models, singers, musicians, young entrepreneurs and many more.

Indeed in the process we want to be one of the most sought after magazines in the country as it also happens to be a business. But it’s a business that offers value to everyone who is part of it and I believe that is the ultimate satisfaction to me. We will strive to help as many people to get what they want in life, through Chokolaate.

Chokolaate is part of my life so it also adds to my goals in life. Adding to my personal goals I would like to maintain the completeness that we have achieved and expand and enlarge that in our family, by cultivating values in my children which will make them responsible individuals who could be a blessing to others.

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

A. I would not say hands down that it has been an advantage but it has had its moments and will have its moments where being a woman can be advantageous. Being a man too has its advantages. So I do not see much of a difference in it. I believe the real advantage is the passion to make it happen and move forward.

Q. What is your advice to women in business?

A. We are a country that still thinks or rather feels that men are more superior in business and women are better in the kitchen. It just does not work that way and I believe that in the modern world we need to change our mind set. In our personal and family lives we have clearly defined roles but in business it is the attitude towards what we do that is important. Today some of the best entrepreneurs are women and some of the best in the kitchen are men.

I am not saying that a change of role is taking place. By no means that is happening. It’s just that in the world of business we compete on an equal platform and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Advice to anyone is to change your mind set, play to your strengths and do things that you like. It’s hard to go wrong.

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

A. Family is by far one of the most important things in life, we are all born to lead good and healthy lives and ours is a blessing to others. To do so you need to be in the best frame of mind.

And I feel I have completeness when it comes to my family. Like I said I have a wonderful husband who supports me in whatever I do and two amazing children who make my world. My husband and I are committed to enjoy and appreciate each phase of our life.

It all holds amazing moments and experiences. All what we have gone through thus far has been complete and fulfilling and we are well prepared to make each phase with ourselves and our children count.

In business we have been successful in launching Sri Lanka’s only teen magazine and one of the fastest selling magazines in the country. I believe that this is quite an achievement thus far, we will face new challenges and we are well prepared to move forward and in for a very exciting period that is ahead of us all.

Q. What is your contribution to society?

A. Like I said earlier through the magazine we have given the opportunity to many young individuals to shine and to be known. We have also provided subtle guidance to the future generations that are in the making.

Through the magazine we have also allocated space to highlight the humanitarian efforts undertaken by other individuals and organizations as a matter of partnering them and encouraging them towards doing more that will benefit society.

My husband is also a founder member of the Kidney Patients Welfare Society and I too am a committee member of this organization that was formed towards the well-being of patients who suffer from renal failure. Through the magazine also we allocate some sort of space towards advertisements of different fund raising activity.

In fact I am proud to be part of it as well.

At large it is the society that benefits through a magazine like Chokolaate that is value driven.