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18 CERTIFIED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT
“ What is your greatest regret in sometimes it’s just you. You must figure

out how to balance this and own the
your life so far?
Just being a
choices you make.
member would I could not tell my father I loved him. What advice would you give to
While I respected and loved him as a
have no advantage daughter, I could not have that feeling the next generation of female
of closeness or warmth towards him.
leaders?
unless you pursue This meant I never told him that I loved There will be many moments in your
him.
and understand Also, there is one more thing which is life where you will fall, or you will be
pushed back. If you wish, take the time
how much you can not necessarily a regret. My kids are to complain, feel sorry for yourself,
now adults and are away. Looking
actively contribute back, I wish I had more moments with and grieve. But pick yourself up and
continue as your future is more than
them when they were growing up.
to the organisation Who is your role model and that moment. Every time you fall,
remember that there is a reason. It’s
and leverage that to why? the universe telling you that there is an
alternative way, so find your light and
widen your network. I am a spiritual person and I follow what move forward.
the God says.
How did you balance being a
to a persona of a leader. However, Who are the other female mother and a professional?
what differentiates me is I have made leaders you admire and why?
so many mistakes and I own those I have never claimed to have balanced
mistakes. I am not shy about it. I feel Jacinda Ardern. I admire how there is being a mother and a professional, as
usually people are scared that society clarity in her thought process, and her I have never done it. It was the perfect
will judge them, so you portray yourself decision-making skills and her style. imbalance. I think the biggest sacrifice
as how you think they would want to is what my kids made. They had to get
see you versus portraying yourself as What do you think is the most used to not having a mom at some
who you are. challenging barrier to female of the times when they needed me.
leadership? They had to grow up to understand
Do you experience resistance Having self-belief and the courage to that they sometimes had to go to the
when you are leading men? push through the biases people have doctor alone because their mother was
not there. I think they sacrificed more
formed. than me. I think what really matters
I do not experience resistance within was that we communicated, and they
the organisation as Hemas has a What are some strategies that understood why it happened. They are
gender-blind and an inclusive culture. can help women achieve a great human beings, and somehow, I
However, in external affairs and at other know I did something right.
industry forums, I have experienced more prominent role in their
resistance when leading men. organisations?
How would you encourage
They must be more confident, know
What is your greatest what makes them happy and what young people to value
weakness and greatest they want. They also should not allow education?
strength? themselves to be pushed aside by Education is not about getting a
people just because you are a woman. qualification. It is about expanding your
I think two of my biggest weaknesses horizon and learnings. You are a lifelong
are my temper and impatience. I also What advice would you give learner and if you are approaching
tend to trust people too much and too to young women who want to education look at it from understanding
quick to give them the benefit of the succeed in the workplace? what the world is doing and how you
doubt all the time. I am also a very could learn from that and different
passionate and emotional person, and If you want a career and want to industries to enhance your knowledge.
that can be both a weakness and a succeed, figure out what your unique
strength at the same time. strengths are and let those elements What advantages can one
shine. The world will always try to
One of my key strengths is that I tell you what you are not good at. Be get by being a member of a
live by my values, and my decision- aware of your weaknesses and work professional organisation?
making is guided by what I believe is and invest on improving your strengths.
the right thing to do. I am also a very Just being a member would have no
compassionate person and I have the As you go on in your life, you will have advantage unless you pursue and
ability to work with a diverse set of certain priorities which become higher understand how much you can actively
peoples from any background, religion based on the situation. Sometimes it’s contribute to the organisation and
or society. the career, sometimes it’s the family or leverage that to widen your network.

www.cma-srilanka.org | Volume 06 - No. 2 - September 2021