Page 37 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

I strongly believe that human capital

is our most valuable asset.

my strength is still caring for people. But now it’s ballroom dancing so we do that twice a week, and
Managing Director, we play golf too.”
of Starwood Investments and the Star Retailers Group my staff and my customers that I care for.”
The power of emotional intelligence Find your purpose
hen Serena Jagadasan qualified as a Asked what advice she’d give her younger self,
radiographer, she never dreamed she’d Describing herself as a highly emotional, Serena Serena doesn’t hesitate. “Find your purpose as soon
Wbecome the managing director of a certainly doesn’t see this as a negative. “Women as possible,” she says. “To live a fulfilled, contented,
retailing group with a staff of a 1000 people. do behave differently in business, because we are
emotional beings. And if you have high emotional happy life, you need a purpose. Develop a clear
Growing up in Phoenix, Serena knew people intelligence (EQ), this is a real attribute. Successful understanding of who you are, find your purpose
mattered and she needed a career where she could
leaders need a high EQ to understand behaviour and you can be the highest version of yourself.”
help others. She decided she wanted something in and motivation, and as an emotionally intelligent
the medical field and settled on radiography and leader you can generate greater loyalty and And Serena certainly knows herself and her
chose to study in Pretoria and it was in patient care commitment in your staff, and motivate them to purpose. She attributes much of her success to her
that she really excelled. She loved her work, and give of their best.” willpower. “I have the courage to take on challenges,
the knowledge that she could make a difference the self-belief to stay the course when things
get tough, and a heart strong enough to accept
for her patients. However, it wasn’t long before she When Serena talks about her staff her commitment constructive criticism. I have a positive attitude to
returned to Durban, married Ravi Jagadasan, and is clear. “I strongly believe that human capital is
began her retail journey. our most valuable asset and I focus on that. I’m life and to business, and I accept that even when
passionate about the people. I care, I show I care, and things don’t go my way, I can learn and grow from
Although neither of them had any retail experience, that’s why our business is successful.” the experience.”
Ravi had been approached by Spar to open a store in Empowerment through education
Phoenix, an opportunity they couldn’t pass up, and Apart from the obvious demands of her role as
together they set out to grow the business. managing director of a successful business, Serena Serena is grateful for her accomplishments, and is
also manages her roles as wife and mother to three clearly enjoying her journey, but she still has two
Now managing director of Starwood Investments boys under the age of nine with assurance. She is
and the Star Retailers Group, Serena leads her ‘dream confident she has a good balance between work major goals she’s determined to achieve: “Firstly, I
have a big goal for 2020. I completed a postgraduate
team’ of 60 managers and a staff of 1000 people and the rest of her life. “It takes a good deal of diploma in business management a couple of
across nine business units: seven world-class Spar
planning, time management and self-management, years ago, but now I want to take it further, and I’m
and Superspar stores, a wholesale bakery and an but it’s important to get it right and I make it a
accredited training academy. priority.” embarking on an MBA next year.
She credits her husband with introducing her to Serena’s an early riser and keeps a regular schedule. Secondly, I want to see our employees grow too.
Most of our staff have no tertiary education but
the retail world, and describes him as her business
She hits the gym first thing in the morning before empowering people is central to their growth, and
partner and mentor. “He really is an exemplary heading to work. “I’m strict about office hours and
person and an inspiration. I strive to emulate him,” work from 9am to 3pm, so I have plenty of time education is a key part of that empowerment. So it
she says. with my boys.” She also puts aside time for her was a clear strategic intent to introduce our Raising
the Bar training academy. It is my goal to see that
She describes her shift from radiography to retailing husband, and says that spending time together on each one of our employees achieves at least an
as simple. “It’s all about people. People matter. In shared interests makes it easier to maintain their NQF2 qualification, and our academy is a vital part of
radiography, my strength was patient care. In retail, close bond and keep the spark alive. “We both love achieving that goal.”

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