Exclusive Interview with Shazna Muzammil

4 September 2014 01:27 pm

Personal Secretary to Mayor of Colombo

Due to the technical error causing an incomplete interview being published in the August Issue, we have republished the complete interview of Shazna Muzammil below. For many years men walked away with top positions and the spot light in society. Today, women with beliefs in hope, patience and perseverance have begun to change the dynamics of society. The same spirit of determination can also be seen in Shazna Muzammil, a mother of two boys, who has a passion for healthy living and determination to help others. Shazna Muzammil is the Private Secretary to His Worship the Mayor of Colombo since November 2011.   She is also a member of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee along with leading politicians, economists, Chairmen of Companies. She is presently nearing completion of her MBA. She is the mother of two boys Thalal aged 16 and Jamaal, aged 11. She started her career as head of HR in Overseas Techni-Craft Transfers (Pvt) Ltd which was an organization recruiting skilled workers and professionals for Asian & European countries.  With a Diploma in Fashion Merchandising she joined Linen and Life, an apparel manufacturer and retailer. She also served as the Administrator of The American Preschool, a leading preschool in Colombo. On weekends she taught art to children at an Art Institute. She is an active member of the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce, which is the first women-only Trade Chamber to be set up in Sri Lanka in 1985, and the first in the world. She is also a fervent supporter for Women’s cause and is a member of the Zonta Club 1 of Colombo, which is a worldwide organization of professionals and executives working together with the aim of advancing the status of women across the globe.  She represents the Mayor of Colombo on the Board of Colombo Art Biennale, which promotes local artists, both established and emerging, through innovative programs. She is a founding member of the “A.J.M. Muzammil Foundation”, a registered Foundation since 2003. Tell us about the charity .. ? It’s called the “A.J.M. Muzammil Foundation” and it’s a registered foundation since 2003 and we have helped many people and children via the foundation. It is a private, non-governmental organization founded by my parents. The foundation serves the poor and needy and we work to enhance and uplift underserved communities, uplifting youth & children, social welfare, as well as organize health care programs in economically depressed areas. Few of the annual charitable contributions through the “A.J.M. Muzammil Foundation” are-

• Annual free eye clinics and medical clinic including Ayurvedic Medicine to needy elders
• Celebrating Sinhala & Tamil festival and donating dry rations, clothes to orphan’s and under privileged children and for elders
• Distributing sewing machines for poor women and conducting sewing classes
• Distributing dry rations among 6000 poor families during the Holy month of RAMADHAN
• Celebrating World International Children’s day by presenting Saving Books to 1500 poor children
• Blood donation campaigns
• Distribution of exercise books and shoes for needy children before the start of every school year
• Paying Rs.2000/-to 20 cancer patients every month for their day to day medical expenses.

How would you describe working for your father “The Mayor of Colombo”? “Being Private Secretary to His Worship the Mayor of Colombo I am exposed to a larger and more diversified group of people more than a specific industry. More than 50% of the City’s population lives in absolute poverty. There are over 70,000 families living in underserved communities. For me, this exposure is an education I can’t get anywhere else. In his office I am not treated as his daughter, but as his Private Secretary. Working for him has always been a learning experience. I have learnt how to conduct myself professionally, how to be diplomatic in my relations and above all keeping to time. He is one of the few people whom I know who is punctual for everything. He has a lot of experience in life and politics and by being around him I get to observe his implementation methods and everything possible is absorbed by me while watching him from the sidelines. He has a vision for Colombo and I am glad that I can be a part of what materializes out of that”. What are the challenges and obstacles in your way? And how do you face them? “The biggest challenge is that I am a “female”. Strangely in this day and age it can still be an issue and opinions sometimes go unheard. Having said that, I believe life will be boring without challenges and obstacles. Every situation no matter how challenging it is can only make me a stronger individual”. How do you balance family and work life? How has your family supported you throughout the years? “My family has been very supportive, and this has made the task of juggling many roles much easier”. Tell us how you juggle multiple roles, from being a mother, a personal secretary to the mayor who is also your father and as a woman of society? “The most important role I play is that of being a mom to my boys. We have a lot of fun together and they are also my biggest supporters and encourage me to do so much more as they seem to believe more in me than even I do. I don’t make any plans without discussing with them, be it work related, travel, education and even simple dinner plans. At any given time they know where I am and they can contact me. For me, it is more important that my children are secure in the knowledge that I am always there for them, maybe a phone call away sometimes but always there. The three of us support each other and that’s our foundation. This gives me the confidence do go out there and give my 200% to the job at hand. However, juggling the role of a mother, with work, MBA program, the new business partnership, and my involvement in other organizations takes a toll on me as sometimes I come home late and feel a tad desolate. But the warm hugs I receive from my boys when I walk into my house is all the reassurance I need”. What is your life philosophy based on the life choices you have made? “I can tell you life hasn’t been too kind but there’s more that I can love about everything it has dished out. Few things it taught me is, for sure, every cloud has a silver lining, never lose your identity or your individuality and if people don’t understand it, it’s not your problem, it’s theirs. Everything happens for a reason. It’s up to me to make the best of it and turn everything into an opportunity to grow, learn and be bold”. In your opinion what impacts a child most, when the mother is out of home for long hours? “I believe that as long as you are not too far away from them in mind, and if they are secure in the knowledge that they are not alone, nothing can impact them in an adverse way. Overall they grow independent and learn to respect and value the time that they have and use it wisely”. Things that you feel nostalgic about your childhood, school, college & festivals celebrated in the country? “It’s the things we used to do as a family that I miss most. Both sides of my parents’ families are terrifyingly large and we used to get together at least for two holidays every year. Those holidays would consist mainly of playing pranks on cousins, sleeping in the hall, all of us lined up next to each other, older ones telling ghost stories to the younger ones, waking up with toothpaste on the boys’ privates and lots of cricket. Now everyone is so busy with their own lives and we hardly meet other than at family weddings or similar functions”. In your opinion, are you able to see progress & change in Sri Lanka? “Yes most definitely if the matters at hand are handled with due diligence and responsibly”. What are the changes according to you needed in Sri Lanka, for it to become a developed country? “I believe that Sri Lanka as a country which largely depends on foreign investments, need to work on building a conducive environment for such investors. In order to do that it is imperative that our actions build confidence amongst the investors and I also believe that the private sector should play a significant role to achieve this. We should also tap into our rich human resources if we are to reach the developed status”. What does culture mean to you? “Culture is very important to me and I believe that completes you as a person. It shapes us as individuals and as members of society. Integrating the different cultures into our lives also binds us to society”. Will you enforce cultural bindings on your children? “I am not one to enforce bindings on my children. They are exposed to culture, exposed to art and exposed to society in general. I will show them and make them understand as much as I can and hope they will learn to love it and appreciate it and in turn inculcate the values learnt into their individualism. Culture can’t be forced upon anyone, it needs to be embraced. All I hope is that my kids grow up to be socially responsible adults whilst respecting the many different cultures in society today”. What attributes do you most admire in a person? “Being humble, selfless, honest, trustworthy and those who can be genuinely happy for other peoples’ successes and happiness”. What would be the message you would like to give for women and the society today? “Support fellow women and stand by each other. It is important that society comprehends and appreciates the value of a woman’s role. She can be mother, wife, sister, friend and sometimes breadwinner. She plays a role that is physically and mentally demanding. Women of today contribute tremendously towards the country’s economy. Stop the discrimination and give due respect to their voice and opinions”. Are there any unforgettable, moments of your career that you are particularly fond of? “It was an honor to meet the Queen –in- waiting during her visit to Sri Lanka during CHOGM. It was quite significant when she recognized me from a previous occasion and accurately pointed out the time and place. And I thought that was quite impressive taking into consideration the many ceremonies she had to attend during her visit”. What are your future career plans? “I love meeting new people and understanding their cultures and attending to their wants and needs. I also like international relations. Once my father’s tenure as Mayor of Colombo ends I will be looking at a career where I can incorporate the above, possibly in Human Relations, Guest Relations and PR or International Relations”. Do you find time for recreational activities? What do you do on holidays? “I have to make time for it. It rejuvenates me. I try and get out to the gym early in the morning before work or sometimes in the evening. I enjoy being outdoors mostly so sometimes head out for a run however the recent road constructions have ensured that I work out in the gym. I enjoy playing badminton, cycling and swimming. Long weekends are welcomed warmly by my boys and myself and we wait to get away. Our next plan is to head up to the hills on the train to Nuwara-Eliya. I also enjoy hiking and look forward to a lot of it up in the hills”. If you could choose one super power, what would it be and why? “Power to extend the hours in a day so I can fit everything I want to comfortably”. Name 3 people you admire. 

• My father
• Nelson Mandela
• Lance Armstrong
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