Chamithrie Wijayasena

29 August 2014 02:54 pm Dynamic young achiever makes her mark  She’s young. She’s dynamic and she’s been blessed with both beauty and brains. Meet our cover personality for this month, the charming and exceptionally talented Chamithrie Wijayasena, a Director of Kandy City Center. Being one of the youngest female directors in a company, and armed with a passion to succeed in both academics and her corporate career, she is certainly an inspiring and accomplished young lady who juggles every aspect of her life with aplomb. Here are excerpts of our interview with Chamithrie Wijayasena… Chamithrie, I’m sure our readers are eager to get to know you, can you take us through the significant moments of your childhood, is there any incident that you cherish the most? “I was born and raised in Colombo. I did my schooling at Musaeus College and Colombo International School. Must say I was a really spoiled kid! My dad gave me literally anything and everything I asked for, and good behavior was all my parents expected in return. Maybe my parents were willing to spoil me like that because my brother and I both had a good sense of responsibility and didn’t really demand for much. I was a pretty nerdy kid and although my parents put me for various sports lessons, ballet, drama etc., my interests were always indoors with my books. I have lots of memorable moments at Musaeus and CIS that it’s actually hard to pick a few. I was actively involved in the Media Unit and the English Debate Team. I was also a school prefect. I made some wonderful friends at both schools who are still my closest friends. One memory I will always cherish is how my best friend and I started a charity club when we were 10 years old. We called it ‘SwanStar’, joining the meaning of our first names. We sold bookmarks, crafts and cookies to raise funds for a couple of charity projects. Two other friends joined us later and we all had a great time using our creativity and entrepreneurial ideas for a great cause. That was my first attempt at giving back to society and since then I have been involved in various volunteering and charity causes. There are days that I get extremely nostalgic about my childhood and wish I could go back to those simple and carefree days.” How about your education, are you currently pursuing your chosen field of study? Do you have plans to pursue it further? “I started my schooling at Musaeus College and then later on joined Colombo International School. While I was attending Montessori we used to live across the street from Musaeus, and I remember walking to school with my mom, without any complaints. From a very young age I was interested in business. I loved the creative and the innovative nature of the work! I loved it for not being an eight to five job and also for being able to be your own boss. I was also interested in politics, especially because in middle school I did debating and public speaking. But, given the political environment in Sri Lanka back then, my parents discouraged the idea. Hence, I decided to stick to business. I passed my O/L’s and A/L’s with all A passes. One of the proudest moments in my life was when I won the world’s first place for Business Studies at the London Advanced Level Examination in 2009. I say it was one of the best achievements in my life not because of the award, but because it was a good way of thanking my parents for believing in me and for never pushing me too hard to study. Then, I was waitlisted at the University of Cambridge in the UK and accepted to several other prestigious universities in the US and the UK. I finally decided to accept the offer from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor because it is one of the top 10 business schools in the US. I graduated last year with my BBA with a concentration in Accounting and a Minor in Economics, with Distinction. Currently, I am studying for my American accounting license, and hoping to start my Masters in Accounting next Fall. As for the field of study, I am interested in Taxation and also International Business. I want to go as far as I can in terms of education. I hope to get a better understanding of what I want to specialize in after my Masters, and then start my Ph.D. in the chosen field. It may sound strange, but I enjoy studying and don’t fear exams. So, I want to pursue my educational qualifications not necessarily because I would require it for my job, but because I enjoy the process.” How would you describe yourself in one word? “Cheerful.” Tell us about your family, what kind of support have they provided in ensuring that you reach your true potential and realize your dreams? “Yes, my family is my most valued possession. They mean everything to me. My dad is a self-made businessman in Sri Lanka. My mom has been a stay-at-home-mom for the past thirty years. I have one brother, Tharindu, who also was in the US but now back in Sri Lanka working with my dad. He is a lot more involved in the business than I am. They have always been a great source of strength and support. I would say the best way of support I got from parents was not putting pressure on me to get good grades or outdo others. My mother is the most understanding, compassionate person I know and my dad the most hardworking person I know, so having that kind of inspiration at home has helped me tremendously starting from my younger years.” How important do you think it is to ensure that you maintain a fine balance between your personal and professional life? “I definitely want to stress on is maintaining a healthy balance between work and family life. End of the day you want to return to a happy family, a happy home. Make time spent at home with your family the reward for a tiring day at work. I commend my parents for raising me in a good home environment with a firm sense of security. I know how imperative that was for me as a child. I want to pass that onto my kids one day. No matter how busy my parents are they still call me every morning and night to see how I am doing. Don’t let the corporate world let you lose sight of what’s more important-your family. Because, in the end, it is not your college degree or your bank account that is going to keep you happy, it is the relationships you have fostered over the years.” As someone who firmly believes in maintaining a balance in your life, I’m sure you have plenty of hobbies that help you unwind, anything in particular that we should know of? “I am definitely struck by wanderlust. I love traveling! You truly begin to appreciate the diversity of the world when you travel. There’s so much to learn, so much to see. I also spend a lot of my free time with friends. I am fortunate to have a wonderful group of friends here in Sri Lanka and in the US. And as for hobbies, I’d say cooking! I’ve definitely gotten that from my mother. I don’t get to cook much in Sri Lanka, but when I am in the US I am always trying out new recipes in the kitchen.” You are an integral part of your dad’s successful venture, the much talked about Kandy City Center. What do you enjoy most about being part of this project? “I am a Director of Kandy City Center and consider it a blessing to be part of a project that has uplifted the course of an entire city. My role with KCC runs far back into my childhood--I was only 8 years old when my dad started the project. Since KCC is the biggest shopping mall in the country and an active part of the city, there are so many events and exhibitions that take place every week. Whenever I am in Sri Lanka I spend a considerable amount of time in Kandy participating in these events. What I enjoy most is going to the mall for ‘people-watching’. It is a wonderful feeling to see thousands of people roaming about in the mall and enjoying the Kandy City Center experience. The modern technology enables me to work remotely from the US if need be. I am very much up to date about KCC even when I am there. We are planning a state-of-the-art indoor play zone for kids at KCC. Something I see common in the US is that even the smallest towns have entertainment for kids. It is a great place for families to bond while keeping their kids occupied. Places like amusement parks enable kids to mingle with other kids outside of their friend groups and improve their social skills. I have done plenty of research on the amusement park industry. I have visited conferences and exhibitions in Singapore and the US to select our suppliers. Really excited for the opening of our play zone!” The Kandy City Center has created a new kind of buzz in a city steeped with tradition; becoming a must visit hotspot for both locals and tourists. How was this state of the art shopping complex conceptualized? “Yes, I am proud to say Kandy City Center is Sri Lanka’s most innovative and luxurious shopping complex. It is a one-stop shopping destination for all your needs. We have been able to introduce many new local and international brands to the city of Kandy. One feature that sets apart Kandy City Center from other commercial complexes is that KCC preserves the iconic Kandyan architecture. There’s more to KCC than what the regular shopper sees-so much meticulous attention has been given to the engineering to make KCC an ultra-modern and environmentally friendly building. The land that KCC was built on is where the extension of the old Bogambara lake was. So, to ensure long-term durability special measures had to be taken in terms of piling and structuring. This was time consuming and costlier than we had anticipated. My dad was adamant about making the exterior of the building in a way that it will blend well with old Kandyan architecture. Our architects Mr. Ashley De Vos and the late Mr. Chandra Abeysingha did a wonderful job at making the exterior very cultural and the interior ultra-modern. Kandy City Center won the BOI ‘flagship-status’ for these distinct features. Soon it will boast a food court and an indoor amusement center that will be incomparable to any that’s already in Sri Lanka! So Kandyans, be on the lookout, there are more exciting things KCC has planned for you! Conceptualization of KCC is solely my dad’s vision. He is a very counterintuitive man! In a period where many entrepreneurs were interested in investing in Colombo, he took the bold step of making a million dollar investment outside of Colombo. Personally, I was annoyed with him back then because he decided to make this investment at a time our family was living very comfortably due to his previous investments. Prior to KCC, my dad had plenty of time to spend with us and we all led a very relaxing, comfortable life. The start of KCC like a whirlwind changed most of that. The sad part is that it wasn’t the project that took up so much effort; it was fighting the opposition that was directed at KCC. Therefore, this project became an even harder task than it already was. But, now we are all extremely happy with how KCC turned out and to be involved in a beautiful, historic city like Kandy.” As a Director of KCC, the intricacies of the business world are nothing new to you, so in your opinion what are the essential qualities that help a young corporate woman survive in a competitive corporate environment? “I would say being fearless, confident and independent take you far. Always, believe in yourself and never let any man or woman for that matter, tell you that you are not good enough. Don’t fear the patriarchal world. If you are hardworking and equipped with the necessary qualifications, know that you deserve the acknowledgment. Being independent is key. There still tends to be gender roles in our society that irrationally make women dependent on men. It is a socially constructed belief that women are incapable of doing certain things. Try to be self-sufficient from a young age. Learn everything from making a good cup of tea to changing a flat tire. Living alone in the US for 5 years has helped me learn many life skills that actually help me at work and life in general than my college education.” Your dad owns Kandy City Center, is it safe to say you love shopping? How much of a fashionista are you? Are there any brands that you prefer more than the others? “Yes, I love shopping! No girl would complain if her dad owned a shopping mall. I think my love for shopping made me even more passionate about joining my dad’s business. I don’t like to follow trends. I prefer timeless and elegant styles to trendy and flamboyant ones. I don’t buy something just because it is a brand; I buy it because it suits me. If I were to pick some brands I prefer, I would say Burberry, Michael Kors and Express.” Finally, you’re an inspiration to all the women out there, balancing both your career and education with the same commitment and passion. What kind of advice would you like to give our readers? “Understand your potential and set tangible goals for yourself from a young age- this is what I would accomplish tomorrow, by the end of the month, year, 5 years etc.. Every morning I wake up knowing what I want done by the end of the day-that helps me manage my time and have the day go smooth. That is something I have done since I was a kid. I mean, I am still young and testing the waters so I am no expert at giving advice. But, from my personal experiences I would say, ‘having a plan’ for your life from a young age helps because it has definitely helped me. It gives your life direction and focus. However, don’t be afraid to alter your plan as you grow older and see the world different. Be prepared for the unexpected twists and turns-have a ‘plan B’ ready. Most importantly, strive to be known one day for your simplicity and honesty, not for your money or power.” Tharindu Wijayasena, Chamithrie’s brother  “I’m proud of my sister. For her young age, she has achieved a lot. She is very talented and is dedicated to achieving what she wants, that is what I admire most about her. My sister and I have a strong foundation at home, our parents have taught us good values and we have maintained right through out our lives. Both of us firmly believe that our family comes first, no matter how busy we are, they are our priority and we make sure that it remains that way. Our parents have given us a firm grounding on how to manage both our personal and professional lives.” Chamithrie talks about the importance of family. “I can’t stress enough on how important my family is to me. The biggest honor I have and will ever have is being a part of this family. My parents have been strict disciplinarians with me and my brother, and there have been conflict of ideas, but end of the day I know they have the sincerest intentions at heart. Make memories with your family whenever you can. Don’t wait until time permits; always make time for your parents and siblings. The best investment you make is in your family. Your parents are your first love and your siblings are your first friends, always remember that despite who comes in to your life later on.”’ Chamithrie’s parents “We are very proud of Chamithrie’s achievements. She is talented and is determined to see her dreams come true. She knows that she can lean on us for support at time and that we are there for her. She has grown up to become a wonderful person, with good qualities and we are very proud to call her, our daughter.” By Shabnam Farook Photographs by Nirmala Dhananjaya Hair and Make-up by Shanaka of Ramani Salon Borella Location Chamithre’s Residence Rajagiriya