COMPETITION
BALANCING WORK-LIFE
Ramani Fernando emphasises the importance of work-life balance for women in competitive fields
“Entrepreneurship demands time and patience, and a large number of females are not just business or career women; they have families, spouses, children and various other responsibilities,” says the celebrated fashion and beauty veteran Ramani Fernando.
She notes that women entrepreneurs and professionals are faced with high expectations on multiple fronts: “Society and family expect women to be good mothers and wives, and always be available for their families, whereas business and work demand them to be leaders and show commitment.”
Sharing her personal experience of having help from her husband and family when she launched her business, Fernando emphasises the importance of having a strong support system.
“Surrounding yourself with family and friends – people who push and encourage you – is key to overcoming these challenges and progressing,” she emphasises, adding that for women who lack this support, it becomes difficult to balance personal and professional life.
A pioneering businesswoman, Fernando has reached numerous milestones and achieved many successes – for example, establishing her chain of salons and the academy, and being the first recipient of the Woman Entrepreneur Award presented by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL).
“Personally for me however, the greatest and most treasured accomplishments are the opportunities I have created for many young women and men from all walks of life to find their place in society by building their own professional identities,” she notes with a sense of satisfaction.
Fernando reminisces: “When I started, there were no social media platforms or influencers that we see today. However, I was able to impart the skills and knowledge I’d gained by working overseas, and train young Sri Lankans through workshops and hands-on practice.”
“These young individuals have gone on to create their own brands in this competitive and thriving industry. Seeing them flourish to be who they are today fills me with immense pride and joy,” she adds.
The founder of Ramani Fernando Salons is a great believer in “the power of women leaders who possess many unique skills, which means they stand out and succeed,” she says.
In addition, she states: “Soft skills and emotional intelligence may prove to be key competitive advantages for women in business – listening skills, greater self-awareness, empathy, skilful conflict management, adaptability and teamwork are essential attributes for effective leadership in the workplace.”
“Successful female managers create an environment where creativity and innovative ideas are encouraged,” Fernando remarks, adding that women leaders do not penalise failures but accept them as part of the creative process.
And she elaborates: “Such executives support different working styles, viewpoints and solutions to problems, and are adept at being innovative about the way people work together – their leadership styles are more participatory and collaborative.”
The self driven entrepreneur and industry icon recognises that today’s norm of working from home does not and cannot replicate our pre-pandemic work lives: “While many of us are able to work remotely, our expectations about what work looks like in the current context need to shift to adapt to this new world.”
Ramani Fernando offers practical advice to make working remotely effective for women, explaining that “if you have the opportunity, carve out a clear workspace at home.”
She continues: “Whether this is a home office or corner in a room, having an area that is specifically maintained for getting your job done will go a long way towards creating a separation between your work and home life.”
“It is probably a little slower to carry out activities related to your occupation from home especially when we’re not able to meet and speak with colleagues like we used to. Perhaps we can get more work done because there are fewer distractions domestically – or we have kids or a spouse around and the distractions increase. Communicate with your team to ensure that expectations on deliverables are realistic,” she recommends.
Given the fast-paced dynamics of today’s working world, she says there’s a need for adaptability and agility, in order to balance work and life… and succeed.
“When everything we know changes rapidly, our work-life balance must change in response,” Fernando sums up.
“Soft skills and emotional intelligence may prove to be key competitive advantages for women in business
