Sabina Karunanayake

In conversation with Ashwini Vethakan

JOURNEY OF LIFE

Born in
The Czech Republic

Alma mater
Pan-European University in Slovakia

Family
Husband (Jeeva), son (Rithik), mother (Martina), father (Vilem), sisters (Barbora and Sofia), and dogs (Jerry and Sheila)

Wanted to be
A judge

Is
An Executive Director

Drives
A BMW

But would prefer
A Tesla

Likes to play
Tennis

Likes to watch
Thrillers and documentaries

Most unforgettable event
Enjoying a childhood without iPads and social media

Best advice received
The best advice I’ve received is “if you’re the smartest person in the room,  you’re in the wrong room…”

INTIMATE AND INSPIRING

One new thing you’ve tried this year
I learned to play golf

Saddened when…
There is injustice of any kind

Challenged by
The fact that a day has only 24 hours

Success to you is…
Time and freedom

What impresses you?
Dedicated innovators of any kind

Three items on your bucket list for the next six months
To hand over Serenia Residences, enjoy more time with my family and start new ventures

Purpose in life
To live a meaningful life

Describe your day off
I begin my day off with a good cup of coffee followed by a walk, after which I do some cooking, catch up on my reading, enjoy a glass of wine and chill with Netflix

Items on your bucket list following retirement
No plans for retirement yet – as I’m too young to plan for it

Languages you’d like to learn
Japanese, Sinhala and French

What is your advice to generation Z who are entering the workforce these days

My advice to gen Z is to expect and get more out of your career and employer than simply doing a regular 9-5 job

Anything else you’d like to add to what’s above

Ensure you have the right work-life balance and develop your own business ideas after work

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Most hated chore
Ironing

Obsessed with
Planning

Pet peeves
Disorder, careless people and negativity

A moment in time you’d like to go back to
My days at university

The place and person you are most at home with
I feel at home anywhere as long as I have my family with me

Hobbies
Tennis, reading and walking

Three must-haves
My handbag, iPhone and hairbrush

A type of food you avoid
Anything raw

Likely retirement destination
Europe – because the quality of life is so different and in many ways, better

Workout preferences
Jogging or playing a game of tennis

Desired qualities in a friend
Integrity and loyalty

Describe your ideal date night
It doesn’t matter what you do or where you go as long as you spend time with the right person

One thing you would like to change about yourself

I’d like to try and be more confident

Yourself in a few words…
I am daring, stubborn, caring and curious

FAVOURITES

Day of the week
Sunday

Colours
Black, white and beige

Drink
Prosecco

Places to eat
The Lagoon and Black Cat Café + Stay

Chill out spots
Independence Square and Wijaya Beach

Food
Red curry modha

Happy place
Home

Brands
Zara, Chanel and Max Mara

TV shows
How to Get Away with Murder, Suits and The Fall

Books
The Da Vinci Code (by Dan Brown), All quiet on the Western Front (by Erich Maria) Remarque and 1984 (by George Orwell)

Actor
Will Smith

Musicians
Shawn Mendes and OneRepublic

Song
Counting Stars (by OneRepublic)

Favourite international civil servant
Jean Monnet – because he dedicated himself to the cause of European integration and said: “I am not an optimist; I am determined.”

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE

The first thing you do after waking up is to…
Drink coffee

The first thing you notice when you meet someone is…
Whether his or her handshake is right

You recently laughed out loud when…
I remembered my high school stories with old friends

Your last gift to someone was…
A gravity blanket

You find yourself challenged by…
Negative people

You know it’s going to be a bad day when…
I oversleep and wake up too late

The best thing about working in the property sector is…
The ability to create new homes for people

A new technology that will transform the future is…
Artificial intelligence

Sri Lanka in a few words…
Paradise with a lot of (undiscovered) potential

Children are…
Honest and innocent

PICK ONE

Most productive in the morning, noon or night
Morning

A leader or follower by nature
Leader

Cook or foodie
Cook

Quality or quantity
Quality

The glass is half full or half empty
Half full

The most delightful word you can think of
Patiya

Work or play after retirement
Play

Your most used word or phrase
It’s not rocket science

Role model(s)
My parents – because I admire the way they raised me

Sabina is the Executive Director of Strategic Design and Marketing at Serenia Residences