LIFESTYLE
Sriyangani Dhanapala
In conversation with Nirmali Ameresekere
What is a typical day like for you – and do you have any specific habits or routines that help you remain productive?
My day starts early with a plan to ensure that the operations are smooth and guests are happy. This is followed by a midday workout, which ends with another walk around the resort, a check on my team’s wellbeing and time to plan for the next day
If your career were to be turned into a movie, what would the title be? And who would you like playing you?
Alice in Wonderland – maybe Emily Blunt or Charlize Theron
What passion project or business idea would you pursue if you had unlimited time and resources?
I would run a life coaching and development camp for youth
Music that typifies your workday
I love listening to songs in different languages – however at work, I prefer silence as it allows me to actively listen to my surroundings
Your go-to song or playlist to stay happy during the day is…?
The voice of Tony Robbins or Oprah Winfrey really sets my pace for the day
The best piece of advice you’ve received
Have patience and trust your journey, you have so much power within already
And what is your mantra to recharge when you feel overwhelmed?
I’ve been saying this to myself for a while: ‘I can and I will; watch me.’
An item on your bucket list that you’d like to achieve in the next few years
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
How would you spend your time if you could unplug from technology for a week?
I’m a travel freak who loves exploring new places and I practice Samadhi meditation as a habit
What other work do you think you’d excel in – and why?
I’m always open to learn anything but this doesn’t necessarily mean I would use or practice something that I’ve learned or don’t agree with
A failure that turned out to be a blessing in disguise
I have lost many loved ones – and although it’s not a failure per se, it has made me much stronger over time
And a guilty pleasure that helps you unwind after a stressful day
I have a habit of watching what I like on repeat – there are a few TV series that would play in the background while I attend to other work – and I like to listen to certain dialogues to see if I understand things differently
Quirky habits that help you during working hours
I do sometimes talk to myself – I’ve done it accidently a few times in front my team and they usually laugh when I do this unconsciously
Advice you would give your younger self if you could travel back to the beginning of your career
I would not offer any advice – I’d let things be the way they are so I can be who I am today
If you could work from anywhere in the world for a month, where would you go – and why?
Jeju Island in South Korea – it’s one of my favourite places that I have visited so far
And if you could collaborate with any person (past or present) on a project, who would it be? And what would you create?
Tony Robbins or Oprah Winfrey – I believe I’d learn so much by simply being there
If your team members could switch roles with you for a day, what do you think they’d find most surprising about what you do?
That my thoughts are plain, empty and free – I rarely feel stressed
One thing you hope people will remember most about your contribution to work or society in general
That I made a ripple effect for positive change in society – it doesn’t matter if they remember my name or not
