|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 16 February 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Dr Rohini Jayaratne : Management consultancy her forte Being a perfectionist, equipping herself for the task in hand and having the family background are the factors of Dr Rohini Jayaratne's success as a management consultant. Family
She was selected to the Peradeniya University where she read Economics, English and Western History for her degree which she got through with a Class. At university, she was well known for her ability to write. After completing her degree, she got married and went to the UK with her husband and from there to USA where she read for her Phd in Management. Career
After coming back to Sri Lanka, she started working as a consultant for the Southern Development Authority and the Open University of Sri Lanka. She has also worked as a reader at the National Library Services Board (Business Division). Author Jayaratne has written a book on business management titled 'A Systems Concept of Business Organisation and Management Relationships'. She claims to be one of the first persons in Sri Lanka to write a book on business management in English. "I wrote this book for the benefit of undergraduates following studies in management as they had only foreign publications as reference. My book is devoid of academic complexities and was written to guide these students on gaining an indepth knowledge of business management." She has also written a book titled 'Fairy Tales of Sri Lanka'. "I wanted to arouse the natural instincts of children and relate spontaneously to their imagination to move easily compared to alien fairy tales. It also helps them to value our cultural traditions and natural heritage," she added. Women's activist She has helped establish the Southern Chapter of the Sri Lanka Women's Conference and was also the first patron of the Southern Province Chapter of Sri Lanka Conference of Buddhist Women. During this period, they were working for the economic and spiritual upliftment of women in the Waturavila village. As Private Secretary to the Governor of the Southern Province, she worked for the welfare of women in areas such as family planning, health education and self-employment which helped improve the social and cultural standards of the women in the region. Management consultant She said that cooperation from workers in an organisation should come voluntarily and that this can only be achieved by making them feel satisfied and wanted. "If you want to be a successful manager, you have to win the cooperation of others". She said that though women are intelligent and capable, there is still a glass ceiling preventing them from reaching the top as directors and chairpersons of company boards. Woman of the Year Dr Jayaratne has also been nominated for the title 'Woman of the Year 2002' by the International Board of Research of the American Biographical Institute of USA in its ninth edition of International 'Who's Who of Professional Business Women 2002' USA. The Board reviewed the endeavours of women all over the world from their lists of "Who's who" recognised titles and singled out a few. This celebrates the success of women all over the globe in a variety of professions. It searches for individuals who make a difference in society. Advice "Always try for the best so that you can achieve something. Be determined to do the best and become the best and never leave a stone unturned until you achieve your goal. "Before taking on a task, I read and equipped myself well and applied the knowledge I gathered to achieve my objective be it consultancy or education," she said. Present At present Dr Jayaratne does consultancy work on a part time basis as she feels that it is time she puts a halt to working to a clock. Future "I want to see many more women piercing the glass ceiling to become chairwomen and directors. "To achieve this goal, I will always voice my opinion through print or television media." |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
Jayaratne was born to a family of three children. Her father was a
Barrister-at-Law while her mother was a housewife. Her early childhood was
spent in Matale while she had her education at Museaus College and St
Bridget's Convent in Colombo. "I was quite good in my studies.
Therefore, my father wanted me to be a doctor and I started doing science
subjects. Once I moved to St Bridget's Convent, I opted to follow Arts
subjects. This decision did not make my father happy, but he did not
object. I also contributed to the newspapers during my school days,"
she said.
Dr Jayaratne is also a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Management
UK, which is a rare honour since she is among the two or three Lankan
women to obtain such a qualification in the business sector. She has also
worked in Fiji as a consultant for an international company with 32
outlets. "During this period, I also got the opportunity to work as a
guest writer for the Fiji-based Daily Post," she added.
