|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 1 August 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Believe in yourself Believing in herself, being focused, hardworking and committed are the pillars of success for Director, SKC Management Services Ltd and Universal Enterprises Ltd Ms Chris Benjamin.
She was born in a village off Attanagalla as the youngest in a family of four children two boys and two girls. Her father was a businessman and her mother a housewife. "I was brought up in a village background and this has helped me to understand people from all walks of life even today. Ours is a very loving family but we were taught to appreciate the other person's independence from small days," she said. "I studied at Ferguson High School, Ratnapura, until I completed my Ordinary Level examination. It was a very disciplined education and since we were boarded we learnt to be independent from small days," she added. For her Advanced Levels she came to De Mazenod College, Kandana. Once she completed her ALs she began to work as a secretary. " I never worked at any one place for a long time. Instead I moved from one job to another which helped me to gain a lot of experience in different sectors. I have worked at a finance company, garments and hotels sectors as well as at Car Mart, she added. During this time she did not forget to study and get qualified. She has won the Best Student Award in the Diploma in Human Resources conducted by the IPM as well as the Gold Medal for the Best Student at the Executive Diploma in Business Management conducted by the University of Colombo.Today Ms Benjamin is also armed with an MBA from the University of Lincoln in the UK. Her thesis for the MBA was on "An investigation into coping strategies in the careers of female executives in Sri Lanka". "I have been to the USA for six weeks on a Group Study Exchange and it was a lifetime experience because we were given accommodation in homes which gave us an opportunity to learn about their lifestyles, culture and be a part of a family. The beauty of it was that every third day we got an opportunity to live with a new family," Ms Benjamin said. She also has Diplomas in professional photography and Fashion Designing from the JD Institute India/Sri Lanka. She is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Management and the Management Club. Ms Benjamin was the first woman lady President of Rotary Club Colombo East. During her tenure of office the club won the highest number of awards in the District including the award for Excellent Club as well as Excellent President. " The cooperation from all members helped us to achieve this feat and we were able to do a lot of community work as well," she noted. "Once I am focused I attend to all details and give my best to anything I do and this has helped me to make a difference everywhere I go," she said and added that she enjoys everything she does. The all-round exposure together with my education has given me the strength and courage to face life with confidence and I always know what I am doing, she says. "Even if I have to make a speech I read about the subject, write down the speech and read it a few times before I deliver it as I always want to complete a given task to the best of my ability," she said. " I want to start something on my own where I can bring out my creativity together with the organising skills and management experience I have gained through the years," she said speaking of her future plans. "Be what you are, believe in yourself, don't follow anyone and make a difference, this will help you succeed in life," Ms Benjamin advised. (S.G) |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
