PADMI Fernando
Today on the buzz I have Padmi Fernando who is the Director of Sales & Marketing at Mövenpick Hotel
Colombo. She has made Sri Lanka proud by winning the Pioneer Woman Leader award at the 6th World Women Leadership Congress and AWARDS(WWLCA)
held in Mumbai with the endorsement of CMO Asia. She is definitely a super woman and championing and working in the hotel trade is very challenging. And knowing Padmimi, I can say she is a well collected person who is always dressed elegantly. It’s always nice to see Lankan names making big waves.
HOW HAS IT BEEN WORKING IN
HOSPITALITY? It has been fabulous. I came across hospitality by accident but it turned out to be a long term and very rewarding career. It's one of the most dynamic industries and it challenges you to keep pace with the world individually and as an industry.
WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SUPPORT IN YOUR LIFE? Family. (parents, siblings and my husband). WHAT MADE YOU GET INTO THE HOTEL
TRADE? I enjoyed the hotel environment as my sister used to work in then
Oberoi Hotel in Colombo and a friend was insisting that I go for the first hotel interview for a job in sales & marketing. And I made it with the first interview to my own surprise. But as I moved in to the role, I realised it came to me very naturally and then as I grew in my career I knew I was “cut out for it” as they say.
TELL ME ABOUT THE LATEST AWARD YOU WON IN INDIA? I was
awarded "Pioneer woman leader" at the 6th World Women Leadership
Congress and AWARDS(WWLCA) held in Mumbai with the endorsement of CMO Asia. WWLCA recognises and appreciates the profound role played by women as leaders, executioners, and decision makers, in shaping the future of the region and nation, and who embody the qualities of leadership in displaying active, creative, and integrative efforts in achieving the best possible results in Government and business organisations according to the standards of global competitiveness. TELL ME YOUR STYLE OF WORK? I am a very "hands on" person and would like to fully update myself on the subject I have to deal with, even if it’s not directly my area of work. It helps me take informed decisions. I am extremely driven for results and quality.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE TRAVEL DESTINATION AND
WHY? London. I have very fond memories of my travel there. It also makes me feel at home.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART ABOUT BEING IN THE HOTEL
INDUSTRY? Learning about global cultures, cuisine, brands, architecture and the innovations adopted by the industry.
WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGNERS INTERNATIONALLY AND LOCALLY. I ALWAYS SEE YOU WELL
PUT TOGETHER? Comfort is key for me followed by fashion. For clothes, I find my kind of styles in Zara & Mango. For hand bags, I prefer Chanel, for sun glasses
Prada. Locally, Buddi Batiks for sarees. They are unique in design and colours.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE STRESS AND
PRESSURE? I do not take myself, or anything too serious. I am someone who can laugh at myself. Also, I am a very logical person. I can switch from negative to positive pretty fast. I don’t let stress and pressure get the best of me.
WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT YOU THAT ONE WOULDN’T LEARN FROM YOUR
RESUME ALONE? That I have this absolute childish side to me in spite of all the professional achievements and outlook I carry!
If...
IF YOU COULD SHAPE YOUR OWN FUTURE JUST AS YOU WANTED IT TO BE WHAT WOULD YOU ADD TO IT? More Labradors! IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE AWFUL EVENT IN WORLD HISTORY WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? The death of princess Diana. As we need role models like her to spread kindness and humanity in the world.
On the spot...
IF NOT FOR MÖVENPICK, WHAT'S YOUR NEXT FAVOURITE HOTEL TO DINE IN? Yumi at Taj Samudra. PRESIDENT OR PM? WHO AND WHY? None. We need a new vision for our country.