‘‘Your Community’ is a series that hopes to bring recognition and business to the amazing entrepreneurs of our country, to appreciate the wealth of talent and sheer resilience of spirit that exists among our people. When spoken to, the majority of the SME’s indicate that their challenges are similar. They are struggling with access to the market and access to finance. They need guidance and support to overcome such obstacles. This Column “Your Community” addresses the need to create awareness, by sharing their compelling stories so that potential customers out there can connect with them. WCIC along with many partner organizations conducts continuous capacity-building programmes for SMEs to gain knowledge in all aspects of business development. Your Community’ provides exposure to inspirational women entrepreneurs by sharing their stories and making the world know how these courageous ladies are forging ahead. We invite you to interact and engage with these entrepreneurs and support local businesses. We feature this week an entrepreneur who has been supported by the WCIC in her journey.

Q Tell us about your family background?
I am Nayomi Hadunhetti, a wife, mother, entrepreneur all rolled into one, most of all a team player. I am an entrepreneur at heart with the entrepreneurial spirit running through my veins, but watchful of the next fall. I know that my next win will be beyond the learning of the fall. My journey is my motivator and I embrace a positive outlook despite the change in the external landscape.

I believe that my foundation is based on the knowledge I acquire.  It drove me to obtain a Master's from Buckinghamshire New University United Kingdom and Asia University Malaysia. I am now a Doctorate candidate at the Asian Institute of Technology focusing on Female Entrepreneurship in the Tourism Industry in South Asia. I have been career-driven since I was employed at TW Information Systems, progressing on to the Head of Product Development for Amante at MAS Holdings after which I moved as  Head of Advertising at Sri Lankan Airlines. After gaining my industry experience I was ready for a new chapter in my life -to become a fully-fledged entrepreneur. I took a step in a different direction, whilst continuing to love and grow my family, my kids, and still leading my three business ventures Siren, Handun Villas, and Elixir Ceylon.  I am an entrepreneur with a purpose.

Q How did you start your business?
When it came to my first venture, I wanted to walk into the market with a buzz. In 2008, I launched Siren; a Marketing Process Outsourcing (MPO) company that pledged to get brands noticed. Siren, was marketed as a one-stop-shop solution to corporates to showcase their brand story to their customers by developing business plans, designing the marketing strategy, conceptualization, budgeting, and execution. Tapping into my experience having been exposed to different industries, I understood that Sri Lankans are rich with brilliant and creative ideas, however, their growth is inhibited by their access to market knowledge and more importantly the available resources and skills for execution. The concept of MPO seemed like a need of the hour back in 2008. Today, a well-planned marketing strategy with a solid digital marketing presence is absolutely essential to survive. Being specific is terrific, so it’s important to have a realistic business plan complemented by a marketing map that seeks to capture all dimensions of the business from quality, sustainability, diversity along a platform that is well articulated so corporate communication is effective.

At Siren, we advocate the concept of Partners rather than clients. This gives us the opportunity to understand the storyline with more engagement. Our approach is simple yet power-packed – we want to make a noise about our partners’ brands by expressing their brand story and values rather than our perspectives. Siren is valued by its business partners for the engagement and effort devoted to understanding their brands.

Witnessing our clients crystalizing their returns is the best reward for Siren and me personally. The growth and success of Siren are dependent on our team. Investing time and effort in empowering your team is important.  As an entrepreneur, I wanted to connect more with my team ensuring greater engagement. I reached out to women and youth who thrive with an adrenaline rush to perform, yet make time to manage household chores, kids, and aged parents. The culture at Siren is relaxed, open, and result-oriented. The training and skills development offered has empowered my team, gearing them to fast-track their performance to reach greater heights.

In my opinion, the outbreak of the pandemic and the resultant change in business dynamics is just a stepping stone but it is the best test of one’s power of resilience. Today, I am more energized as I take the lead to be more creative and dynamic with my strategy to expand the client base of Siren not limited to Sri Lanka but venturing out to source potential leads in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. Entrepreneurs are not dreamers; they are drivers of results.

Q Tell us about Handun Villas, Thallala?
Every individual has a soft spot and something they feel passionately about, to me it’s the love for my motherland and the sheer desire to market Sri Lanka to the world.

Handun Villas was the result of my undying desire and passion. Sri Lanka known as the Paradise of the Indian Ocean is blessed with an abundance of natural resources that are yet to be explored by the world. My maiden boutique hotel, Handun Villas is one such property rich with heritage, culture, and local ambiance.  Located on a nine-acre coconut estate with a 126-year-old colonial house, Thallala has been open to the international holidaymaker since 2017. The beauty of a coconut estate, the sound of the chirping birds, the guest visits by the monkeys and peacocks are perhaps not everyone’s perfect getaway but it has won the hearts of those international travellers who seek peace and tranquility away from their busy, fast-paced lives.

The property is positioned at the centre of a village and we truly appreciate everything local and provide our guests the opportunity to witness culture by indulging in local cuisine, acquiring local culinary skills, and offering them the coconut harvesting experience. Peace and tranquility are knitted into every nook and corner of the property sharing the perfect setting for the guest to rediscover themselves through mediation and yoga for relaxation whilst enjoying the pampering offered by the Spa. Handun Villas also welcomes the adventure lover by offering safari tours,  whale watching, and water sporting activities. As a guest you need to feel enriched with an experience, therefore we seek to advocate environmentally-friendly policies such as the use of all-natural organic ingredients including fruit and vegetables along with a no plastic usage policy at the property. Recycling is being practiced at the property by converting food waste into compost manure.

There was never a dull moment for Handun Villas as we had an influx of tourists since its inception. Our marketing avenues and closely-knit business relationships with tourist booking platforms such as Booking.com, Agoda proved to be the ultimate success. But the pandemic became a hurdle. However, I would consider the pandemic as the highlight of my career. Personally, I try to look at the positive side in everything that I do and it was the perfect time for me to practice what I preached. At the inception of Handun Villas we were focused on telling our story to the international guest, instead, we started telling our story to the local traveller who was wanting to break away from being locked indoors due to travel restrictions. Handun Villas was the perfect case study to endorse my belief that personal agility is critical in driving business agility, which was shared during my discussion at the World Agility Forum in Lisbon in 2021.

Hanudn Villas is only the first of my boutique hotel chain brand.  Stepping ahead into the future, I foresee the importance of value creation via diversification to remain competitive. We will soon open doors to all party lovers with a retro-hip ambiance offered by Handun Beach Restaurant. I love challenges and surprises. So, I have decided to challenge myself to open yet another state-of-the-art boutique hotel by 2023.

Q Talk to us about Elixir Ceylon?
Elixir Ceylon is my newest venture which commenced in 2021. Elixir Ceylon manufactures and sells coconut-based outputs under the pillars of personal care, food, handicraft, and gift packages. For generations, Sri Lankans have preferred imported products against local substitutes perhaps due to the quality and variation, colourful presentation despite the higher price tag. Elixir Ceylon pledges to drive a quantum shift in consumer attitude as it seeks to expand its reach in the local market prior to testing foreign markets. Elixir Ceylon products are created from the coconuts grown on Sri Lankan soil. We ensure that the entire supplier chain guarantees environmentally friendly processes including the use of organic manure and deployment of local semi-skilled labour for manufacturing.

This is our effort to entice the local consumer to proudly indulge in local products as the best option rather than imported alternatives which are under pressure at this moment and may not really offer the ideal solution to our way of life. Elixir Ceylon offers a range of body, face, and hair care products, desiccated coconut, coconut sugar, and a range of coconut-based handicrafts,  fashion, and home accessories. Each of these products can be the perfect gift to your family or even your professional business associates. Elixir Ceylon is at the inception of its commercial cycle but we are committed to penetrating the local market, encouraging Sri Lankans to divert to the consumption of a truly Sri Lankan product. We are working towards gaining market visibility via online platforms and floating our products at local retail stores and hotels and I believe that the sky is the limit.

Q How have you contributed to society?
There is a reason we are on this planet. You need to deep dive and realize your purpose; I have understood my purpose. It’s simple, I want to create employment opportunities for local communities and encourage entrepreneurship especially among women and youth. This has become one of my core values advocated across all business units and is practiced at all levels of the organization. We have offered part-time work from home opportunities to those females who chose to step back from their formal careers to care for their kids and aged parents. We value their commitment and responsibility and warmly welcome them to our teams. I call out to the youth of Sri Lanka, to think outside the box. The perfect job with the perfect conditions and the most desirable paycheque is wishful thinking. Keep dreaming and looking for perfection but test your personality, talent, and technical skill with a venture of your own. It could create your career journey or complement your journey.

Q What is your secret to managing time?
There are no superwomen in town but you can create your success. I created mine by managing my time by just implementing two changes. First, I spend time with ME, developing ME, upgrading ME- ME is the most important ingredient in my life. Keeping fit is what I do for myself. I spend time with myself also ensuring that I continue to remain healthy both physically and mentally for my family, my business, and my country. As I took on greater entrepreneurial responsibilities, I was bound to be confronted with stress which led me to create a super dynamic team who share my vision, positive attitude energy, and work ethic which allows me to manage my time testing new waters or simply enjoy myself.  At the inception of any business, as an entrepreneur, you work IN the business by getting your hands dirty whilst learning the tricks of the trade. Over time as you progress, you delegate and empower so it gives you the time to work ON the business and that will pave the path to your success.

Q What is the best advice you can give to a female entrepreneur?
One of the greatest challenges I faced to business entry, is the access to funding as many doubted my capabilities and the capacity to balance work, family, and yet perform. At the outset this sentiment became more of a norm than the exception, leaving me with just two options, walk ahead fearlessly and open shop or turn back and walk away. I chose to move ahead despite the lack of capital and learned that your cash flow and funding are at their core for any business venture. Research has proven that 50% of start-ups close shop in the first three years of operation due to a lack of knowledge in financial and cash management. So beat it – learn it to perfection if you desire success.  If success is what you desire don’t copy another. Build your authentic personal brand, your positive attitude and work ethics will do the talking. Expand your network by capitalizing on every opportunity to enhance your net worth.

Q What is the support you have received from WCIC?
We have heard many say that “Women must support, empower and grow fellow women” but does it get actioned? I have the perfect example as I am a part of a passionately driven, supportive team of women at The Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC). They are always open to supporting you and certainly value you as an individual. If you seek growth and development then WCIC should be an integral part of your business journey.

Q As a young personality what is your message to future entrepreneurs?
The western world may seem more colourful and attractive to us. The grass is greener on the other side. It’s only natural to feel that way. Take a step back and rethink. We Sri Lankans have it on a platter. Be proud of it. You have an identity, culture, and inherent values like no other. Capitalize on it and take the Sri Lankan Brand to the International Stage. Always wear the badge – Proud to be Sri Lankan.

By Anusha David