CONFESSIONS OF A GLOBAL GYPSY

By Dr. Chandana (Chandi) Jayawardena DPhil

President – Chandi J. Associates Inc. Consulting, Canada

Founder & Administrator – Global Hospitality Forum

chandij@sympatico.ca

Teaching at the Ceylon Hotel School

I took great delight in using the pedagogical skills that I newly acquired during my fellowship in Europe at the Ceylon Hotel School (CHS). As a Senior Lecturer, I shared stories from the industry and my travel experiences. I also arranged for a few of my former management colleagues to deliver guest lectures. I looked after the bar practical sessions, wine and spirits theory and food and beverage management courses.

I directly reported to Mrs. Pearl Heentigala, Director/Principal of CHS, who called me to her office for a review a month after my return from Europe. She told me, “You are a breath of fresh air Chandana. Our students love your lectures and practical sessions of cocktail making. I admire your hard work.” She was an inspiring leader and soon became like a mother to me.

Competing at the University of Colombo

Soon after settling back into teaching at CHS, I focused on my key career developmental goal. This was to join the first batch of the world’s first master’s degree in International Hotel Management at the University of Surrey (UoS) in the United Kingdom (UK). My main academic qualification at that time was the three-year diploma in Hotel and Catering Operations from CHS, and that was an insufficient prerequisite to join a good master’s degree program in UK.

As I did not have a four-year honours bachelor’s degree qualification, I was asked by UoS to bridge the gap by doing fourth-year level academic studies in a good university, before accepting me into their master’s degree program. When I saw a newspaper advertisement about the 12-month long Executive Diploma in Business Administration (EDBA) program at the University of Colombo (UoC), I considered that as my key to progress.

In 1982 there were no MBA programs in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this EDBA program at the premier university in the country was in great demand by ambitious managers. To facilitate busy managers from different sectors and industries to take the program, UoC held the classes on all five weekdays after working hours and during some weekends. I quickly wrote to the University of Surrey. They were pleased with the high reputation of UoC as the best and oldest university of Sri Lanka (with a rich history from the year 1870). UoS confirmed that if I successfully completed the EDBA at UoC, I would be accepted to the first intake of their MSc in International Hotel Management program in September, 1983.

The EDBA program had commenced in 1981, and my plan was to join the second cohort in 1982. The intake was limited to 50, but over 500 managers had applied. My quick research on this program led me to meet a few managers completing it in mid-1982. I received some good tips from them on getting into this highly sought-after program. Selection procedure had a few steps, including a detailed application and a three-hour long general knowledge written examination. Having passed those hurdles, I was short listed for the final step – a viva voce interview for seven finalists at a time. “Chandi, they will give you one topic and ask the group of seven candidates to debate. Whether you know the subject or not, try to make a good first impression by speaking first!” I was advised by a new friend who was completing the EDBA.

I arrived early for my viva voce interview held at the historic college building at UoC. It is the oldest university building in Sri Lanka and had a special ambiance. I started chatting with my fellow competitors. By the time the seven of us were called into a quaint, old-fashioned boardroom with a round table and ten chairs, I knew something about all of the other six competitors.

A panel of three UoC professors were headed by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Bertram Bastianpillai. They spoke very little. The Dean told the seven finalists, “When I say ‘start’, turn over the blank sheet of paper in front of you, read the topic typed on the other side and discuss it like a team. You have thirty minutes. START!”

Without wasting even one second, I commenced the discussion on the topic given to us, of which I knew very little. “Ladies and gentlemen, the topic given to us – ‘The Gem Industry of Sri Lanka’ is a very interesting subject for discussion. Our country is blessed to have many varieties of rare gems, used by the rich and famous around the world, including the most prominent blue sapphire in the British crown. Let me introduce Ramani who is seated on my right-hand side. Ramani works at the Sri Lanka State Gem Corporation as a Senior Executive. Over to you Ramani, to tell us how your organization markets gems globally.”

Ramani gave a detailed description on the topic I suggested but was taking over ten minutes, as she was very familiar with the subject. I observed that the other finalists were becoming uncomfortable as they were yet to get any opportunities to engage in the discussion to impress the professors. I took leadership in ending Ramani’s marathon performance.

I said, “Sorry to interrupt you, Ramani. I know that you are so knowledgeable about the topic and you can talk for hours about it. However, let’s manage our time fairly, allowing all our colleagues around this table to take part in the discussion. We have only 17 more minutes. Shall we allocate a maximum of three-minutes each to the other five finalists?” All agreed and I assumed the role of the moderator and time-keeper, without any invitation. I removed my wrist watch and kept it in front of me. I saw Professor Bastianpillai making notes with a big smile. I knew that my shrewd strategy had worked.

“Kumar, I know that you are a Senior Economist working at the Central Bank. If you can tell us how the gem industry is helping the national economy, that would be great!” I encouraged another panellist to talk. Kumar looked very happy with my invitation.

Eventually when there were two minutes left to end the 30-minute viva voce, I concluded the session by summarising key points made by all of other six panellists. A week later, I received a letter of acceptance to the EDBA program at UoC.

Studying at the University of Colombo

During my first class at UoC, I looked around to see if any of those six other panellists were successful in getting into the program. Only one other panellist had made it to the top 50. As the Program Coordinator of EDBA, Professor Bastianpillai, did not utilize services of his colleagues, the teaching faculty of UoC. Instead, cleverly he had arranged to have experienced industry leaders, well-known economists, leading corporate and industrial lawyers, top financial consultants, human resource specialists, marketing gurus and production managers to teach us the latest trends in the world of business.

Dylan Dharmaratnam, one of the most qualified chartered accountants in the country at that time and Senior Financial Consultant to the John Keells Group, taught us financial management. Stanley Jayawardena, Marketing Guru and the Chairman of Unilever company in Sri Lanka taught us Marketing. He utilised the services of top experts of marketing, sales, advertising and public relations, trained by Unilever International, as guest lecturers. It was an excellent program from which I learnt a lot about business administration, economics and law.

Professor Bastianpillai had been impressed with my performance at the viva voce interview, and soon became a mentor for me in post-secondary teaching and academic program development. He was very fond of me and introduced his wife and son to me and my wife. He became a good friend of mine. Nine years later, when I founded the International Hotel School (IHS) of Sri Lanka as its Managing Director, he became an advisor on academic excellence for my team and myself.

Business at Streamline Services Limited

In 1982, my father-in-law, who was also a former boss, mentor and friend, Captain D. A Wickramasinghe (Captain Wicks) ran a subsidiary of John Keells Group – Silverstock Limited. It was one of the first companies in Sri Lanka to be engaged in outbound travels. This company focused mainly on Buddhist pilgrimages to India, Nepal and Thailand. Captain Wicks worked very hard to finalize several contracts with tour operators in those three countries.

Captain Wicks looking disappointed, informed me, “Chandi, due to some change in corporate strategy at Keells, the board has decided to stop outbound travel business.” After a pause, he said, “On a brighter note, Keells have told me to take over their outbound business if I wish to start my own company.” “Captain, this is a golden opportunity. Go for it! I will help you in any manner you wish me to do.” I encouraged him.

Within a month, Captain Wicks retired from John Keells, and we commenced a new company, Streamline Services (Pvt.) Limited – Travel Agents and Hospitality Education Consultants. Captain Wicks did most of the work, but he kindly offered me around 17% of the stock. As a director of this new company, my role was to help with the hospitality education consulting aspects. I spoke with Mrs. Pearl Heentigala and sought her approval for me to set up a private, hotel school with weekend classes, for Streamline Services.

“Chandana, I know that most of the lecturing staff at CHS are involved in teaching in various mushroom hotel schools in Colombo during their free time. You are the only employee who sought my approval to do so. I appreciate that. I know that you will do something professional and help the industry. CHS alone cannot produce an adequate number of employees for the hotel industry. Go ahead.” She gave me her blessings.

We set up the Streamline Service office at the Colombo YMBA building. We ran the hotel school classes in Nugegoda, with practical sessions at the Ceylon Inns in Colombo six. We also did occasional domestic tourism projects. I developed four craft courses and a one-year diploma program for those who completed all four craft courses.

However, I did very little teaching at Streamline Services Hotel School, after I established it. I contracted a few of my loyal colleagues from CHS to do most of the teaching. Between my teaching at CHS, evening studies at UoC and running a business during the weekends, I became very busy, but I loved the constant action of learning new things. As my schedule was full, I decided to not take any other additional assignments. That intention was short-lived!

An Opportunity in Singapore

“Chandana, meet Mr. Lee, the Food and Beverage Manager of one of the most prestigious hotels in Singapore, Goodwood Park Hotel”, Mrs. Heenatigala introduced a well-dressed, young gentleman seated in her office, to me. They were planning a large-scale Sri Lankan festival in Singapore. “They need a team of three Sri Lankan chefs for this major event. I have identified two of CHS culinary lecturers – Chef Marie Nugapitiya and Chef Gihan Wijesinghe, but need a dynamic leader, an executive chef with similar overseas experience” Mrs. Heentigala explained while we walked to the CHS training restaurant.

Over lunch, when Mr. Lee heard about my experience in 1981, as the guest executive chef for a major Sri Lankan food festival at the Hotel Furma InterContinental in Hong Kong, and their search. “Chandana, pack your bags, do the menu planning in consultation with the Executive Chef of Goodwood Park Hotel. Be ready to go to Singapore for two-weeks next month,” my boss instructed me. “Yes, Madam. I love this opportunity in Singapore to represent Sri Lanka and CHS.” I happily accepted an additional challenging assignment.