Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true. Every thorn, every obstacle in a lady’s path, she will turn into flowers. Her confidence and dedication will be the driving force towards success. The way she carries herself will awe those around her.
With the intention of bringing out and enhancing the elegance in our pretty ladies, the Rotaract Club of Faculty of Science, University of Colombo joined hands with Amanté to initiate the project, “Dream. Dare. Do!” It was a workshop on dressing for success and power grooming in pursuit of happiness on your road to success.
For University of Colombo, the day was all about “Ladies”. They had the opportunity of spending some quality time with an amazing lady of extreme caliber. The Resource Person for the event, a freelance HR Consultant, an Executive Coach and a Training Facilitator, Mrs. Manusha Weerakkody is a proud product of St. Bridget’s Convent and got her B. A. in Human Resource Management from the University of New Delhi. Mrs. Weerakkody did her MSc. in Training and Development at the University of Leicester, UK. She is a Licensed Master Practitioner in NLP, NLP Society UK. A JCI PRIME Graduate, member of the Association of Human Resource Professionals, was the immediate Past President of Junior Chamber International Sri Lanka, Kollupitiya, a former visiting lecturer at University of Colombo. As a foodie loves to taste and cook cuisines from all over the world. Being the adventurous sportswoman is into bungee jumping, scuba diving, hiking, rafting or anything that matches the definition of adventure. On top of all that, her biggest passion is training. Her biggest weakness is the fact that she is a perfectionist. This expert in personal branding, image consulting, social etiquette, manners, ambassadorship skills, executive coaching, effective communication and presentation skills, is married with two children and believes in living life to the fullest.
This was her self-introduction, the first part of the training. First impression counts a lot. At a job interview, it will become the deciding factor of your future. That introduction you give there will elevate you above all the other candidates. You should be able to sell yourself, but be honest. Have a flow. Let your confidence ooze out as you speak with a steady posture. Make your story stand out.
The program was based on 3 topics; Self-introduction, Proper handshake and How to dress appropriately.
When you give the perfect self-introduction, it is important that you present yourself accordingly. The perfect handshake is a crucial element in impression formation. It will convey your vibes to the other person revealing so much about your personality. It is a sign of sincerity.
Not only your words and your actions, the way you dress matters so much. Dressing up is not about the attire only. Maintaining your personal hygiene will keep you healthy and refreshed as you become the pleasant sight that everyone is looking forward to meet. Take care of your body, hair and nails. Understand them. Love yourself. Maintain it. Elegance is the only beauty that never fades. The clothing that you choose to wear will define you. So, one has to dress appropriately to the occasion. Mrs. Weerakkody went through every minute detail, giving us tips on what casual, smart casual and formal wear would be, on how to match your clothing, what materials are the best, how to shop and decide on what to and what not to buy and many more. She also mentioned that managing economies is also a skill of a lady.
It was a highly interactive session where the speaker filled the hall with her enthusiasm and warmth. We were so engaged in it that we didn’t know that it was time to wrap up. All the ladies felt empowered evermore as the event came to its end as she quoted Dave Thomas, “Never stop, keep learning, and be confident to do what makes you happy and live life to the fullest”. With our hearts full, we were not allowed to leave empty handed. Amanté generously offered all the participants with a valuable gift pack. Some were even luckier and won gift vouchers and free haircuts and manicures.
To become a lady is a choice. To choose to produce a lady is a challenge. Our sincere gratitude goes to Prof. Ramanie Wijesekera, the Senior Treasurer and the Lecturer in-charge of the Rotaract Club of Faculty of Science, University of Colombo for having faith on this project and supporting in making it come true. The team from Amanté was very supportive. We at University of Colombo and the Rotaract Club of Faculty of Science, University of Colombo feel grateful and lucky that they chose us for this project. Congratulations to the Co-chairpersons of project “Dream. Dare. Do!” Rtr. Isuri Pramodya and Rtr. Kithmee De Silva and the Organizing Committee for a job well done.
By Dinithi Hemachandra
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