Praveeni Perera

“I like to think of etiquette and manners as kindness personified. We provide companies with cultural intelligence so that they can have a successful business relationship,” says Praveeni Perera, one of the founding partners of Professional Edge Consulting. Venturing into the path less taken, she set about to establish this Corporate Training Company in Ottawa, Canada, which focuses on cultural intelligence, international protocol and business etiquette.

Having originally set off to study medicine doing her Bachelors in the field of Biology she switched paths when developing an interest in intercultural relations and cultural intelligence which she was exposed to while working on the sideline on an international development project focused on South Asia and Africa.  Going on to Business School she did her MBA in International Business and is also a certified International Protocol and Corporate Etiquette Consultant.

“I like to think of a company as bridging the culture gap,” she says regarding her pursuit of this field. “We like to focus more on building the relationship.” Speaking of her experiences in spreading corporate training globally she said, “In North America time is money, they are very driven and they have a goal and only that goal. In Asia, South Asia we are more of a collectivist society, we like to build a relationship with somebody, we like to trust them before we get on with our business agendas.”

The reason behind the inception of such a company came about when she realized the immense need for such training especially with regard to protocol and cultural intelligence. “I know that when people hear the word etiquette they just think it’s frivolous or merely manners or something, but you don’t realize until you’re sitting in a board room and somebody shakes your hand and you think, okay that wasn’t a great handshake.” She spoke of how etiquette was very psychological and how the accepted ways of behaviour change based on culture. “For instance in North America we don’t eat with our hands, but if we were to tell them that we eat with our hands here in Sri Lanka they might think it’s okay to eat with both hands which becomes a laughing matter...so it plays quite a big role.”

The formal training this company provides is well suited for corporations that are planning to expand globally, in order to understand the business environment as well as the cultural environment of nations they hope to do business with. They also conduct training programmes for private sector clients on basic business etiquette, relations etc.

As a young female CEO her obstacles were numerous in this man-centric field. “It’s all about breaking down the stereotypes. Lots of women think in order to succeed in business you have to think like a man and act like a man and I really don’t like that at all!” She firmly believes that you can be feminine and that you can have all your commitments towards your husband, children or parents and still be successful.”You don’t have to be perceived as intimidating or try to be or think like a man.”

She also conveyed common notions among people of how female CEOs should be really tough or really ruthless or how if you show a little bit of emotion you are condemned with the words ‘Oh she’s a woman!’ She agrees to the fact that she’s a woman and likes being feminine, however staunchly claims “But I still have the same business acumen and I’m not going to act like a man in order to succeed in this field.”

Sri Lanka is yet approaching the idea of business etiquette and protocol. She conveyed the lack of understanding among Lankans, towards the importance of those who were professionally qualified and certified to impart this type of training. “There are quite a lot of flight attendants who have done etiquette training, but the question is, are they really qualified in business etiquette?” She also emphasized on the specificities of business etiquette and protocol rather than training on overall aspects such as personality development. On a positive note she spoke of the eagerness in people to learn and their openness to knowledge as opposed to North America which she found mainly held a ‘We know everything policy’.

Praveeni Perera also recently launched a book both in Canada and Sri Lanka titled “Cocktails & Conversations - a guide to networking” which was inspired by a programme she conducted at her company, Professional Edge Consulting in which people would attend a workshop and thereafter a cocktail where they were able to use their knowledge right away. This well received workshop encouraged her to convey this knowledge to a broader audience which led to the publication of this book. “What I like about this book is that, as I am a busy person I don’t have time to sit down and sift through a 300 or even 200 paged book. My book being only 100 pages acts as a quick go to guide rather than an anthology,” she claims.

As a high achiever in the field of business she remains intrinsically motivated. “I’ve always been very driven and I’ve always liked to work towards a goal and keep myself busy. I know a lot of people tell me it must be stressful for you to be so busy, but I get stressed out when I have nothing to do,” laughingly stating “I guess I have a high need to achieve.”

She also states that she tries to follow the Golden Rule which has played a large role in her business relations and holds a very appealing thought that “Your mood shouldn’t determine your manners.”  

She’s not just a business woman, Praveeni Perera loves to volunteer and sits on the board of directors for the Immigrant Women’s Association that works with immigrant women and children who have become victims of abuse. She is also involved in the SPROTT MBA Alumni Board, her alma mater that shapes the MBA Programme of the Business School. Writing being one of her passions she runs a lifestyle etiquette blog for women quipped with interesting facts and figures.

Her future plans include writing and publishing of her second book, and she hopes to test the waters and expand globally. “You need to own the fact that you’re a woman and not look at it as a disadvantage, rather consider it an advantage. Business is a man’s world, but you don’t have to be a man to succeed in it and there are so many women even in Sri Lanka who are a great testament to that,” was her piece of advice to all the working women out there.

By Sindhu Ratnarajan