Mrs Sarojini Padmanathan, 63, a multi-faceted woman was appointed as the first woman CEO of the Hindu Endowments Board. She having served in the various community roles, in this exclusive interview (part two) to Sing-Ind Voice, Mrs Sarojini shares on the key principles for her successful career.
1. What are your key principles of success?
In essence, success comes from clarity of purpose, thoughtful planning, disciplined time management, and a realistic approach to achievement—while nurturing both self and family along the way.
2. Your one principle that has taken you thus far…
The one principle I firmly believe in is having an achievement-oriented mindset, guided by strong values and discipline. This has always been my personal mantra: set your mind on a goal and go after it. The journey will not always be easy. There will be challenges and moments of doubt. But when you remain focused and principled, pathways begin to emerge and doors open along the way. What matters most is staying true to your plan, moving forward with determination, and not being discouraged by difficulties. My mantra is simple and enduring: be focused, be steadfast, and go get it done.
3. As a first female CEO of HEB, what is your key focus now?
Yes, I am the first female CEO of the Hindu Endowments Board. I believe the primary contributory factor to this appointment is leadership.
4. What is your take on leadership?
Leadership is fundamentally about clarity—being clear about what needs to be done, having a sound strategy to achieve it, and ensuring disciplined execution.
My 40 years in the public service have equipped me with strong leadership capabilities through extensive training, practice, and exposure. This experience has shaped my ability to plan effectively, deliver outcomes, and regularly review my own performance to ensure accountability and continuous improvement. These are essential competencies in any leadership role, and they have been deeply ingrained through my public service journey.
5. What have you got to say on your involvement with the community?
The secondary contributory factor is my long-standing involvement in the community. I have been actively engaged in the social, community, and people sectors for many years. Through this work, I have built trust and familiarity within the community, and I believe this grounding has made me well-suited for a role that requires both leadership and deep community understanding.
In summary, it is the combination of strong leadership training and meaningful community engagement that has enabled me to take on this role with confidence and purpose.
6. Who is your role model?
My role model is my mother. She has been a constant source of encouragement throughout my life, always urging me to pursue the education and professional certifications I needed at every stage of my career.
Beyond academics, she taught me the courage to take on challenging responsibilities, the discipline of time management, and the ability to remain calm and focused even when time was limited and many demands competed for attention. Her strength, resilience, and quiet determination shaped the way I approach both work and life.
She has been my primary motivator, and I truly believe that her guidance and values have played a defining role in who I am and where I am today.
7. So how have you been recognised for your efforts?
I am deeply honoured to have received several accolades in recognition of my service, including those from the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Tamil Representative Council, among others.
8. Is there anything more that you would like to share with our readers…
All of us are given certain resources in life—our aspirations, our families, our backgrounds, the people we work with, our supervisors, and the leaders we look up to. Each person we encounter teaches us a lesson and offers a perspective that helps shape us into more wholesome and grounded individuals.
Every day is an opportunity to learn. Growth is a continuous journey, and development and growth go hand in hand. When we set our intentions towards learning, growing, helping others, and contributing meaningfully, doors will open—regardless of how difficult or straightforward the task before us may seem.
In doing so, we become better prepared to embrace the opportunities that come our way and to carry out the responsibilities entrusted to us with purpose and integrity. What matters most is to remain focused in whatever we do.
At the same time, we should always remember those who have supported us along our journey. Acknowledge them with gratitude, and in turn, pay it forward by helping others. That, to me, is the true measure of growth and leadership.