Rita Chandarana is regarded as one of the rising stars of the Events Industry. She is an experienced Commercial Director in the Industry with particular interest in Operations, Strategic planning and Logistics. Having successfully developed strategies and plans for 4 Start-up Events Companies with year on year growth in sales and profit. She has strong experience in Project Management, Event Management and Conference Planning.
Rita is currently the Operations Director at Eventologists in Leicester since the past 8 years. As well as the Managing Director for Maz of Leicester for the past 14 years. She spent a while completely transforming and rebranding the Company, making the business one of the most respected and sought after brands in the luxury wedding industry.
Rita started her career as a Strategic Planning Manager for Merry Hill and Chelsfield PLC, where she was responsible for the planning, research and development of business and marketing strategies for various projects. She also held the position of Director at Pharmatologists Ltd.
Rita has a degree in Business Information Systems from Nottingham Trent University.
1) Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?
Home for me is where I was born which is the City of Leicester. It’s a lovely city full of vibrancy and fraternity. Whilst it is a city, it’s not too big, over-crowded and soul-less like many cities have become and the countryside is beautiful too. That said I love spending holidays and time away in Italy. I feel very comfortable almost anywhere in Italy.
2) What are your proudest achievements?
My proudest achievement has been the work I have done in transforming and re-energising the companies I have worked at during my career to make them great brands that customers and suppliers want to work with as well having a great reputation within the industries that they operate in.
3) What inspires you?
Honour and integrity is probably the single quality I look for in friends, colleagues and people I do business with – Working cleanly and honestly is very important to me. I also admire people who have tenacity and who don’t fold or moan when adversity strikes. People who think out of the box inspire me a lot but being true to your word and fair in both business and their personal life is most important to me.
4) What has been biggest obstacle in your career?
I am incredibly driven and want to achieve a lot but I am calculated and strategic with it. I do everything even if I don’t like it or enjoy it with passion, determination, attention to detail and pride. I have learnt that not everyone has the same enthusiasm as me, which always slows progress. I also learnt that people don’t always see what I see of a situation/ circumstance, whilst opinions count, this can be a huge obstacle as a leader.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
There’s actually not one single person who I can say has been my influence because I admire different people for different qualities. Certainly my old Managers have moulded me to be able to manage anything that gets thrown at me – multi-tasking and working at the speed of light whilst digesting all key salient points is key to my job - I am eternally grateful to anyone who has helped me to develop over the years.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
My job is so varied and fun. No one day is the same – it’s fast paced, exciting and exhilarating and certainly challenges the grey matter! It doesn’t even feel like a job – it’s what I love to do. I work with some incredible people who are my friends and family at work and they make me smile every day. I am very lucky to have such a great role.
7) And the worst?
There’s not a worst – I wouldn’t be doing this if there was a worst. Every job has elements that they do not enjoy but that’s life. You shouldn’t be doing anything that you consistently hate.
8) What are your long term goals?
To continue to work on businesses and with people that inspire and challenge me every day and deliver work that I can be totally proud of having given 100% of my best at it.
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
I’d run the country like a business, stop the procrastination and get on with the work at hand. There’s too much resource wasted on analysing things that are obviously wrong in the first place and just need some clear decision making with actions implemented a lot quicker. Being productive makes people proud of their achievements and pride is what we lack. Let’s give pride back to the country having achieved more – it will be a happier place to live and work!
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why.
My days would be spent with Albert Einstein – we’d keep busy learning new things and exploring new theories that could change the world. However my evenings, I’d spend my down time with Buddha who can ensure that I stay calm and happy on the desert Island.
