Shreejana Rana is one hotelier who distinguishes herself from many others in a variety of respects. As Director CSR and R&D of Hotel de lâ Annapurna, which is doing reasonably well as a hospitality entity, she believes,Survival is not enough, we need to get better. This very go-getter attitude of hers has resulted in the hotel's massive renovation and upgradation endeavours of late. I am working hard and giving it all I have to ensure that my hotel lives up to its much revered tagline No. 1 Address in Kathmandu, she confides. Rana thinks it is best to take her chances nowbring back the glory of yesteryears and make a premium 5-star property out of the hotel that it once was, rather than wait endlessly hoping for perfect conditions to make investments.

Born to Late Kiranendu Malla and Late Kendra R L Malla, she lost her father when she was barely two-years-old. Rana credits her mother, widowed at the young age of 21, for single-handedly raising her younger brother and herself. She says, My mother's courage, hard work and the love she bestowed upon us, despite numerous challenges, have inspired me to respect and uphold family values.While admitting that she had a privileged upbringing which included the best schooling one could think of, Rana led a simple life with plenty of values and discipline her family instilled in her. In those days, rules were made by the parents and never questioned, she elucidates.

An alumnus of St Mary's High School in Jawalakhel, she finished high school from Cambrian Hall, one of India's premier private schools located in Dehradun. Immediately afterwards, she got an opportunity to train with the ITC Welcome Group for five years in the early 1990s. And it was during her learn-onthe- job stint with the ITC when she came across Kapil SJB Rana, a dashing hotel heir who had just returned from England after completing his studies. I helped him get acquainted with Nepali customs as he had practically lived his entire life abroad and knew little about Nepal,she blushes reminiscing her early courtship days. As fate would have it, she was to marry him in due course of time. My family was happy about it and supported my decision wholeheartedly,she shares.

A very ambitious person, by her own admission, Rana also has a soft corner which has led her to being a social entrepreneur. She is a firm believer in empowering women through entrepreneurship and an ardent supporter of fight against heart diseases. While she believes that success is absolutely important and intends to leave no stone unturned to achieve it, she also has the heart to think about people who are less fortunate and wants to give back to the society. Early into her professional career, she dabbled as a fashion entrepreneur with her boutique Image Fashion House at Durbarmarg.

We were involved in organising the 1st Miss Nepal pageant and managed costumes and choreography part of the event,she tells excitedly. Being an emotional person since a young age, social work came naturally to Rana. She is associated with a number of organisations to help fulfill her social responsibilities. Her social undertakings include associations with Jayanti Memorial Trust (JMT), Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal (WEAN), SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneurs Council (SCWEC), Association of St Maryâ's Alumnae Nepal (ASMAN),

Burn Violence Survivors Nepal (BVS-N) and Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal (FWEAN) among others. I believe in getting women trained and educated to empower them rather than spoiling them with cash money. It is more important to guarantee how money gets utilised, she says. And then adds, If corporate entities in Nepal are only seen making money but not giving back anything to the society, it will be difficult to survive in the long run. As the gap between haves and havenots widen further, social tensions that Nepal already suffers from will reach an unprecedented high. Having lost her father at a time when she was just about starting to know him, left a deep impact on Rana's psyche.

Hence, she wants to make sure that her two children 13-year-old daughter Keshya Rana and 6-year-old son Satyajot Rana receive the best parentage, My husband and I want to give them the best of both parents and family values. She aspires to give her children quality education and exposure so that they can grow up as capable individuals and stand on their own feet. They must equip themselves and prove their worth. I don't want them to take the family legacy for granted, she elaborates. Rana further assures that Keshya, a boarder of all-girls Downe House School at Berkshire in England, and Satyajot, a student of British Primary School in Kathmandu, will be free to chart their own career courses and won't be pressurised to join the family business. While agreeing that she is very content as a person, Rana wishes her mother was alive today to see her treading a successful trail.

How I wish I could spend more time with her,she gets a tad emotional. Growing up in a close knit family and a comfortable set up, she has never let her affluent background go to her head. She philosophises, I have been very fortunate with my wants and desires so it has been smooth sailing all along with no major regrets whatsoever. A house-proud person, she sees to it that her children eat at home whenever they are around. She believes that her husband, as a thinker, is the right kind of motivation she has in life,He has always been my backbone and encouraged me to move ahead. Just when I thought I knew her well enough by now,

Rana narrated an anecdote to me, which she says was an eye-opener of sorts for her.Due to my penchant for seeking women rights, my husband once wondered if he has deprived me of anything in life. It made me wake up to a realisation that I need to be more sensitive towards people who are dearest to me, she recounts. A complete believer in putting her time to good use, Rana signs off on a defining note,I have to constantly work towards ensuring that I am worth my being which makes it all the more important for me to have my own identity.