Since childhood, Salaseini Narara has always dreamt of holding a senior management role in any company.

This dream combined with her life experiences, the 54 year – old from Nasolo, Ba was driven to achieve this dream.

And she has achieved her dream as she is the branch manager for MaxVal-u supermarket in Ba.

Mrs Narara completed her primary education at Ratu Rusiate Nabuta Memorial School while her secondary education was at Ba Methodist High School.

Her journey at MaxValu supermarket started in November 22, 1988 when she first started as a cashier.

“I was 20 years – old at the time and was looking for a job to help my parents.”

“I was actually supposed to continue my studies at the Fiji Institute of Technology (now Fiji National University) but then I didn’t want to
study so I started looking for a job.”

“I then found a job at the MH supermarket here in Ba as a cashier and was so happy to have gotten the job because at the time, MH supermarket was one of the biggest and well known supermarkets so I was proud,” she said.

Since joining in 1988, Ms Narara has worked in various areas and department.

In 1991, Mrs Narara was transferred to the Labasa branch working as a cashier for 10 years.

Later in the year 2000, she was transferred to the Tavua branch where she was also a cashier for a few months before returning to the Ba branch.

“I was based at the Ba branch for a few years until in 2008 when I was transferred to the Lautoka branch. In September 2009, I returned at the Ba branch where I was approached by the then area manager for me to take up an assistant manager role.

“There was some discussion with our manager, and much thought with my family, I was then appointed in 2019 as the branch manager for the MaxVal-u supermarket in Ba,” she said.

Since holding management role, Mrs Narara has had to look after the daily operations of the supermarket and its 33 staff.

Her daily operations involved checking stock availability, achieving daily target sales, hygiene, daily stock take and checking on customer services provided by the staff.

She said it was important to keep tabs on everything in the shop because it reflected on her role as the branch manager.

“I believe I am the first Fijian lady to manage the Ba branch because I have received so much positive feedback from customers when they see me in the supermarket.”

“It was always been my dream to hold such a senior role and I achieved it through hardwork and perseverance,” Mrs Narara said.

Mrs Narara hopes that her story would inspire other women that to challenge themselves in their area of expertise.

She said women holding management roles should not be something new but normalized as someone’s achievement.

“Women are good at being leaders because they have better judgment and they think of everyone’s welfare when it comes to decision making.”

“So I would say that women are just as good as men when it comes to leadership roles and I fully support any women who strives to make a living,” she said.

Feedback: laiseana.nasiga@fijisun.com.fj