_Exceptional Woman: Meet Kamini Palany

Kamini Palany has been part of Knight Frank Malaysia for nine years. Kamini began her career with us in April 2013 as a manager in corporate services. She joined knight Frank because of our excellent leadership and culture, and she saw a fantastic opportunity to progress. Recently promoted to director, Kamini is currently in charge of landlord representation.

The editorial team has spent some time with Kamini to get to know her and understand why she has been nominated Exceptional Woman of the Year!

How do you ensure you bring your best every day?

Kamini Palany: By remaining focused, positive, and motivated, and most importantly, by loving what I do, be it at work or in my personal life, I put my heart to it. I always remind myself to face challenges with open arms and never give up when things get tough.

I attempt to strike a work-life balance between professional and personal life which is not always easy. However, self-care is vital when balancing multiple duties as a working parent. Most importantly, I celebrate each accomplishment and look forward to the next.

How do you contribute to a more inclusive environment in the workplace?

KP: I believe in leading by example - being the person you wish to see people become. As a leader, it is my responsibility to foster a safe and inclusive environment for my team by giving them an equal opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and encouraging them to step outside of their comfort zones. Always be supportive of one another, regardless of gender, position, ethnicity, or other factors. During meetings, I urge my teammates to speak out and express their views. I also remind myself to recognise their accomplishments and strengths. Another important factor is empathy; I listen to my teammates with an open mind, try to put myself in their position, and not passing judgement; instead, I support and celebrate their differences. We are all distinct and unique in our own ways, and there is a lot we can learn from each other and use to our advantage. Lastly, it is critical that my team feels free to speak up when they need to.

How do you contribute to your community?

KP: There are many challenges that working women face given the multiple roles they play professionally and personally. This is why women must champion each other and not compete. Equality must begin within. We must stay open, recognising and appreciating each other's achievements, giving and receiving good feedback to help each other improve and flourish. Most importantly, we must look out for each other and encourage everyone to speak up and be heard. Sisterhood encourages women to achieve continuous success in the workplace. 

Relating to this year’s Women International day theme #BreakTheBias, how do you think you could contribute to breaking the bias?

KP: I will continue to encourage young women to be authentic and remind them that they should never compare themselves with one another. It is important to give them the courage to speak up when they have any thoughts or views and stand their ground when being challenged. They should not be afraid to dream big and step out of their comfort zone. They need to be bold enough to grab and ask for opportunities in any form and take a few risks along the way to build more confidence. Nothing is more beautiful than a confident woman. Most importantly we should all remember to celebrate every success and strive for more.