Dyana Hanni has worn many hats throughout the journey of her career. Her secret? Embrace the change.
Hi Dyana! Let’s start with an intro. Who is Dyana Hanni? :)
Hello! I am a work-in-progress. A small-town girl with a big dream.
Can you share with us what you do for a living?
I am a culture manager at airasia. My team and I are focused on developing and fostering a desired culture that helps airasia allstars contribute and collaborate at their full potential.
We know that your working landscape has changed tremendously, how has that affected your drive?
The airline industry has been hit extremely hard by the Covid-19 crisis. Many of us are still learning to live with an ambient thrum of stress, anxiety, fear, grief and anger. Myself included. Firstly, I cut myself some slack. I take time for self-care and self-compassion.
Appreciate that nobody is operating at 100% of their full capacity. We’re all doing the best we can. Instead of vaguely promising myself that I'll stay focused or be productive, I'll decide exactly what I want to do. Whether it’s working on a task for 30 minutes or get one assignment done by the end of the day. Having a daily specific goal is what drives me and keeps me going.
What's the one common misconception that people might have about you?
I think people often see me as someone who is extroverted. But the truth is, I am neither an extrovert nor an introvert. My personality doesn’t lean in either direction. I fall somewhere in the middle. I am an ambivert. I can perform tasks alone or in a group. I don’t have much preference either way. Social settings don’t make me uncomfortable, but I get tired of being around people too much. If I am talking about a subject I know a lot about, I’m happy to chime in but if there is a subject I know nothing about, I’m totally OK just sitting there listening and not saying a word.
What is the most empowering thing about being in your field?
I think the most empowering and rewarding part of my career is being able to help others tap into their skills sets, watching them advance, but also learning from them. “It’s better to give than receive” is more than just an old adage to live by. It’s one to consider working by, too, despite our me-centric world.
You've had such an amazing career under your belt! Was there any setback that you encountered? If so, how did you tackle it?
I was working in Jakarta for three years. I didn’t know anyone and I don’t speak Bahasa Indonesia. The first six months were the hardest because I was alone away from my husband and my family. I began by learning their language and understanding their culture. From there on, I made a lot of friends who I consider as a family today. They became my support system. Always assume good intentions from others and treat people with respect.
What's one tip for someone looking to change their career path?
Change is difficult but career change is necessary for both personal and professional growth. My background is communication. Throughout my career, I have done lecturing, training, sales, branding and marketing, in education, telco and tech industry. I am currently in human resource. When we find comfort in anything, be it a job or a relationship, there tends to be a period of time where individuals use that moment to coast. Don’t stay in your comfort zone. The world is advancing at a very fast pace. So, ask yourself:
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What is your current job satisfaction?
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Does it align with your areas of interest?
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Does this role enable the lifestyle that you want?
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Are there certain professionals you admire and want to be like one day?
That day may never come if you stagnate in the same job. Learn to anticipate and respond to rapidly changing conditions. When you embrace the change, you will see immense personal growth. Make that move.
Everyone has their own way of finding comfort. What is your form of self-care?
Pre-pandemic, travelling was one of them. It is the most enlightening and fun form of self-care. At the moment, learning how to bake my favourite desserts, watching a documentary, or going on a Wikipedia dive into the making of my favourite TV show is my favourite form of intellectual self-care. Learning something new can recharge your brain and make you feel excited about not knowing everything. We need to feel that we continue growing, even while experiencing the stagnation caused by the pandemic.
Do you remember the first time that you felt like an adult?
The day I filed my own taxes haha
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