A distinguished Human Resources professional, Muneshwari Sayal Rao is contributing to Fiji’s corporate and organizational landscape, leveraging her extensive experience in people management, culture-building, and leadership development.
Throughout her career, Rao has navigated teams through significant periods of change such as restructures, shifts in leadership direction, and the introduction of new systems and performance expectations.
During these transitions, she played a pivotal role in guiding staff through uncertainty, strengthening communication, clarifying evolving priorities, and ensuring teams had the capability and support to adapt.
She acted as the bridge between strategy and people, translating decisions into clear guidance, providing coaching to managers, and maintaining stability during disruption. Her steady, values-based leadership helped teams stay focused, resilient, and aligned through even the most demanding phases of change
Her steady, values-based leadership helped teams stay focused, resilient, and aligned through even the most demanding phases of change.
My journey in Human Resources has always been guided by a deep belief that people are at the heart of every successful organization. From supporting HR operations to leading workforce development programs and performance transformations, I’ve seen first-hand how strong, values-based leadership can transform workplaces, empower communities, and build the human capital that drives Fiji and the Pacific forward.
In my roles, this has meant strengthening performance systems, lifting staff capability, and creating work cultures where people feel safe, supported and motivated to grow. I have helped teams move from uncertainty to clarity, from low confidence to active leadership, and from fragmented processes to aligned, accountable ways of working.
The most rewarding impact has been seeing individuals gain new skills, step into higher responsibilities, and deliver better services to the communities they serve, proof that when people are empowered, organizations and communities rise with them.
Having graduated from The University of the South Pacific (USP) with a double major in Management & Public Administration and International Business & Marketing, Rao decided to invest in further education through the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.
I want to go beyond HR and understand the bigger picture of business strategy. USP’s MBA program, with its focus on real-world learning and Pacific-centric perspectives, has been instrumental in helping me connect my HR experience with strategic, analytical, and critical thinking. It has strengthened my confidence to approach challenges differently and lead with a broader business mindset
Rao said.
Looking ahead, Rao aims to transition into senior executive leadership roles, where she can influence organizational culture, drive strategy, and develop people-centric policies that foster growth and innovation.
For those planning to upskill their qualifications, Rao’s advice is to invest in your education as it is an investment in your future.
USP also offers a diverse range of undergraduate programs across six schools and two centers, spanning the fields of business, science, technology, law, education, agriculture, environment, and the arts.
If you’re a degree holder and hoping to pursue your Master’s in Business Administration, this is your chance to join our internationally AMBA accredited MBA Program. Application closes 31 December, 2026.
Submit your applications via www.usp.ac.fj/apply