"Dear Jelisa, good afternoon to you. When we received recommendation from our principal, we were thrilled due to we have seen you lately in one live-streaming session. Well, to begin with, please tell us more about yourself; who is Jelisa Shanjana?"
/In a nutshell, I can tell that I am someone who is extremely independent and it greatly reflects upon my lifelong journey. I have always had this soft corner for communicating with people, the joy of meeting people from different walks of life, it just gives much delight to be able to do so, which clearly explains my passion for hosting despite hailing from a field that requires a sterner look on set- Jelisa is a person that never needs help with finishing her sentences! I like putting it this way.
"As the law graduate, you have chosen different path into becoming TV programme host. "Legal practice turned into TV host..." Why are you shifting your career? Is it due to personal factors?"
/Well, law to TV, it is heavily due to my passion towards hosting. Having been a peoples’ person all along, it has greatly influenced me that eventually, this is the spot-on career path which would bring ultimate happiness like no other. Also, being a firm believer of education, I always believed in making sure one should be well read and- it’s not just going to be about having a pretty face. As much as I love answering this question, I think a lot of people should have that gumption in them to learn and explore what is out there for them. Life should be about taking different risks.
"You have hosted numerous LIVE events. Please share with us the experience as we all know standing in front of the camera could be "Scopophobia" to most people; "Camera-Shy"; what causes camera shyness and how to overcome the fear being on camera?"
/A lot of people have this assumption, you have to be confident and only then you can speak.. I don't think that is enough. I think effort; negating fear in one’s mind makes a larger difference. Once you conquer that, nothing can come in your way. I was very blessed to have good mentors training me but I must say, if one can put in enough effort, be it into research, study different styles of hosting, understanding your strengths and weaknesses, these factors make alot of difference and that has truly helped me along the way.
"On behalf of the audience, any particular events you have hosted since then deemed unforgettable ones? Please share with us the specific events."
/I am truly blessed and thankful as I have had quite a number of memorable events that I have hosted in the past. To name a few, namely anchor of Season One of Bollywood Express show on Astro; pitch side host covering pre-match interviews to analysis of post matches of Malaysian football on TV9, Seagames Malaysia was fun too being one of the official emcees for the nation. For all the memorable events throughout my career, it always brought me joy seeing my mum happy. That has always been the benchmark for me! If she is happy watching me, then I know I'm fine. *Wink*
"Shopee is one of the leading marketplace platforms in Malaysia. Malaysian are definitely familiar with the marketplace. How does the affiliation come about between you and the Principal? Please tell us more about the affiliation."
/I decided to get into E-Commerce as I strongly believe, it is such a powerful market to be part of especially in this pandemic. Being an in-house host on this platform, it opened up a lot of doors for me with multinational companies. People have this assumption, why host on an app? The way I look at it- it is about mastering the art of selling ice to an eskimo. That is something a good host can do. I absolutely enjoy Shopee Malaysia and I am proud to say, their numbers have been excellent in terms of sales as well as viewership.
"What is your vision and upcoming plans moving forward in year 2021? How can the brand owners reach out to you?"
/My plans for the future; I wish to continue learning, exploring and most importantly, to get better at what I currently do. I wish to tap into the international market and perhaps sharpen my skills as a presenter.