Doing it Her way
THE Pre-International Women’s Day Conference held Sunday at AC Hotel Kingston showcased corporate women making strides in their respective industries.
The event, held under the theme ‘Doing it Her Way’, featured eight women who shared the formula for being successful in corporate Jamaica.
Speaker and managing director of Jamaica Stock Exchange Dr Marlene Street Forrest recalled how she landed in the business field, since she had initially decided to apply to The University of the West Indies’ (UWI) sociology programme.
Street Forrest said when she was about to leave high school her sister encouraged her to seek higher education, and as a result of her love for helping others she had decided to pursue a sociology degree.
“I was not sure what I really wanted to do, and although I was a shy 17-year-old my desire was to quietly help people elevate their lives. I’ve also had the desire to ponder on how or what I could donate to the success of my country, my family, and even myself. In essence, what was my purpose?” Street Forrest said.
“I know that whatever it was, it must be well done and that I had to work hard for it,” she continued, adding that while she was in the line at UWI to register, a staff member said to her, “Why is a young girl like you applying to do sociology?” as most people pursuing that course were older.
Street Forrest said, without pausing to get her answer the woman urged her to register for a bachelor’s degree in management studies. “I said, ‘Okay’.”
I left the line and left to register for a degree in management studies. Again, I listened,” Street Forrest stated.
Furthermore, Street Forrest said she found that there is power in listening right throughout your professional journey because, “it builds relationships, as your colleagues and those who ultimately decide on your promotional growth appreciate that you value and respect them”.
“Do not overlook your small gains, but celebrate them as you would the big wins,” Street Forrest advised.
The managing director, however, urged parents to find a balance between their career and family.
Recalling when she was working as a lecturer and juggling her other professional obligations, the mother of two said her daughters would often ask her to “return with a treat for them” only when she had her lecturing duties.
“I have not always balanced careers and family well… I recognised that the treat was a substitute for my attention. I rearranged my schedule. They did not verbalise it but it was there — that I wanted attention or, in exchange, I wanted a treat. So you have to listen to your family, and you have to listen to what they say or they do not say,” Street Forrest explained.
“You have to carve out a special time when you interact with your children… it is also what you want for your children [and] your family. I have not done it the best way but there is wisdom, and persons can learn from them,” Street Forrest continued.
At the same time the head of sales, marketing, and corporate communications at Lake Group of Companies, Sabrena McDonald Radcliffe echoed Street Forrest’s comments. Revealing that she was afraid to stand out, McDonald Radcliffe shared an experience when she was about 22 years old, during a team-building activity, when a colleague wrote on a piece of paper anonymously, they can make the company better by making it “less Sabrena-centric”.
“Everybody was shocked. I internationalised that for 14 years,” she said.
This, McDonald Radcliffe said, caused her to instantly retreat into herself and to fear standing out. However she said she was able to overcome this fear when she wrote her book, I am not afraid of me any more.
“We limit ourselves often because of what people perceive us [to be], and we don’t live full out — an’ me nah go dead an’ nuh live full out!” McDonald Radcliff declared.
Additionally, Citi Country Officer, Eva Lewis spoke about women being confident in their femininity.
“I think a lot of women are taught not to show their vulnerability, and I think you would need to understand that your vulnerability is your strength,” she began, adding that when women try to be like men this may not work to their benefit.
“We must be confident in our own femininity and confident in the things that we bring to the table. We do things differently; it’s not about better, it’s about differently. We need to own our womanhood rather than having to overcompensate or having to explain why we are just as good,” Lewis said.
The event was organised by the Women’s leadership Initiative, which is a progression of the United Way Women’s Leadership Initiative and “building bridges” exchange launched by former Ambassador of the United States to Jamaica Sue Cobb in 2004. International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8.