‘Show up and get it done’

A SUCCESSFUL woman is one who can build a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at her, and the perfect example of such a woman is Kerensa Gravesande-Bart, popularly known as ‘Kerri.’

Kerri, like many young children, grew up with her grandparents and was surrounded by what she described as some of the most brilliant women in her life.
“My maternal grandmother and aunts taught me everything about church and being a lady. Their lessons are forever entrenched. How a lady sits, talks and walks. I truly believe their wide range of career paths has also impacted me — from certified electrician to chemist to medical technology to banker to deaconess,” she explained.

Kerri told this week’s Pepperpot Magazine that it was the pivotal role her grandparents and aunts played in her life that made her into the woman she is today.
A holder of many professional hats, Kerri is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the only ISO 9001-2015 and Trace Certified stand-alone Recruitment Firm in Guyana, Strategic Recruitment Solutions Inc (SRSGY). As the company’s originating founder, Kerri serves as Chair of the Board of Directors with executive responsibilities for the company’s overall operations, business development, and financial management. Her role also extends to risk management, contract negotiations, human resources, and the oversight of all corporate and employee policies and benefits.

Outside of her professional life, Kerri is a firm believer and advocate for women’s rights and equity and lives by the mantra that women and girls can be and do whatever they put their minds to.
She is also one of the cofounders of Guyana’s first Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCIG).

Speaking on the topic of fighting for women to be treated fairly, she said, “We should be fighting for equity; there is no way we will ever be equal to a man or equal in a man’s world or a man could be equal to us, they can’t give birth and we can’t do certain things, so really and truly we should be fighting for gender equity.”

She told the Pepperpot magazine, that the topic and discussion of equity became somewhat the light bulb that led to the birth of the creation of the WCCIG.
“That was the drive behind it, women getting finance here in our country for their businesses, women being able to access procurement opportunities as well as networking opportunities and it’s a challenge,” she said.

She stated that there is an unspoken and unconscious bias with regard to opportunities that are afforded to men, seeing many times too often women not being treated fairly, especially as it relates to finances and business.

“Sometimes we are asked do you know to write a proposal, sometimes these are not a questions a man will be asked but we will be asked. Our competence is forever in question; we get into the boardroom and it is thought that we are there to make coffee or take notes, so there is a need for women to step up, represent themselves, educate themselves and get themselves in the right networking group,” she said.

She stated that the goal is to see gender equity prevail, to allow for young women and girls afforded the same opportunities in fields which are considered to be dominated by males. “Gender equity is ensuring that the opportunities that are provided to men, that these same opportunities are provided to women, that it is fair and it is without being prejudiced biased or sexist,” she highlighted. “We can’t ask for them to be equal to us or for us to be equal to them, we can’t be equal, we could never be equal but we can ask for fairness and the same opportunities to be afforded to us.”

When asked what message she’d like to share with the scores of women and girls across the country, she said, “Little girls you are your ancestor’s wildest dreams, think about what your ancestor would be thinking about you now putting your dreams into action. Do not ever limit yourself and do not ever let anybody tell [you] that you cannot do it, show up and get it done.”
The businesswoman noted that while she has been thriving in her career, her biggest achievement is being an inspiration to her 18-year-old daughter and other young girls across the country.