– GBTI’s new CEO
Welcome to Pepperpot Personalities, a new monthly segment that will uncover the vibrant and multifaceted lives of esteemed individuals from Guyana, the Caribbean, and beyond. While the public eye often focuses on the professional achievements of these personalities, Pepperpot Personalities offers a refreshing perspective, delving into the nuances of their personal narratives. Through intimate interviews, insightful profiles, and candid snapshots, we aim to reveal the diverse layers that define these individuals beyond their public personas. [Separate text]

SHAWN Nathanael Gurcharran is the epitome of success in the finance industry. An accomplished leader, banker and financial expert with over 20 years of experience, his appointment earlier this month as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) is just one more impressive feat, and that too, at just the age of 43!

When he was interviewed 14 years ago for a job at GBTI, Gurcharran can still remember the look on the face of the then Human Resources Manager when she asked him what his ultimate ambition was, and he responded that it was being CEO of the bank one day. Taken aback somewhat by his response, she must be smiling today if she’s reading this.

Gurcharran would never agree with those who think that with youth comes failure. In fact, he says the formula for success is quite simple and is one that he has tested and proven repeatedly. “There is really no magic formula other than to be disciplined, work hard, and have faith in God. I have tried and tested that over the years and it still works.”

Humble beginnings

Born and raised at Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, he surely did not have everything handed to him. His parents, Roy and Sarojini Gurcharran, worked diligently to care for him and his three brothers Jim, Rajesh and Roger.

In an interview with Pepperpot Magazine, he shared: “My parents both did very hard-working jobs. Back then, my mom had to leave school to help look after her younger siblings and my father had a similar situation. My dad worked very hard; cattle farming isn’t easy. I’ve seen him work and sweat; literally blood, sweat and tears to take care of the animals we had so that we can have that better life that they desired.”

Even though they did not have the best educational backgrounds, Gurcharran’s parents understood the value of education and would not compromise when it came to ensuring that the children got the best of it. Even though he loved cricket, Gurcharran remembers his mom forbidding him just so that he could focus on getting a good education.

“My mom did what was necessary,” he said. “She was a part-time seamstress; I always remembered that when it was around school time, she would work very late into the night to do uniforms and that sort of thing to get some extra money so we could have gotten that education we all needed.”
Having migrated some 20 years ago, his parents are undoubtedly proud of all of their children today.

School days

Gurcharran attended St. Paul’s Primary in Plaisance, a neighbouring village. “I’m very proud of that; it really gave me a good sense of living and working,” he said. Coming out as the top student, he pressed on to Queen’s College, even as it was difficult for a young ‘country boy’ to adjust to school in Georgetown.

He did well in the Science subjects, but one of his brothers was studying to be an accountant, and that greatly influenced him. So when he chose to pursue the business subjects, some of the Science teachers were disappointed. Again, doing well at CXC and ‘A’ Levels, Gurcharran started working at Jack Ali, an auditing company.

With his disciplined background kicking in, he decided he’d work and study. Although difficult, he invested his money in education. “I finished ACCA pretty quickly,” he recalls, adding, “Typically, persons take about seven or eight years to finish their chartered exams, but I did it in about 2½ years.” After ACCA, he did a Master’s with a specialism in Finance from Herriot Watt University’s Edinburgh Business School and then completed a Fellowship exam with a group called the Corporate Governance Institute out of the UK.

A graduate of Wharton’s School of Business Executive Development Programme, Gurcharrn sits on the Small Business Council Board, the GRA’s VAT Appeal Board; is a past council member of the ICAG, Chair of the Technical Committee, and member of the Students Affairs Committee.

He would have never believed that he’d end up in banking. It always appeared to him as a straitjacket kind of job, and he didn’t think he could do it. But as things turned out, moving from an auditing background, he started at Demerara Bank as the auditor and then went across to GBTI. “For sure, I didn’t think I would end up in banking, but when I started studying accounting, I really grew to love numbers and found it quite interesting. Importantly, I found it quite natural.”

Being CEO

With an accumulation of skills in investments, commercial credit, and treasury management, Gurcharran feels most comfortable in leadership. “I have an inclination to do certain things; I believe, naturally, I am a born leader,” he expressed.
As CEO, there’s no typical day. Each day, he says, will provide opportunities and challenges that force you to think strategically and make decisions. “You can’t be afraid to make decisions. You just have to hope that you get more things right than wrong. If you’re fearful of failure, you will never get anything done,” he believes.

Most importantly, though, he believes in helping people be better at what they do. “If you can influence people to be better at their jobs and, even more importantly, better at life, I think you would be a successful leader.”
Even though being CEO can be tough at times, Gurcharran is thankful that he has a good team at the bank that supports him, a team that has unity and vision. “I think it’s an incredible time to be a banker in Guyana,” he said.

“When we look at what is happening on the national front, the economy is booming, things are going well, and the discovery of oil has really transformed our country and can continue to transform our country. It is for us to leverage the opportunities that are there. So, it’s a really good time to be CEO.”

Finding your passion

Gurcharran says he feels “tremendously blessed” at his accomplishments so far in life. His faith, he stressed, remains strong, although things can be overwhelming at times. “People tend to believe with youth comes failure, but I know of no leader who would have led something that’s successful that didn’t have moments of failure. Importantly, you can’t stop trying.”
Failure, he believes, doesn’t determine your ultimate destiny. “I believe everybody is born with a purpose; you have distractions along the way, you have disruptions, but I believe there is nothing that can’t be realigned and really help you to move along your path.”

Gurcharran likes to say that he is what he is by the Grace of God. “With hard work, discipline and faith, things can fall into place quite nicely.” His favourite quote is from the Bible; the Book of Philippians Chapter 4, Verse 13, which reads: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

His word of advice: “It is important that you find what your passion is; what drives you and work towards that. When one door closes, you have multiple opportunities that exist and once you have life, you have hope. Keep working hard, being disciplined; keep your faith strong and something good is going to come out of it.”
Gurcharran is married to Tiana, an HR Director at GTT, and they have two children, Nathan and Kaitlyn.