OUR personalities are our gifts to the world. Whether it is your sense of humor, bright smile or love for others, we all have a role.
Family Therapist, Finance Analyst and Community Volunteer, Ayodele Dalgety-Dean, left Guyana for the United Kingdom in 1990. There, she was educated and completed post-graduate work in Systemic Practice with Children and Families. She worked as a finance analyst for eight years before having a career change into family therapy and project management.

As a family therapist, Ayodele managed programmes for families in the UK, recruited, trained, and supervised staff, and developed care plans, services, and activities for service users (children and families) living under difficult circumstances. This week, the Pepperpot Magainze spoke to Ayodele about her passions, family and ambitious endeavours as our Pepperpot Personality.

A Family Woman First
For Ayodele, businesswoman and vibrant pioneer, family still comes first. As she told the Pepperpot Magazine, “I’m at that stage in my life where I’m very comfortable and happy with me,” she shares with a warmth that radiates through her words. “I am me, and then I’m a wife. I’m a mother of three fantastic children.”

Her journey as a mother has been both challenging and rewarding, particularly as she navigates the world of autism with her youngest child. “I’m a proud autism mom,” Ayodele shared. This experience has shaped her personal life and informed her professional endeavours.

The dynamics of raising a family, especially with teenage daughters, have provided Ayodele with a unique perspective. “I’m raising teenage girls right now. And you know, when we are teenagers… it’s quite something different. If I thought raising children would get easier, no, it gets harder the older they get,” she laughs.
Despite the challenges, Ayodele approaches motherhood with joy and enthusiasm. “I’ve got two teenage girls, they are 14 and 16, and then I have a boy who’s eight and he has autism. So, overall, I think I’m getting the full mommy experience.”

This contentment in her personal life, Ayodele believes, is the foundation of her success in other areas. “I think because I am really content and happy with myself, the decisions I make, and the things I do unapologetically, it helps to make me.”

Blossom: A Passion for Protection

While family is her foundation, Ayodele’s professional life is equally important and impactful. At the heart of her work is Blossom Inc., a non-profit organisation that she founded to support victims of sexual violence. “Blossom is my passion when it comes to work,” Ayodele explains.

Blossom Inc’s mission is clear and while the work they do is crucial, as founder, Ayodele shared, “Blossom supports children and families affected by sexual violence and exploitation. We provide services to those children and their non-offending families, but also further extend to supporting adults of gender-based violence, mainly, again, sexual violence.”

What sets Blossom apart is its comprehensive approach to support and inclusivity. Ayodele explains that “For the child victims of rape, we provide professional services, so expert services, so forensic interviewing. That’s a developmentally sound way of speaking to a child about what has happened to them.”

The organisation’s reach extends beyond the local community. “We work with both the migrant and the host community, so the host community being Guyanese, but also the migrant population, so Venezuelan migrants,” Ayodele explains. This inclusive approach ensures that no one is left behind in their mission to protect and support victims of sexual violence.

SISPRO: A Challenge for Change

While Blossom represents Ayodele’s passion, her role as chairwoman of SISPRO presents an exciting new challenge. SISPRO is a Guyanese women-led company committed to community development, social responsibility, and gender and social equity in the oil and gas industry.

As she stated, “SISPRO is my challenge…As we steadily progress with SISPRO, it’s about building generational wealth for Guyanese. Not just for my family and my children, but for all Guyanese, so that they can benefit from the wealth that Guyana has,” she says.

This venture into the traditionally male-dominated oil and gas industry is not just about business for Ayodele. It’s about creating lasting change and opportunities for her community. “It’s not just about individuals. It’s about community and ensuring that that happens. And what steps do we need to take in order to make that happen,” she explains.

A Passion for Service
A deep-seated passion for providing quality services is at the core of all Ayodele’s endeavours. “What drives me is I like to provide services, good services,” she emphasized. This commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect of her work. “We have to be able to connect the best service available to everyone who comes into contact with Blossom. For me, that’s what drives me, providing effective services to people,” Ayodele states.

Her dedication also extends to her personal life, particularly in advocating for her autistic son. “I’m most proud of ensuring that I track the correct services required for my son, who is autistic, in the Guyana context because it’s not easy,” she shares. “I have spoken to every man Jack, who can help support me in that journey that I can.”

Future Endeavours: A PhD and Beyond
As if her plate wasn’t full enough, Ayodele is on the cusp of adding another impressive achievement to her resume – a PhD. “I’ve just submitted a PhD thesis. I looked at suicide in Guyana,” she stated.

Looking ahead, Ayodele’s ambitions show no signs of slowing down. “You can expect me to build out CISPRO so that we can become an E&P company. That is an exploration and production company,” she states.

Looking at the work of this remarkable woman, one thing becomes clear: Ayodele Dalgety-Dean is not just a Pepperpot Personality; she’s a force of nature, working tirelessly to create a better Guyana for all.