ambika.jagassarsingh@guardian.co.tt
Pria Narinesingh credits her mother as being the greatest influence in her life.
“I believe her views have always been ahead of her time. From very early on, she taught my sister and I the lessons from her own experiences, the value of being independent and being able to stand on your own two feet.
“The primary lesson, however, was always about living with integrity and being able to hold your head high. We listened closely and were able to see many examples of who we did not want to be. Our mother reinforced these lessons and surrounded us with love,” said Narinesingh.
That advice continues to guide Narinesingh in her role as the country managing partner of Ernst & Young (EY) Barbados, Eastern Caribbean and T&T offices.
Speaking with Sunday Business Guardian, Narinesingh described her ascension as, “Exciting, rewarding, challenging, fun, lessons in endurance, agility, grit, fortitude. A climb is a good word for it. And 30 years in I can say that I would not change a thing.”
She emphasised that a large part of her prowess within the financial services industry was owed to the firm she dedicated her time and effort from a young age.
“Firstly, the recognition isn’t mine alone—it’s inextricably and proudly linked to EY. Am I proud of my accomplishments? Yes, I am—but I always keep the responsibility of that exposure top of mind.”
Narinesingh added that throughout her years at EY, she was never subjected to any gender discrimination.
“There were no biases or discrimination due to gender—that is for sure. For many persons entering the profession, the early years are a combination of working while studying to pursue a professional designation—and anyone that has been through this knows it’s rough. It toughens you and it’s competitive. It’s an amazing foundation.”
What mattered above all else was the quality of work.
“I’m proud to categorically say that we don’t have a gender pay gap at EY Caribbean, and I have not experienced that in my 30 years. We pay based on qualifications and experience, promote based on merit and achievements and we celebrate every win equally. The stats speak for themselves.”
According to data received from EY, two-thirds of their Caribbean workforce is made up of women, with almost half of their partners and executive directors being women.
Through her work life, Narinesingh was able to build lasting connections.
“We worked hard, studied hard, played hard and we looked out for each other. We grew up together and there’s something special about having these shared experiences that build lifelong relationships.”
Despite the highlights of the job, it was no bed of roses and came with complications for a professional who started as young as herself.
“Ageism, however, was an ugly beast at times. I have experienced the looks on some clients’ faces that said, ‘Who’s this little girl coming to tell me what to do?’, and by the way, they would have reached out to my boss to express the same. That was a point of discrimination that I had to learn not to personalise and instead recognise it as an important avenue of communication for our clients.”
For those looking to advance in their respective fields, regardless of gender, she urged that they recognise what is important to them while assessing whether where they worked, aligned with the goals they hoped to achieve.
“We haven’t all been dealt the same hand and the climb is not linear—recognise what is right for you at the various life stages and have empathy for all.”
Most importantly, to never stop trying to be better.
“Continually push yourself out of your comfort zone—be strategic and invest in your skillset—which by the way usually means you are doing something ‘in addition to your day job’. You don’t need a grand plan – a series of smaller achievable actions that you periodically re-evaluate is often far more effective,” she added.
She also mentioned the significance of finding a mentor and heeding their advice since this, was instrumental in her own career.
“Colin Soo Ping Chow, former executive chairman of EYC said to me, ‘The best way to move on to your next role, is to work yourself out of your current role.’ It’s some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten—I’ll never forget it, and it’s been a key component in how my career unfolded.”
Narinesingh also encouraged others to “look beyond gender” for anyone they may hold in esteem, be it her or any other leaders.
“Look thoughtfully and below the surface and understand that there are many components that have contributed to who that individual is. One’s influences vary through life, and we must learn from them all.”
According to Narinesingh, “International Women’s Day and equity isn’t just about the workplace. The challenges exist in all facets of life.”
She believes that “The more we peel back the conscious and unconscious biases we have, the more enlightened and tolerant we become, and there is more room for love.”
Narinesingh describes the day as bitter-sweet since there are still many things to be done to observe the day as it should be.
“International Women’s Day is bitter-sweet to me. It’s an important recognition of significant progress, but we can’t deny that challenges still exist. I hope I live to see International Women’s Day become a true celebration of equality versus a call to action.”
She stated that the path to success may present itself differently to everyone.
“We are all unique and we are a result of the combination of our experiences—the good and the bad. No one is perfect. All we can do is keep growing and learning and striving to be true to ourselves. Surround yourself with persons who support you and appreciate you for just that. To my family, friends and colleagues, thank you I do not ever take you for granted.”
When asked what advice she would give to her younger self and by extension other young girls and women about making it in the world as a businesswoman, her advice was simple.
“Your place is wherever you decide it is. It’s your goal to set. If you do nothing else for yourself, make certain that your place is one that empowers, recognises, challenges, and celebrates you, while giving you the room and support to be exactly who you want to be.”
Stressing the unpredictability of life, she encouraged others to make the most of the moments, but most importantly to have faith in themselves.
“There will always be a reason to doubt yourself but give yourself the grace of 100 more reasons to believe in yourself. The knot in your throat, swallow it. The bead of sweat on your brow, wipe it away. And if all else fails, borrow some audacity from a man you know.”
To pave the way forward and make the day a true celebration as opposed to what Narinesingh referred to as “a call to action,” she prompted men to play their part and be supportive.
For husbands and partners, she expressed the need for them to “set your ambitions together with the women in your lives. Decide together the life you both deserve and want and move in the best way that supports that. Even if it’s different from the traditional (Caribbean) norms. When you make room for the women to thrive, the entire household benefits, so why stop her?”
Before spouses can play their roles, however, fathers play an integral one. Reflecting on her own experiences growing up, Narinesingh asked that fathers recognise that women were now blazing steady trails in the world of work.
“To the fathers out there, and what I would tell my own father if he was alive—I understand that you have your views which are founded on the experiences that you had, but the world has changed. The battle is not done, and many forms of bias still exist, but know that in today’s world a woman can have a full and successful career based on merit. We are doing it.”
Directed at those with the ability to change the work landscape and dynamic, Narinesingh advised them to not judge a book by its cover, but by the content of their character.
“To today’s leaders, give everyone a fair shot and recognise the power of your words and choices. Don’t assume someone’s competency when you don’t even know what they bring to the table. So, what if they may go on maternity leave in a few years, or that they may ultimately leave to spend time with their kids?”
She added that there needs to be more transparency around hiring practices and wages in every sector, encouraging those within the governance sphere to “Challenge it. Expose it. Change it.”
After years of commitment to her work, Narinesingh is sure of one thing.
“When I leave the profession, I’ll know I was a part of a team that contributed to making it stronger and better.”