Imagine the exhilarating possibility of multiplying your wealth by 217 per cent in just four years, consistently averaging 50 per cent growth each year. What might that vision of growth inspire within you? Now consider the transformative power of elevating your business’s gross profit margin by the same amount in that time frame. The potential for expansion could be extraordinary.

Guyana embodies this remarkable promise. Our sister nation in Caricom has seen its per capita income soar from US$6,500 in 2019 to an impressive US$20,600 in 2023.

I had the honour of visiting Guyana this week as the keynote speaker at the Women’s Chamber of Commerce Gala. As I entered Georgetown I was captivated by the vibrant landscape filled with mega construction — new highways, new housing schemes, and towering buildings. I was witnessing the dawn of a new city.

An idea whose time has come has incredible power, especially when propelled by a passionate and motivated execution team.

Guyana shines not only as the gem of the Caribbean in GDP (gross domestic product), but also as the fastest-growing economy in the world, now boasting the 15th highest GDP per capita globally at US$78,670 (purchasing power parity relative to other countries).

For those seeking investment, the opportunity has never been more promising. All eyes are on Guyana, particularly in light of the oil reserves discovered and significant investments from Exxon Mobil and China.

However, the true success of Guyana’s oil wealth hinges on its development indicators and ensuring that the benefits reach the Guyanese people. To flourish, there is an urgent need for upskilling and the development of a robust global banking sector.

Therefore, while many nations continue to wrestle with gender inequality, Guyana faces a decisive challenge for talent, wherein adding value, showing courage, and seizing opportunities are essential. This is the crucial call they must respond to with urgency.

That was the message I shared with the hundreds of women gathered at the Women’s Chamber of Commerce Gala last week.

My generation was born into the era of maternity leave; we didn’t have to fight for laws of equal rights and pay, and we now have female prime ministers, world leaders, and women holding positions of some influence in almost every sphere. But how can we women participate in major investments taking place now to grow their personal wealth, whether in Guyana or Jamaica? When women succeed, they build communities.

For example, Jamaica has one of the highest global rankings for the number of female managers per capita. Yet, we still struggle with advancing to the top of companies or being placed on the major conglomerate boards.

One of the low-hanging fruits I see is self-branding and how we present ourselves. We must always get ahead of the conversations and ensure we are present as equals. Not making apologies with adjectives or conditions when it’s time to be forthright, especially if it will significantly affect our business profit and loss. There’s also no need to be ‘feminine’ in prefacing things to challenge the status quo.

Why? Because advocacy doesn’t need an apology, and neither does your evaluation of competence, especially decisions surrounding logical, rational, and/or data-driven discussions.

Every time in my life that I’ve been taken for granted, overlooked, or sidelined I raised my own stakes and managed to secure a raise, either in my pocket or to my morale. But it required having hard conversations and hard decision, especially in business, which are a part of reality when they are called for.

Often, women go down the emotional road or that of self-branding, saying: “I’m passionate about today on the issue because I’m having a bad day, a medical reality, or being peri-menopausal,” instead of sticking to the issues and delivering points accordingly — which will place them on an equal footing of competence and talent.

Imagine if a man were to come into a meeting and make a strident comment that ended with an apologetic byline, “Sorry for sounding so angry, but at my age I am facing some erectile dysfunction issues which are making me very frustrated.”

Globally, women now hold one-third of global wealth, a figure expected to rise as we create, inherit, and manage more considerable assets. According to consultancy McKinsey, by 2030 women are projected to own over half of the world’s wealth.

Recognising this, Citi Private Bank promotes a financial wellness framework centred on four key pillars — financial literacy, core investment portfolio development, strategic borrowing, and wealth planning. Global head Ida Liu highlights the goal of empowering women to make informed financial decisions that positively impact families, businesses, and society.

She emphasises the importance of financial literacy while acknowledging a persistent gender gap that hampers progress. “We view women as a significant growth opportunity, one of the fastest segments in wealth management. To succeed, we must invest time educating and building trust with female clients for long-term value.”

I wholeheartedly agree.

This must be our launching point.

Knowledge empowers women to make more strategic choices and lead effectively. This focus should be a priority for businesswomen supporting those at risk due to prevailing realities.

Though well-meaning, women’s conferences and workshops must evolve to catalyse actionable change rather than provide speeches. We need less public relations about what women require and more active engagement and networking that educate women about how to lead, manage, and make money.

In the animal kingdom, it’s not the lion’s roar that captures prey, but the strategic teamwork of lionesses, whose agility thrives on collaboration.

We are all on a quest; some for jobs, survival, safety, inspiration, or to recognise our purpose and worth.

My experiences remind me never to succumb to the belief that we’re not ready, smart, or strong enough. The most tremendous disservice we can do is to be contrite in the face of bias and discrimination.

Let’s stop apologising for making tough choices and fear the label of aggression.

Over the years, I’ve learned that courage often means choosing what’s right over what’s easy. In today’s world the competition is all about talent and competence. Therefore, matters not if you are a man or a woman, if your presence doesn’t add value, then your absence won’t matter.

Have a happy and holy Christmas.

Lisa Hanna is Member of Parliament for St Ann South Eastern, People’s National Party spokesperson on foreign affairs and foreign trade, and a former Cabinet member.

Lisa Hanna