Dr Stacy Richards-Kennedy: Inspiring women to expand their horizons

DR Stacy Richards-Kennedy believes wholeheartedly in living a purposeful, fulfilling and balanced life. As the regional manager for the Caribbean at CAF — Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, she has blazed a trail for herself in the field of international development and diplomacy, and is using her platform to inspire other women to expand their horizons.

In an insightful interview with All Woman, Dr Richards-Kennedy spoke candidly about her upcoming keynote presentation at the We Inspire Women Wealth and Wellness Brunch, and shared nuggets of wisdom that she learned on her journey to becoming a driving force in Caribbean development. The women empowerment event’s seventh staging is happening on Sunday, August 27 at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston.

“For me, it’s about balance, joy and a sense of fulfilment in my career,” Dr Richards-Kennedy said thoughtfully on how women can achieve wealth and wellness in today’s world. She underscored the importance of defining ‘having it all’ on one’s own terms.

“It is extremely important for me to feel fulfilled in my profession or any activity to which I devote my time, and I need to have balance and be able to carve out time to connect with the persons I love and the interests that bring me joy,” she added.

While growing up in Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Richards-Kennedy navigated childhood surrounded by the warmth and love of her close-knit family. Her early aspirations ranged from becoming a teacher to a pilot, but it was her love for foreign languages that eventually steered her towards international relations and development finance.

“At that time, there was still a more traditional focus on professions in medicine, law, engineering, finance, or computer science,” she recalled. “When I was pursuing my bachelor’s degree in foreign languages, I was often asked, ‘What will you do with that after graduation?’ Well, interestingly it was my knowledge of Spanish, French and Portuguese that opened up the doors to many opportunities for me beyond the Caribbean and widened my career options.”

Today, Dr Richards-Kennedy possesses over 25 years of experience in multilateral negotiations, development management and international finance. She has led multidisciplinary teams and mobilised resources for successful projects in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, as well as Latin America and the Caribbean.

“It is rewarding to see project ideas converted into tangible outcomes that improve lives and benefit people in different countries,” Dr Richards-Kennedy, who is a former pro vice-chancellor for global affairs at The University of the West Indies, said. “At the strategic level, leading CAF’s partnerships and development assistance across the Caribbean is also quite exciting.”

For her participation in the upcoming We Inspire Women Wealth and Wellness Brunch, Dr Richards-Kennedy spoke about her commitment to women’s empowerment and her love for Jamaica as key reasons for accepting the invitation from founder and CEO of the movement, Cortia Bingham McKenzie.

“I visited Jamaica for the first time in around 1994 for summer vacation while pursuing my undergraduate degree in St Augustine, and since then I have been in love with the spirit of the Jamaican people — it is unique!” she said. “I love the energy, confidence, determination, passion, creativity, entrepreneurial and competitive spirit of the people.

“I am looking forward to hearing the other amazing speakers, interacting with the participants and joining forces to infuse the room with the energy, love and support for each other,” she said excitedly.

Dr Richards-Kennedy shared these gems as she encouraged women to define their own success: take time to understand yourself and set goals for yourself; read widely; and do not be afraid to ask for advice, guidance or assistance.

She also encouraged to not allow your circumstances to define who you are. “You must not limit your potential. Be prepared to put in the hard work as your journey to success will require consistent discipline, effort, smart choices and a supportive network.”