Nickisha Roper: From rural roots to Red Stripe’s strategic controller
“I remember accompanying my grandfather on his farm to sow and reap fruits and ground provisions until it became a Saturday chore. He said whatever I want, I must earn it myself,” shared Nickisha Roper as she reflected on the driving force behind her success. From the serene district of Albany in St Mary, Roper’s journey from a close-knit, agriculturally driven family to becoming a strategic controller at Red Stripe is a compelling narrative of ambition.
With her grandmother, a devout Christian, and grandfather, a diligent farmer and butcher, she was taught the importance of hard work, faith, and community. These lessons were learned through 4:00 morning
Bible studies and the regular farming chores. For Roper, the simple but picturesque mornings in Albany formed the backdrop of a childhood infused with solid values and an unwavering work ethic.
“Taking those teachings from my grandparents and mom, I’ve learnt to be grateful for what I have but also to dream, think big, and aspire towards greatness,” she reminisced.
Roper had ambitions which extended beyond the boundaries of rural Jamaica. So she excelled academically at Marymount High School, and dreamt of becoming a lawyer or bank manager. Financial constraints, however, redirected her path towards business—a twist of fate that ultimately led her to a distinguished career at Red Stripe.
Grabbing the reins of the corporate world, Roper first ventured into the Heart Trust/NSTA Graduate work experience programme at St Mary’s Beverage Center – a Desnoes and Geddes Limited sub-distributor, where she worked as a clerk.
“Within nine months, Desnoes and Geddes, trading as Red Stripe, decided to end the arrangement with St Mary Beverage Center and consolidate it into their own operations. I was then asked to permanently join the world’s coolest beer company staff complement as settlement officer,“ she said. ”To me, this translated as a full welcome into adulthood, which made my mother equally proud.”
Over the next two decades, her career flourished and the teachings of her family continue to bear fruit. She progressed through various roles—settlement accountant, credit controller, and business analyst, now strategic controller —each role sharpening her skills and expanding her expertise.
She proudly recalled a most defining moment of her career occurring during Red Stripe’s 2024 annual planning process. When her manager went on emergency leave, Roper was thrust into that significant leadership role to lend her support.
“In my head, I was not ready to take on such a huge responsibility,” she admitted. Yet, she knew resilience and collaborative spirit would enable her to succeed. This experience, which tested her limits and showcased her leadership capabilities, earned her the 2023 Stand-Up Award for ‘making courageous moves’. At this point, it’s safe to say Roper became her philosophy – dream big and aspire for greatness.
Overtime, she has also come to view her career growth as a partnership with Red Stripe, where the company’s support has been pivotal.
“On my path to success, it was not just my goals and determination that played a part. It truly helped that I worked with a company committed to brewing success among its team. So, I’ve realised that though my family nurtured me in the cool community of Albany, I’m now brewing within the world’s coolest beer company,“ she said. ”This recipe is a winning formula for which I am a product.”
Looking ahead, she has even greater aspirations and envisions a future where her team continues to excel, driven by innovative planning and strategic insights. She is excited about developing a planning model that enhances efficiency and allows for more in-depth data analysis. Her goal is to ensure that Red Stripe remains a symbol of excellence, inspiring future generations just as it inspired her.
For those within small communities across Jamaica, she offers valuable advice: “Think big, be authentic, agile, and eager to learn. Don’t be afraid to seize major opportunities outside the comfort of your communities, but ultimately, love what you do, for it will lighten the weight.”
