Natalia Seepersaud – CEO, Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce Taking that leap of faith

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“Simone, I want to make sure that the focus of this discussion is on the work that the chamber is doing, not about me.”

That statement set the tone for the rest of our dialogue. As she spoke about Guyana, I could hear the pride; she was a die hard for her country, and every bit of her work shows that.

I received an email from Natalia about a week ago. Her email was detailed but to the point. In her email, she introduced me to the Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce (CGCC). The chamber officially launched in December 2020, as a non-partisan institution dedicated to building on the long history of positive relations between Canada and Guyana. They are focused on strengthening trade and investment opportunities between the two countries. With offices in both Canada and Guyana, the Chamber wants to facilitate investments and partnerships to allow Canadian and Guyanese enterprises to successfully compete for projects, which are key to Guyana’s imminent economic transformation.

She told me that she wanted to speak to me about how the Chamber could work with us to reach the Caribbean Diaspora in Canada. I was intrigued. This woman seemed to be very passionate about her work, and I knew, before speaking with her, that there was something special about her. So special, that her beloved country had asked her to take a lead on a very important project.

Natalia Seepersaud is an Attorney-at-Law with a background in Business Administration. She is one of those individuals who have letters behind her name, and you are not sure where her name ends, and the letters begin. She has her Bachelor of Law (LL.B, abbreviated LL.B., LLB), and her Legal Education Certificate (L.E.C.)

Prior to joining the CGCC she was the Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Guyana Office for Investment. She has held the positions of In-House Legal Counsel, Company Secretary and Deputy Chief Executive Officer (ag) of National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

She was a key member on the Management Team for several national projects, including the development and construction of the Marriott Hotel, Guyana and the development and management of several industrial estates in Guyana.

Other positions held include Company Secretary for Atlantic Hotel Inc. and the public corporation Property Holdings Inc. She also sits on the University of Guyana Council representing Business Interests.

I was curious. When I had a chance to speak with Natalia, I noticed right away that she did not have a heavy Guyanese accent. It actually sounded like she was from Toronto.

“I actually lived in Toronto for sections of my life,” she tells me. “There was just something about Guyana that always made me want to come back. I wasn’t doing what I wanted to be doing, so I came to Guyana for my personal happiness.”

Once she was back in Guyana, things seemed to move very quickly for Natalia.

“I used to have a two-year rule. Don’t stay in your position for longer than two years. You lose motivation, and then a sense of entitlement sets in.”

Many of the positions that Natalia obtained seemed to come from her being at the right place, at the right time. Once a job opportunity happened when she bumped into a friend after being in Guyana for about a year. That job led to a promotion after oil was discovered in Guyana in 2015. In line with her two-year rule, in 2017, the passion that she originally had in that position was no longer there.

“Once you stop finding joy in what you do, you are not doing yourself or your employer any favours. You no longer work at your full capacity or give it your all.

 COVID-19 was a huge eye-opener for Natalia. Her connection with her homeland grew, and she felt moved to do more. It felt right when she got the call from the Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce.

“Living in Guyana has been a very positive experience for myself, and for my family. My family can always come visit me. We will always have a connection to Guyana. The younger generation will be able to truly connect to their roots. Moving to Guyana was on me. My parents didn’t want me to come to Guyana. They were not sure how it was going to work out for me.

There are a lot of Diaspora Guyanese who want to come back to Guyana, but they don’t know how it is going to work out. I have done it, so I understand the anxiety. It was definitely a leap of faith. There is a culture shock. We have gotten used to Canada, and the Canadian lifestyle. Making a move back to Guyana is a calculated step that can really pay off. The great thing about Guyana: you work hard, but you still have leisure time. I have the time to put just as much effort into myself, as I do in my work. If you are ready to make that move, the Chamber of Commerce can help you do that.

Natalia told me that the organization will be ramping up its activities in 2021 as pandemic restrictions ease and more focus is placed on business-to-business development.

This is the ideal time for Canadian businesses that have the capacity and resources Guyana needs, to expand into the new oil producing South American country. The great thing is that Guyanese businesses can take advantage of the infrastructure, logistics and supply chains being put in place as a result of the oil and gas industry to expand into Canada.

The Government of Guyana has a vision of rapid development in the country. They are committed to providing opportunities for foreign investment. If you are interested in these opportunities, you can take a look at https://cgcc.gy/investment-opportunities/

Guyana is off to a good start in 2021. I commend them for selecting a leader who will help them make their visions a reality.