Behind every small business there’s a story worth telling. One of the key messages that often shine through in the success stories that Dazzle has featured is that you have to make the best of the opportunities afforded to you. Always strive for excellence and remain focused, with success as your ultimate goal. The road to entrepreneurial success is not always straightforward but you have to be ready to ‘seize the day’.
Unassuming, yet acutely methodical are just two words that I can use to describe Goretti Lawrency. I first met Goretti a few years ago while training in the Telesales Department at Cable & Wireless. Though time has passed, she is just as focused and ‘about her business’ as she was many years ago. Now the proud owner and Managing Director of HRWise Inc., Goretti shares the story of her life experiences with Dazzle.
Goretti Lawrency first attended the Canon Laurie Anglican School. She later went on to excel at St. Joseph’s Convent and Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, at the Division of Technical Education & Management Studies before moving into the workforce. At SALCC, she pursued secretarial studies despite her initial interest in hospitality studies, since her parents did not want her to remain idle.
“I actually did secretarial studies, the one thing I absolutely did not want to do ever in my life! I wanted to pursue Culinary Arts-Hospitality Studies but there was no space available for that course at the time. My parents decided that I would not be spending a year at home doing nothing, so I did what was available.”
Upon completing her studies, Goretti began her professional career as a secretary, working in the Government service; “temporary employment,” as she describes it, often filling-in for colleagues on annual and maternity leave. She was subsequently appointed to the post of Secretary for the then Minister of Communications.
Later, an opportunity arose for Goretti to work at the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) as a member of the Corporatization Unit, during the company’s transition to WASCO. Close to the end of this project, she received an offer to work at Cable & Wireless in their Human Resource Department as a Personal Assistant to the Divisional Manager. She decided to accept this offer instead of returning to her role at the Ministry as she felt it created greater opportunities for personal and professional growth. After serving for a few years as a Personal Assistant to different Divisional Managers and regional VPs at Cable & Wireless, she transitioned into the Human Resource field where she was responsible for creating and managing the human resource function within the Telesales Department which, at the time was treated as a separate regional unit. At that time, Goretti pursued an executive diploma course in HR Management with the University of the West Indies. After numerous promotions, she would eventually become the Head of Human Resources for LIME’s Southern Cluster. In this role, she was responsible for managing the company’s human resources on a national and regional level.
“Throughout my career, though I thought about owning a business, it was never with any seriousness. I always saw myself managing someone else’s business. Through the latter part of my career, the last five years or so, I gave it some more thought. I just felt that I had been managing HR on a regional level for about six years, providing support to persons at the highest level within the organization, so I thought, ‘I could do this for myself.’ I wanted to make a positive contribution to businesses in Saint Lucia by influencing the effective management of their human resources. I initially saw the need to assist particularly the smaller businesses, which were not focusing on HR and were losing out on growth potential as a result, but the more I thought about it, the more opportunities I saw. So, I decided to branch out on my own. The rest is history.”
HRWise was born. As the name suggests, the company provides a broad spectrum of HR-related services, including strategic planning and management, HR support, payroll administration, training and benefits administration, to name a few. HRWise is the first company of its kind in St. Lucia, underscoring Goretti’s talent as a true leader, in all facets of her life. She can proudly say that HRWise is the only company on island specifically designed to cater to the human resource needs of the growing business sector. HRWise provides companies, especially small and medium-sized businesses, with the more feasible and affordable option of outsourcing their HR duties to an outside firm, rather than incurring the substantial costs of an internal HR department. This allows them to focus on their core competencies and become more productive and efficient.
Undoubtedly, hard work and sleepless nights are the price of success for HRWise. As one could imagine, starting a new business from the ground up doesn’t happen overnight.
“Do we ever stop working? On average, I work sixteen hours a day. It does not stop! It is a new company and it’s important to set a solid foundation in the market. As an entrepreneur, the job security in receiving a paycheck monthly is not guaranteed. When you work for yourself, the onus is on you to go out to find the work. Nothing is confirmed as opposed to working for someone else. It is a continuous process of finding new clients, sustaining the ones that you do have and meeting the targets you have outlined.”
There is no clear-cut path to success or a manual that one can follow. Although there are similarities in every success story, the formula has to be adapted to fit the business. Experience has taught Goretti that, as a business owner, one has to be flexible and willing to change to accommodate changing environments. She does however, firmly believe in some basic principles.
“Being honest and fair will go a long way in terms of people having a certain level of respect for you and the quality of work that you can produce. The success of your business is heavily dependent on your customers, so if you can win that trust or faith from your customers then you’ve guaranteed a component of sustainability. I am a very organized person and I try my hardest to always deliver on my word. My focus is providing quality service on time.”
HRWise’s objective is to grow regionally. This is a relatively short-term goal, which Goretti is extremely keen on achieving. With strategic alliances and a reliable team, she anticipates that within a few months it will come to fruition.
Goretti urges more St. Lucians to take up the entrepreneurial mandate. Given the current rising unemployment rates and growing instability in the corporate sector, she believes that more people should explore the potential for self employment, with the ultimate goal of self-sustenance and discovering new avenues to generate revenue.
One of the perks of being self-employed is the freedom to create, the freedom of time and freedom to reach one’s full potential. Nevertheless, Goretti emphasizes the need for a strong business plan, adequate research and confidence in one’s product. She also believes it’s crucial that one not be deterred by what others may think, as all too often people will try to dissuade you from achieving your dream. She strongly recommends having a good support system as a base for remaining focused.
“I would like to stress the fact that I started off as a secretary against my will, I often say. However, sometimes we are led in a different direction to prepare us for the greater opportunities that lie ahead. My experience as a secretary taught me so many things that have contributed to my success throughout my HR career. Even though things do not go according to plan – for example, you may be deterred along the way and things will happen that send you in a different direction – this does not mean that you need to stop or not follow your dreams. Even though I started out in a role that I never wanted, throughout my career I worked diligently, progressed, got qualified and eventually ended up in a position where I was managing people who managed people across the region. I never gave up. Too often young people give up too easily. No matter where you come from or what challenges you may face along the way, there is always opportunity to grow. Its all about your mindset and attitude.”
Goretti is in the final stage of completing her Master’s degree in Human Resource Management, a step toward continued self-improvement. Dazzle not only wishes her success in her academic pursuits but would like to wish her continued excellence with HRWise.
Fun Facts:
High salary or job satisfaction?
Job satisfaction.
Your most cherished childhood memory?
Spending time with my granny and combing her long, beautiful hair which she enjoyed.
Red or yellow plums?
Red.
The best vacation you have ever had?
Family reunion in New York.
