Minister Ingrid Bristol’s journey to entrepreneurship was never a forethought. Having left school at an early age and later attaining a Diploma in Secretarial Science from the Government Technical Institute, she never envisaged moving from an employee to the CEO of a company. Min. Bristol’s determination not to repeat the cycle of poverty in her family and her faith in God gave her the endurance she needed as she braved the changing seasons in her life. This she believed helped to mold her into the woman she is today.
Humble Beginnings
As a child, she wanted to be a Secretary. However, this dream was only realised after taking steps to qualify herself. Being the fourth child and first female of twelve children, Min. Bristol assumed the role of a mother to her siblings at a tender age. Using a rigid parenting style, she worked hard to discipline and instill good values in her siblings because of the stereotype at that time, where young women without the supervision of a mother would get pregnant. She did not want them to become a statistic. In an attempt to provide for herself and siblings, Min. Bristol did all types of honest jobs which included babysitting, making sugar cake and other odd jobs.
She recalled being treated like an outcast whilst babysitting a child from an elite family. When entering the family’s home, she had to use the back door and each day the child’s mother would mark the milk tin to see how much milk was being used. Additionally, she was prohibited from sitting at the dining table; she had to utilise a little stool. During this time she often asked God how much more she would have to bear since she felt like she had had enough but could not do better. Nevertheless, she endured because she believed that God was teaching her a lesson from the situation.
Min. Bristol recounted selling black pudding to earn a living and often having to walk to the market to save six cents in transportation to purchase the ingredients. She also remembers praying that the pudding did not burst while being cooked which would have resulted in the loss of an investment. In addition, Min. Bristol made and sold mithai and sugar cake, among others.
Her Journey to Entrepreneurship
After her siblings were better established, she made a conscious decision that it was her time to elevate herself and decided to pursue studies at the Government Technical Institute to become a secretary. In an attempt to prepare for her entrance at the Government Technical Institute she decided to attend a few classes. She was however advised that she needed to attend the elementary class, followed by the intermediate before reaching the advanced level. Confident in her abilities, she objected to starting from the beginning and registered for the Advanced level classes through which she obtained a distinction. Since she had done typing and other sub courses along with the English course, she later decided that she wanted to attend the Government Technical Institute to do a Diploma in Secretarial Science. She wrote the entrance examination and was accepted.
Unfortunately after successfully completing the programme, she could not attend her graduation because she did not have anything to wear. Subsequently, her friend told her about a job opportunity but again she had nothing to wear. However, she was given a dress which she washed and wore everyday using soap as deodorant, praying that it would not produce soap suds if she perspired. Though these were all parts of her humble beginnings, Min. Bristol stated that she is proud of these experiences.
When she got the job, she worked assiduously as if the business belonged to her. As she continued to evolve, she moved from being the secretary of the business to the manager. While a secretary, she had continued to market herself which opened many doors for her. She even went a step further to qualify herself, becoming one of the first female licensed brokers in Guyana. It was during this time that another opportunity presented itself. However, she felt some insecurities which caused her to doubt herself. Min. Bristol confided in her brother who encouraged her to take the offer, since it would provide her the opportunity to transition from an employee to an employer. Her decision to launch out resulted in her now being the CEO of an international courier service in Guyana for over 30 years. During that time she also established her own business, becoming the CEO of Guywillship LLC. Both ventures started operations from her home.
Challenges Faced
Some of the main challenges Min. Bristol faced as an Entrepreneur was being looked down upon as female in a predominantly male profession and also being an Afro-guyanese. “There were many times I felt like I wanted to give up because the pressure was too much,” Min. Bristol recounted but at the back of her mind, she knew there was no turning back. She often talked to herself and God telling Him that she was not going back to the wilderness of her past because He brought her out of it and she often reminded herself that ‘He Who started the good work will be faithful to complete it’. This caused her to be encouraged, determined and resilient, especially during difficult times. She even recalled her business being threatened because it was seen as being in competition with the traditional local courier service at that time. This decision however, was overturned.
Later, Min. Bristol, not knowledgeable about the protocols of the Shipping Industry in the United States of America faced a road block. She still remembers the fear she felt when she received a letter from the authorities and also heard that a defaulting business was fined lots of money, causing it to crumble. She panicked and thought that that was going to be the end. Once again she prayed and she received a word from God that He would grant her favour among the decision makers. With God’s help, what should have taken years, happened in only three months. Her business was licensed and bonded and it has since evolved and continues to be successful.
Encouragement to other Entrepreneurs
Min. Bristol advises prospective entrepreneurs to first identify their niche and then tap into what is available. “In some cases you may not have the finances but if you have a plan then you can use that because all you need is an idea,” advised Min. Bristol. She also stressed the importance of speaking with someone who can make a strategic plan or assist with a feasibility study.
“You do not have to start from the top, you can start small; neither does it have to be academically related but as you start you can gradually make your way to the top,” she continued. She also advised potential entrepreneurs, whose business idea may not work out initially, not to give up but try again. Most importantly, Min. Bristol stressed the importance of being disciplined. Further, persons with multiple business ideas should work with a few and carefully assess each idea to see if it is realistic or not.
Using the analogy of a tiny mustard seed growing into a large tree, we see from Min. Bristol’s journey to entrepreneurship that with an idea, faith and lots of endurance, we can overcome any challenge that comes our way. With all that she has accomplished, Min. Bristol continues to assert that without God it would not have been possible. As she passed through the different seasons in her life, she stated that her mantra was the scripture verse ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’, which she believes helped her endure in the difficult moments.
Not only was Min. Bristol dependent on God but she was self-motivated, making positive declarations over her life from a tender age. She also confessed that she was able to overcome some of the mental battles that she faced by encouraging herself and taking the negative (situation, thoughts, criticism) and turning them into something positive.
Aside from God and being self-motivated, two of her motivators were her brother, who taught her everything she knows in accounting and business, and her mother, who empowered, encouraged and instilled good values in her.
No matter your circumstance, be assured that there is hope for you. If God can do it for Min. Bristol, He can do it for you, but you need to have faith in Him, a positive mindset, an idea and determination. Most importantly, while you are waiting on your breakthrough, prepare yourself so that when doors begin to open, you are ready to walk through.
