From humble beginnings to CEO of her own company; mother of three forges ahead in Business

Jan 01, 2023 Features / Columnists, News

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By Malisa Playter Harry

Kaieteur News – At just 37-years-old, businesswoman Samantha Reid, a Cumberland, East Canje born resident has been making waves in the business sector with “boss moves.” Reid is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of SAWA Investment Inc, De People’s Pawnshop, and the Public Relations Officer of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce.

Talk about big moves, this highly motivated Canje born mother of three, has been capably managing her own success as a single mother, and is also pursuing her Master’s Degree in Business and Entrepreneurship at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. Reid, who previously owned a clothing boutique and a bar, is also part owner of the well known “De People Pawnshop” in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

But while it may seem like Reid is well established, it did not come easily. Her struggles and the humble beginnings, in which she was raised, have been instrumental in her success to date.

Reid obtained her education at the Cumberland Primary School, Berbice High School and subsequently the University of Guyana where she read for a Diploma in Public Management and a Bsc Degree in Business Management. She said that as a little girl growing up with her grandmother who had a small vending stand, she was always inspired to be something great and to do great things. She challenged herself to work hard and study hard.

“I wouldn’t say I grew up in poverty, but we didn’t have everything we needed so that motivated me to strive for better.” She said. According to her, as a little girl, she became interested in business because of her grandmother.

“She sold dry fish…etc, so when school was out, she had myself and other siblings helping her with that and would a put a stand in front the yard and have us sell,’ Reid recalled.

Fast forward to 2010, she started her business, a clothing boutique well known by many as “Designer Clothing” and was located at the J&S Mall in New Amsterdam. That business ran from 2010 up until 2014. During that time, she recalled that a customer always advised her to start a pawnshop and she did.

“So, I had those two businesses but then I saw potential in the pawnshop, and I decided to focus on it. I sold out the clothing store and put the proceeds in the pawnshop.” Life became complicated when she went through a divorce from her husband. It forced her to liquidate a number of assets that they both acquired together and as such, she was left with a mortgage and other bills to pay. She was living in Georgetown when the divorce happened and so she made the decision to return to Berbice.

“The pawnshop was the only source of income at the time and I went to my accountant and he advised me and he asked me if I wanted to form a company and that he would talk to some people to give me work from the government so I said why not if it will help me pay a lot of debts.”

Shortly after things got bumpier as she was left with taking care of her three children, she started SAWA Investment, the word SAWA are the initials of her and her children. With the formation of the company, she began getting small contracts from the regional administration in Berbice and it was assisting her along with the pawnshop.

“I used to scrape, I couldn’t sleep at night, I had serious anxiety, there were people threatening me and my kids and I had to pay them off so that’s when I started SAWA Investment and I used to get little work from the region. I would supply them with stationery, dietary items, field materials, capital materials, whatever little they would give me, I would take. I started with $200,000”

Samantha believes that everything happens for a reason and since the conceptualization of her company, she has expanded with a second branch in Georgetown, employing just over 20 persons directly and 50-100 persons indirectly, depending on the project they are working on. She noted that tremendous growth was recorded within the past 2-3 years. While the company started out with procurement and maintenance for schools and buildings, washroom facilities etc, in the last three years, they have expanded to road construction and housing projects.

Since venturing to road construction, Samantha said she was eager to learn and have the company give its best and so the first road they built was one in Black Bush Polder, she said it intrigued her since then.

“In the night, I would try to understand the methodology on how roads are built, I even looked up South Africa and a woman there who uses garbage, the waste, most of the plastic and they would crush that down and make the

“Entrepreneur by heart”

Even though Samantha has been doing well with her company, she is always looking to make her next idea a reality, her brain is always ticking and so she hopes to one day get into the oil and gas industry by providing procurement and construction services, “that’s something I want to work on this coming year.”

She is confident that her company SAWA will grow even bigger and she also hopes to one day have an empowerment home for women. She mentioned that she had crafted a proposal for that some 10-15 years ago and had taken the proposal to the previous government but was turned down.

“At that time Amna Ally was minister and I took it to her, and she turned it down. They had the SLED program, so they had funding at the time. I spoke to the new minister and am working on that, but I am using myself, my company, my platform as an empowering tool for women to see that. You can’t short change yourself. There are things that I went through in life that I could have easily said I am done but every struggle, every lesson learned has propelled me to where I am at today. I am stronger and more resilient, and my kids are my biggest motivation.”

Samantha speaks proudly of her children and notes that doing it as a single parent is not the easiest but knowing that her children are benefiting is the most rewarding feeling. She pushed for herself and children even when she felt she could not anymore. Her eldest is currently pursuing studies to become a doctor.

“Women have dreams and many times their dream die to take care of their children and family, or a man and it shouldn’t be. When I attended UG, I had my business, husband and child and I use to do everything. I remember driving to Turkeyn everyday…. first, I open my store, drive to Turkeyn, come back, and collect my son…everyday was a routine. When people see me now, just know that I put in the work, nothing comes easy.”

The businesswoman believes in her heart that “women are the biggest conduit of loving and sharing” and she hopes that women can be inspired to never quit despite the struggles looming.

“Nothing in life is easy; you have to put yourself out there. I was knocking on every door and telling people what I want and what I am capable of. I have to thank the President, the government, they heard me.”

Today Samantha Reid is breaking barriers and pushing the envelope to always be better. She is jumping at opportunities and holding on to them with a firm grasp. Her journey to where she is today is inspiring and, in that regard, we wish her the absolute best come 2023.

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