Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarona Samaroo.
Hi Sarona, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started my journey with a love for human resource management. After studying Public Sector Management at the University of the West Indies Trinidad and Tobago, I specialised in Competency-Based Recruitment at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business. There I gained vital insight into the general management, business development, and personnel logistics within the Caribbean region’s Oil & Gas industry. At the age of 26 and ambitious graduate, I was stationed at an offshore recruitment project in Malaysia. At the time, I was the only woman on my team and successfully led the offshore recruitment project, gaining regional and international experience. That experience shaped and strengthened me to build the foundation for my current role as the youngest Female Executive in the Ramps Logistics Group of Companies.
My experience in the Energy sector with offshore recruitment, coupled with the organisational culture, leadership, and corporate values of Ramps Logistics, the parent company of El Dorado Offshore, inspired me to work at EDO. I live by the saying, “find a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life because it would not feel like work; it would become your passion.” I knew this was my true calling professionally when I started working at EDO; I seamlessly adapted to the culture, work, and team environment. EDO has become my passion.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have read numerous stories about women who have been overlooked for promotion or not respected simply because of their sex/gender. I remember being part of a team assigned to complete an offshore recruitment project in Miri, Sarawak – an island off Malaysia. I was the only female on the team and 26 years old. I remember hearing external persons question my ability to execute my assigned tasks effectively on the basis that I was not just a woman but a young woman at that. On completion of the project, my performance spoke for itself. The narrative soon shifted from being a young woman with little experience to a strong, technically-sound and “get-it-done” woman with big, game-changing ideas. Like all women, I know my innate abilities to build strong structures. Keeping things together, juggling multiple tasks at the same time, owning my silent confidence and seamlessly executing action plans was enough to make everyone in that Malaysian conference room, take note and pay attention to what women can do regardless of their age, size, ethnicity or nationality.
I have been fortunate to be surrounded and mentored by leaders, both men and women, who have always presented me with opportunities to utilise my skills and competencies to achieve my greatest potential and empowered me to build capacity with my team members. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, there is a perception that we are sometimes treated less favourably. However, with my experiences, determination, and resilience to stay the course and focus on the results and the impact I want to have, I have changed the narrative and used it to motivate me every day to be the best version of myself personally and professionally. I believe it is time to dispel the concept of glass ceilings. There should never be ceilings preventing women from upward mobility or the opportunities to realise their goals.
As a result of my humility, personality, hunger to learn and ability to pivot and adapt to any situation, I was able to attract the right allies and mentors at every stage of my life, academically, personally, and professionally. These allies and mentors encouraged me to be the One when the odds were One in a Million. They struck the delicate balance of not creating me based on their image but instead empowered me to keep pushing forward despite how stacked the odds may have been. As Vice President of El Dorado Offshore, I hope to use my dynamic personality to empower and inspire those around me to achieve their greatest potential.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
El Dorado Offshore (EDO) is a recruitment, manpower supply and personnel logistics company in the Energy and Non-Energy sector, operational in Trinidad, Guyana, and Suriname. EDO is dedicated to ensuring that our processes, practices and procedures are ethical, transparent and non-discriminatory to employees and prospective candidates. EDO provides a range of dynamic services to comply with International Quality Standards, including ISO 9001, TRACE, and the Maritime Labour Convention, and satisfy our customers’ expectations. We are committed to providing excellent service to our employees and clients for the best quality results and long-lasting relationships.
For more information visit our website: https://www.eldoradooffshore.com/services
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters in the new global economy is not just return on investment but more so return on imagination. My values align seamlessly with EDO’s values because I can use this forum to empower my team to be the best versions of themselves and bring their innovative ideas and authentic personalities to the table without fear of judgment or reprimand. My vision is for EDO to become the first manpower supply and recruitment company in the Caribbean to be established internationally. Our statistics show we are well on the way to achieving this as we have already started hiring persons from Europe, Latin America, and the USA for offshore projects internationally. We already have over 500 persons employed in the Caribbean in Trinidad, Guyana, and Suriname.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eldoradooffshore.com/services
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eldoradooffshore/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eldoradooffshore/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/EDO_Recruitment
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC86_ypR78DOj2_rvElhyIyw
