“As a qualified accountant, even though I am not practising, the knowledge I gained from pursuing ACCA helps me manage every aspect of our organization. It opened doors to me to serve my profession locally, regionally and internationally. Education is the key to success. Always remember to be humble, show gratitude for the lessons and learning and pay kindness forward.”
Denise Chinpire-O’Reilly is the Managing Director, K.S. Chinpire Contracting Services and most recently, was appointed as C0-Chair of the Energy Chamber’s inaugural Women in Energy task force. Mical Teja could well have been singing about Denise Chinpire O’Reilly when he sang the line ‘It in we DNA’ (DNA). For Denise, managing her family’s business seemed inevitable as she had been involved in the contracting company which she inherited from her father, even before graduating from Naparima Girls High School as a form five student. She remembers accompanying her father (along with her sister) to impromptu site visits and meetings on a Sunday morning when they should have been returning home with their purchases from a market trip. Although her dad is now deceased, Denise told us “Growing up we saw the business as part of our life, it was never an option to go our separate ways. As long as I can remember, my dad took every opportunity to ask if we wanted to join the business and if we could see ourselves working here; this was long before I had any idea of what this business truly entails.”
As another birthday approaches, Denise looks back with pride and the clear realization of how her family business has shaped her life and career: ‘I joined the family business as a full time employee after graduating from Form 5. I started as a timekeeper on a TAR in Hydro Agri (now YARA Trinidad ) working for minimum wage of $7.50. During high school I would assist with writing payroll cheques, reconciling TD4’s at the end of the year and helping with updating the books, as back then we were not computerized. Transitioning was easy as I was already familiar with the systems and was able to assist in the operations.”
While many might consider this as being handed a career on a platter, the reality was much more difficult “Learning about business with no other work experience was a challenge; I would attend conferences and seminars to learn and network and develop relationships that could add value to our company, trying to absorb all the content. One can also appreciate the determination which it would have taken for Denise who admitted that “I really did not want to come into this business I wanted to be a lawyer and gain independence from the constant eyes of my dad, but when I started to work at KSCCSL I saw the true value of our business, the influence my dad had in the sector and the opportunities that presented itself for our growth and expansion. Being part of that journey and learning under his wings motivated me and I have got to a place where I can confidently say I love my job.”
To further amplify her knowledge and capability as a business leader, Denise joined the Couva Point Lisas Chamber as an executive, a role which helped her to learn about business from a different perspective and gain vital Board experience with valuable exposure to governance structures and protocols. In sharing about the idiosyncrasies of family businesses, Denise explained “I was able to forge relationships with the business community especially the ones that were family businesses. Family businesses operate in a unique style and having that supportive community certainly made me understand the day-to-day operations better; it was not our family alone that held meetings at the dinner table.”
Since that initial exposure, Denise has served on other boards including “Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad and Tobago (ICATT) where I served as President, the Institute of Chartered Accountant of the Caribbean (ICAC) where I represented Trinidad and Tobago and even globally at International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) where I serve on a committee representing the Caribbean.”
Denise has experienced many periods of flux in the energy industry, having spent the last 30 years of her life in the downstream sector, a predominantly male-dominated one. Despite what many may believe or expect, Denise was very open regarding the challenges she encountered as a female contractor “The support system to thrive in this industry came from male figures; I never had a female role model to look up to or to get advice from, as many of my friends ventured into corporate roles which is quite different. Having someone to compare notes with was non-existent and that made it very difficult to navigate this space. It’s a unique space to operate in as a woman”. It is well known that female contractors are rare in Trinidad and Tobago and Denise acknowledged that her father’s firm approach helped: “I am thankful that my father did not give us the easy road to learn; I was held accountable for my actions and I was not spared the industrial language so I had to adapt to the harshness of the business and he never kept me away from difficult conversations. He included us in every aspect of the business and although his methods may not be the traditional parenting with the hand holding, he did it in his way and that made us the resilient businesswomen we are today, with the ability to handle any conflict or personality without flinching.”
The enormity of the responsibility of being at the helm of a family business that is three generations old is ever prevalent in Denise’s mind and she admitted that ‘The legacy of the company lies in the decisions that I make on a daily basis; it’s a lot of responsibility and I take this role very seriously especially now with the economic changes and challenges in the energy sector. It’s important for companies similar to ours to remain resilient and steer the ship through the rough waters and huge waves while also offering the reassurance to the team.”
Having been introduced to business at a very young age, and also having surmounted many obstacles over the years, Denise is keenly aware of what is required to succeed in this dynamic sector. Her advice to young people with the desire to enter the sector
is that “you must be able to develop the culture required to survive; it’s definitely not for the weak. Your heart cannot be worn on your sleeve. The industry hardens you and your biggest asset is knowledge and the ability to listen and learn and not carry a “know it all” mentality.”
Despite the ups and downs and the acknowledgement that the current energy sector landscape is not what it used to be, Denise is positive that these difficulties aren’t insurmountable “There are lots of new developments that’s changing the way we do business, it’s a time to go back to the drawing board and re-strategize using a different business model. What worked in the most recent past (as in 6 months ago) no longer applies now, we must be innovative and use the tools available to manage costs, quality and clients’ expectations.” And like many business owners, it is her firm belief that “Collaboration among local entities should be encouraged for us all to be successful, the pie has shrunk and we can all get a little piece. Establishing strong business connections and networking is also key to keeping us informed of all new developments.”
Cognizant of the significant role that their employees have played in ensuring the success of K.S Chinpire Contracting long before she took over leadership and especially now under her watch, a key objective for the company is supporting families “Whether it’s through our charity work in the community or by simply ensuring my employees can put bread on their tables. Our company is an extension of our own family; we celebrate wins and grieve losses together. This is where everyone should feel safe as we spend most of our days together.”
Denise’ recent appointment as the Chairperson of the Energy Chamber’s Women in Energy Task Force seems like a natural fit for Denise. Having had to navigate the contracting and downstream sector, a space where women were a rarity, Denise is of the view that “Women need to be more vigilant and vocal; we must highlight the issues we are facing, eg- you go to seminar or conference, ask the question why are there not more female presenters? At work in committees, ask the question why are more women not being on boarded to join the various teams? Why are more women not in the board room or the control rooms? If we continue to operate in silent silos, we will remain there and an entire generation of female leaders will be overlooked. Visibility brings opportunities”. In suggesting this bold approach, she also added that remaining silent could lead capable and talented young women to seek opportunities outside of Trinidad and Tobago “We have brilliant young ladies in our country and if we are not recognizing their value, they will explore opportunities where they are being valued.”
In winding up our chat with her, Denise paid tribute to her family and especially her parents (both of whom are no longer around, her mom having passed only a couple weeks ago), “I am truly thankful for my family, my parents who came from very humble beginnings and gave us the gift of an education, the best that they could offer and an upbringing that kept us very grounded.” The business is co-managed by her sister, and she acknowledged the significance of her contribution to the operations “My sister operates as my clone when needed, supporting me in every aspect of my life; I can lean on her for anything.” Family is a frequently used word coming from Denise and it’s clear that it is the foundation upon which her success and that of the business is built, “My husband and 3 kids keep me happy and bring me so much joy and peace, both of which are needed for this complex world we live in. My family is everything to me and makes me who I am. Their support and love makes the job easier.”
Her final thoughts as we concluded? “As a qualified accountant, even though I am not practicing, the knowledge I gained from pursing ACCA helps me manage every aspect of our organization. It opened doors to me to serve my profession locally, regionally and internationally. Education is the key to success. Always remember to be humble, show gratitude for the lessons and learning and pay kindness forward.