Schnoor tells women to fight for what they believe in

Addressing the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago’s (AMCHAM) Women’s Leadership Seminar, Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain yesterday Schnoor who is also head of the Bankers Association of Trinidad and Tobago shared how she stood up for what she believed in when it came to the FATCA debate.

“I have been asked many times if I am worried about all the public attention this issue has brought me personally and my simple answer is that, ‘always stand up for truth regardless of who steps on it’. I have spent 25 years working in this industry and working to help the clients it serves.

If I had backed down from this issue and all the possible implications it would have had on the financial services industry, what would that have said about me.

How could my clients ever trust that I would do what is right for them ever again,” she said.

Referring to this year’s theme for International Women’s Day, Be Bold for Change, Schnoor said, “Being bold means to me standing up and saying your truth and saying it proudly, even in the face of criticism.” She told the women in attendance that empowerment lies in honouring themselves and treating themselves with respect.

“Do not listen to the voices that say you are not capable of doing things and chasing your goals. The famous words of Eleanor Roosevelt remind us ‘no one can put you down without your permission’.

So i encourage you to go forth and be bold, take risks, do something new without anything or anyone holding you back,” she said.

AMCHAM CEO Nirad Tewarie lamented that there were not enough women in leadership positions in this country. He said there were two Boards of publicly listed companies where there was gender equity - Unilever and Scotia Investments according to the Securities Exchange Commission filings.

“The ratio in many cases is 70 percent some 90 percent of men to women so it is our view we need to have the conversation and we need to do something about it. We need to do better, we need t