Professional Introduction  

Cressundra Alvës is the Chief Operating Officer of Reverside. She has a BA Honors in Business Studies along with the relevant certifications to stay abreast of organizational changes and how they affect the overall business operations for all relevant stakeholders affected or influenced by change to ensure continuous business sustainability.  

Highlight Experience Journey  

Cressundra’s journey started officially at Reverside in 2009, where she gradually grew within the ranks with the help of her first and current mentor Partha Basu who is one of the co-founders of our organization. During the years she applied her theoretical and level of experienced knowledge to her everyday life experience within and outside of our organization to better herself in her professional career and personal development to serve and contribute to our employee’s success and our business’s success.  

When Cressundra self-reflects on the past she looks at any lost opportunities that could be recouped realistically twice as much than the lost opportunity to anticipate how she can reshape the organization going forward together with the inclusion of our valued stakeholders, which is proven by her 6 times award-winning for dedicated and service excellence awards record along with the number of company strategic initiatives that yielded positive results to our employees and growth of our organization.  

As Cressundra evolved into this role she learned and continued to learn the important characteristics of successful leadership that drive the culture, people morale and productivity, and the overall success and sustainability of the business. The principles she regularly followed and instilled not only in herself but also share with others are communication, integrity, self-awareness, and acknowledgment of being wrong and apologizing, whereas her personal favorites are adaptability to change, empowerment, and continuous learning.  

Proven value of Cressundra’s contribution to our organisation is:  

• Open door policy 
• Empowerment 
• Equality 
• Diversity 
• Retention 
• Protection of the business from legal risks
• Strategic Planning and Execution 
• Team collaboration 
• Process optimization 
• Resource and Budget allocation 

As her journey continues the more she has to come to understand: 

• You are in control of your own green grass, as you patiently nurture it, its nature is to yield positive results in other words what you put in is what you expect to get out 

A quote that resonates with Cressundra is “If your actions inspire others to dream more, do more and become more, your are a leader”- John Quincy.  She hopes that she inspires many others whose paths cross hers.

The Modern Women:

“Freedom cannot be achieved unless women have been emancipated from all kinds of oppression-Nelson Mandela” 

With the coming age of women empowerment, this has enabled women to see beyond the norm from their past upbringing and place within the household.  The birth of the women empowerment culture has opened doors to many young and mature women from all walks of life. This groundbreaking phenomenon plays a significant role within today’s society through its efforts to enable women their right to equal opportunities, entitlement to their own choice in decision making, and the provision of the necessary supporting tools, resources and education to contribute positively to the continuity of a sustainable world.

Within its center, emphasis is placed on the importance of striving towards gender equality, to increase women’s participation and representation in the decision-making of economic, development, and societal changes. Women are now exposed to many other opportunities by enabling them to become a woman in business driving their careers. It can be challenging at times based on the major hurdle contributor of accepting women in the workplace, especially in leadership positions, transformation of this acceptance is slow but is slowly becoming the norm.

How do I contribute to make an environment that supports women’s empowerment?

We all play a part in the upliftment and empowerment of women throughout our everyday life. I for one assist women through several initiatives such as equipping current and aspiring young leaders with the proper guidance and mentorship through their personal and professional lives. Listening to their goals will positively impact the organization which will have a direct effect in our external environment based on the part we play within our society. By providing the necessary support and encouragement that allows them to persevere forward no matter the obstacles they may face. Having policies and procedures in place in the workplace that protect women from bullying, harassment, freedom of opinion, training, mentorship, leadership, rewards, and recognition, all together under a safe working environment.

How do I contribute to promoting growth within the IT space?

My view on this is not only to focus on the promotion of growth within the IT space but to view this on an overall level, department, and job specific within any organization or industry of professional trade.

I continuously work on and look for ways to create and nurture an inclusive culture and create opportunities for women to thrive within their career areas. I contribute to this cause by leading by example in showcasing my commitment to gender equality and inclusion, it’s just as important as any other policy or standard practice within the organization. 

Working together with the relevant departments to create, implement and follow through policies and practices that support women through training and development, equal pay for equal work, access to mentorship and leadership programs, work-life balance and anti-discrimination policies. I advocate for diverse hiring and promotion practices by seeking out the women within and/or outside of our organization to have equal opportunities to advance within their roles. 

Continuously encourage mentorship to aspiring leaders whether it is I or leaders in current positions to grow, mentor, coach, and uplift young aspiring delegates. Our feedback mechanisms are available either by following an open-door policy or suggestion logbook or surveys. Lastly, through our recognition policy to celebrate and give praise to women to continue discovering their potential and realize nothing is impossible, opportunities in growing are endless.  

Share examples you were a part of to advance women’s empowerment (initiatives/programs)?

I have been and currently still a part of the following initiative program that allows women to advance by empowering themselves through training and development, mentoring and coaching, recognition and awarding, policy creation, implementation, and execution to ensure it becomes part of our organization’s DNA, hiring and promotion or advancement within their careers, retention and inclusion of decision making.

What strategies have you employed to mentor and guide upcoming women leaders within the organization or in general, helping them navigate their career paths?

A few strategies that I do follow to empower women within our organization are:

• • Personalized strategic growth plans
  • Training and development of individualized planning
  • Keeping an open-door policy that allows for direct access to the high-ranking leaders for women to get in touch with when required or mentorship assistance

I do believe within the next coming years there will be a balance of overall equal opportunities between women and men that will result in endless possibilities, opportunities, and substantial goals being met throughout every profession and industry that will yield astonishing results to making the world a better place. 

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