WeLead Conference – “Everything that is inside you is your potential” – Minister Ramson encourages women to lead boldly

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr on Saturday delivered a powerful address as the first-ever male speaker at the WeLead Association Conference, held at the Pegasus Corporate Suites, Kingston, Georgetown.
The conference, under the theme “Women Building Global Bridges”, brought together female leaders from across Guyana to inspire, empower, and encourage them to take up space in leadership and society.
Addressing the gathering as a male ally, Ramson, referring to the concept of “psychocybernetics”, emphasised that leadership begins with mental preparation long before a title is conferred, sharing how he had mentally prepared himself for the role of Minister years before his appointment in 2020.
He also highlighted the progress women have made in leadership, reaffirmed that women are equally capable leaders, and encouraged participants to reject outdated limitations, build meaningful networks, and actively contribute wherever opportunities arise.

Reflecting on the historical fight for equality, Minister Ramson noted that in 1920s England, the right to vote was a strictly qualified privilege for women and was only obtained through struggle. This is entirely unthinkable for this generation and the previous one.
While acknowledging that current global leadership metrics remain in the low double digits, with women heading 11 per cent of Fortune 500 companies, alongside 16 female heads of state and 28 heads of Government globally, the Minister pointed out, “Seventy years ago, that number was a staggering zero. While the numbers are still low, women continue to make a definitive, undeniable impact. The trend is moving upward, slow but sure.”
He further highlighted Guyana’s milestone constitutional reform in the early 2000s, which legally mandates that at least one-third of parliamentary representatives must be women, ensuring that any young girl in Guyana can look at the highest levels of governance and see a clear path for her own aspirations.
Present at the conference were Director of Culture Tamika Boatswain and Assistant Director of Sport Melissa Dow-Richardson, both of whom were recognised by Minister Ramson for their exemplary leadership and significant contributions to the development of culture and sport in Guyana.
In closing, Ramson reminded attendees, “Everything that is inside you is your potential, and the only person who can unlock it is you. There is nothing worse than wasted potential.”