"Work is a day-to-day thing," says Dr. Carla Noel-Mendez. "Life is a day-to-day thing. What you have to do is live life one day at a time." At present, Dr. Noel-Mendez is Director, External Affairs and Community at BHP Billiton Trinidad and Tobago, handling a variety of internal and external communications projects. This follows on five years as Director of Tourism for the Trinidad and Tobago government, and a stint in marketing with Proctor and Gamble in Puerto Rico. "Most of my career has had some element of communications," she says, citing her early affinity for language and communications for having influenced her career to date. Her studies in languages at St. Augustine Girls' High School led to a national scholarship, which took her to UWI, St. Augustine for a first degree in Sociology and Management, which she obtained with First Class Honours and was named Student of the Year. After fulfilling the first part of her scholarship-mandated obligation to work locally, she took up a Rhodes scholarship to study at Oxford, where she obtained her PhD in Management. There, she was named Junior Dean of her College, a leadership role among students aimed at supporting other students. She returned to T&T in 1997.
As a woman performing in a high-level position in one of the most prestigious companies in the energy industry, one would imagine she faces a lot of opposition, covert or otherwise, simply by reason of her gender, but Dr. Noel-Mendez is emphatic that she has never encountered nor entertained the idea of such a problem. "BHP Billiton demonstrates equality of opportunity from the perspective of respect for people's abilities, and their aspirations to advance their career. Our global charter is very clear on respect for all, and I personally have found that to be true." This doesn't mean that she doesn't think that there are women out there who have to deal with gender issues in the workplace every day. "Globally, there is no doubt that some women believe there are challenges," she begins, but goes on to say that there is no reason sexism should be perceived as a greater challenge than any other. "Challenges exist in many spheres. There is a young man, Kern Tyson, who is visually impaired, who I first saw on a government programme, who has never let his situation stop him. He's a broadcaster and a cricket commentator, and very active in what he has to do."
Her advice to women, then, is that their challenges are no different from anyone else's. "There are thousands of challenges which we have to face throughout our lives. The magic is to overcome them. If the mountain didn't have folds, if it were smooth, we couldn't climb it. We would skate to the bottom. Better you have a challenge to make you strong, than no challenge at all." These 'folds in the mountains', as she calls them, are simply hand and foot-holds provided by God for us to use to move up. "We have to find out how God is going to let us figure it out this time." Brought up in a deeply religious Catholic family, she looks to Jesus' journey for inspiration whenever faced with mountains of her own. "We must live in spirit, faith and belief. All those who love the Lord will see things come together."
She expresses her love for her God in everything she does. Tutored in music by Lenore Samaroo at St. Augustine Girls' High School, and also by Louise McIntosh, she is a former pannist with Exodus with four Panoramas under her belt. She contributes her musical talent to the church, playing both the steel pan and the keyboards. She encourages her two young sons to become involved in the music as well, and sees her playing as a way to hopefully touch the lives of others. Even the brevity and unpredictability of life gives Dr. Noel-Mendez strength and motivation. "We are not promised tomorrow. We are not promised the next hour. We are promised now, and we are instructed by God to celebrate now, and give Him glory now. He gives us sufficient for NOW." But she admits that living in the now is difficult, because we are human. Asked to share advice with other women about managing both family and career, she uses simple, direct verbs. "Pray. Trust. Balance. Take care of yourself. Understand that you are given what you must handle, and you are given it to handle well. If you want to be strong, exercise your mind and spirit and work smart. Every day is a new gift, a blessing that will be lived once. Thank God. Embrace it. Give of your best. What you give comes back to you in time, many-fold."
