‘She led with heart’

WESTERN BUREAU:

There are leaders who follow the rules, and there are leaders who rewrite the story. For the Rotary Club of Montego Bay (RCMB), Nerissa Persaud did both, while inspiring an entire organisation to rise with her.

The Rotary Club of Montego Bay earned Rotary International’s second highest honour in 2025, the District Governor's Award, a global benchmark recognising clubs that exceed expectations in service, innovation, and impact. The award was for the achievements of the club during Persaud’s notable 2024-2025 administration.

But for Persaud, it was never about the accolades.

“I didn’t pursue the diamond. I pursued impact,” she said. “And when your heart is in the right place, recognition becomes a by-product of doing what matters most.”

When Persaud joined the club on February 14, 2022, she did not intend to lead it. Within weeks, however, she was appointed director of new generations, where she quickly demonstrated a unique ability to mobilise, engage, and inspire.

“To be honest, I didn’t think the role of club secretary, or any leadership role, was for me at the time,” she shared. “I respected the structure, but I also knew what season I was in. I had just come to Jamaica, I was rebuilding, and I wanted to serve; but I needed to serve where my heart and skills aligned.”

Raised in Guyana, Persaud grew up with Rotary in her blood. Her grandfather, a Rotarian, often brought home Rotary magazines, which she would flip through as a child, curious about the world and the kind of people who gave back so consistently.

“Rotary always represented integrity to me,” she recalled. “It wasn’t about meetings. It was about character, the kind you carry into every room, every decision, every relationship.”

Years later, that ethos would define her presidency.

While the District Governor's Award is an notable achievement, those who served with her say Persaud’s real impact was personal. She shifted the club’s energy. She gave people purpose. Above all, she made them feel seen.

REFLECTION

Joan Johnson, who served as service projects director during Persaud’s administration, offered a heartfelt reflection.

“Her unwavering dedication to our service projects has been nothing short of inspirational. She showed me what it means to truly embody the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self’. Through her vision and determination, we were able to touch lives in our community and way beyond,” Johnson said.

“What stands out most to me is that she led with not just competence, but with heart. Her supportive presence created a space where, as service project director, I felt empowered to contribute my best. She provided a steady hand in moments of challenge, and her genuine joy multiplied our collective happiness in moments of triumph.

“I treasure the moments we created, those very early mornings, late-night sessions, and the breakthroughs when we realised the difference we were making together. Her friendship has meant the world to me. As I come to the end of my journey with RCMB, I do so with admiration and appreciation for President Nerissa. I’m leaving the club, but I know her continued energy will help it grow from strength to strength.”

Johnson’s words encapsulate the very essence of Persaud’s impact, an impact felt not only in projects completed or awards received, but in the way she made others feel seen, valued, and capable.

Persaud’s route to the presidency was unconventional. Traditionally, club members serve in key roles, like secretary, before ascending to the top. However, change was needed, and Persaud brought with her the rare blend of organisational acumen, global experience, and heartfelt service. The club amended its by-laws to reflect a new direction, and a new kind of leader.

“Rotary is not just about titles. It’s about timing,” she explained. “And I think I walked in when the club needed a recalibration, a reminder of who we are and what we can be.”

She focused on restructuring, reviving public engagement, and, most importantly, rekindling the spirit of service among members.

“I wanted Rotary to feel alive again. I wanted people to look at us and think, ‘I want to be part of that.’ We needed to become magnetic, relevant, modern, and deeply human.”

RECONNECTING TO CHILDHOOD CALLING

Persaud’s path to Montego Bay has been linear. A seasoned leadership consultant and founder of the Corporate Learning Concierge, she has lived and worked in nine countries, including Malaysia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Yet, it was in Jamaica, a place she now calls home, where she found herself reconnecting with her childhood calling.

“When I moved here and found myself surrounded by Rotarians again, I knew it was time,” she said. “You don’t always understand your journey until you look back and realise every step was preparing you for the next.”

As a wife and mother of two teenagers, Persaud balances her professional and personal worlds with what she calls “graceful urgency”, an approach that allows her to lead with conviction while remaining present.

“I don’t believe in compartmentalising purpose. Whether it’s Rotary, family, or business, I show up with the same values: kindness, clarity, and consistency.”

Though her term as president concludes this year, Persaud’s journey in the Rotary club is only beginning. She has moved up to district membership engagement chair, tasked with strengthening clubs across the region and helping them attract younger, purpose-driven members.

“It’s not just about growing numbers,” she said. “It’s about building belonging. People don’t join clubs, they join causes. My job is to help Rotary become that cause for the next generation.”

As the curtain falls on a groundbreaking year, Persaud’s legacy is not only etched in the club’s first-ever platinum citation, but in the hearts of those she led, empowered, and inspired.

“We are people of action,” she said simply. “We serve not for applause, but because it’s the right thing to do. And we lead not from the front, but from the centre, where everyone matters.”

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com

A YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENT

Nerissa Persaud’s award recognition was no accident. It was the result of a year packed with purpose, marked by hands-on community projects that tackled real needs across western Jamaica.

From early on, she set out to ensure the club’s presence was not just symbolic, but, felt, seen and heard.

“You don’t lead with strategy alone,” she said. “You lead with heart and service. Our projects weren’t just line items on a report, they were lifelines to people who needed hope.”

Under her presidency, the Rotary Club of Montego Bay delivered a calendar of meaningful, high-impact projects that touched lives across age groups, sectors, and parishes:

· July 2024: Following Hurricane Beryl’s devastation, she spearheaded relief efforts in Parottee and Black River, then launched a Beat-the-Heat initiative, providing aid to damaged schools still in session under extreme temperatures.

· That same month, the maternity waiting room at the Type 5 Clinic in Montego Bay was refurbished and brightened with a custom mural, offering comfort and psychological safety to mothers and newborns.

· September: A literacy distribution programme was launched at Buckingham and Salt Spring Primary Schools, later expanding to the Montego Bay Parish Library. The initiative delivered hundreds of books to support after-school and homework programmes for children ages 4–12.

· November: In a fusion of fashion and philanthropy, the club hosted Cocktail and Couture—a first-of-its-kind fashion show that promoted local designers while raising funds for the Rotary Foundation’s work in health, literacy, and peacebuilding.

· December: The club partnered with GWEST to host a community health fair, reaching vulnerable residents in Montego Bay with vital medical services.

· January 2025: Students at Mt Alvernia High, Montego Bay High, and Cornwall College benefited from vocational training workshops aimed at skill-building and career awareness.

· February: Persaud oversaw the creation of peace murals at the Montego Bay Parish Library and led the refurbishment of its long-neglected grounds, including the installation of long-missing signage.

· March: Two schools - Orange Hill Primary and Cambridge High, saw the launch of a major Water and Sanitation Project, improving hygiene and infrastructure for hundreds of students.

· May: The year culminated with the club’s Annual Scholarship Giving, awarding six scholarships to students from Mt. Alvernia, Herbert Morrison, and Irwin High Schools, ensuring education remained a central pillar of the club’s mission.

“You don’t need to have millions to make an impact,” Persaud said. “You just need the will, the right team, and a belief that what you’re doing matters.”

Her initiatives not only helped earn the platinum citation, they also reminded Montego Bay of what true Rotary leadership looks like, practical, compassionate, and committed to the community in every way.