“Because I don’t like the disrespect, I said okay… I’m just going to go and work on my own and that is how Lifestyle Concierge came about as a full-time role rather than a part-time role,” Rashawna Alleyne said. Lifestyle Concierge is a small business that focuses on real estate and accommodations, mainly for foreigners.
She explained that as a woman who often found herself in leadership positions, it was a challenge. She said she once worked at a company where she gained a managerial role due to her qualifications over a man who had more experience. It did not sit well with the man, Alleyne explained, and he circulated a rumour that she was promiscuous.
Eventually, Alleyne said, she was fired from the job after being blamed for 400 patties being spoiled. She denied any knowledge of this but felt it was the same co-worker who was conspiring to get the position. He managed to get it. There were other issues at the job before her firing. Whenever she had an idea, she said, she noticed that it would be shut down without consideration by her superiors but if a man pitched the same idea, it would be implemented. Alleyne recounted numerous instances where colleagues attempted to undermine her work, which she believes stemmed from insecurity and a perceived threat.
Despite achieving her master’s degree by the age of 25 and excelling in her corporate role, she faced criticism from colleagues with more seniority. However, she found this criticism to be unconstructive, as it often targeted her appearance rather than her performance. Alleyne, a self-professed fashion enthusiast, frequently wore colourful outfits to express her love for fashion. She remembered being admonished by a colleague, ‘It’s dress down Friday, not dress up Friday’. She noted that she was judged for her style choices.
Gender bias, she said, was just one of the numerous obstacles she faced. In sixth grade, she wore pants that were above her knees and was punished with lashes. She said that a lighter-skinned student wore even shorter pants without facing any consequences. Throughout the day, the teacher continuously punished Alleyne and shouted at her. That experience, she said, left her with a stammering problem, which she had to seek therapy for. Today, when she speaks in public, she relies on prescription drugs to manage her speech impediment.
Alleyne’s experiences with discrimination were multiple incidents and left a lasting impact. On one occasion, she said, she arrived at work with her natural hair, a departure from her usual straightened style, which caused a co-worker to react frantically. Prior to this, she had always adhered to the expectation of straightened hair in the workplace. On another occasion, Alleyne wore her hair braided to a corporate meeting, only to be told by a senior colleague that they preferred her with straight hair. The comment left her stunned, and she found herself unable to respond. Furthermore, she was labelled as “ghetto” due to her appreciation for dancehall music, with a colleague going so far as to disparage fans of Vybz Kartel as “dunce.”
She said because of these experiences in her workplace she was forced to become an entrepreneur and so far she has been able to manage and sustain herself. Alleyne believes that she has been able to escape due to her education and skills as a worker.
She has also been able to practise self-care to deal with some of the struggles she has encountered. She said music is therapeutic for her and she would often listen to it in times of stress. She also prays about situations, consults her friends for advice, and seeks help from friends. Alleyne also does bodybuilding, although not for stress relief. She explained that she has polycystic ovarian syndrome and it is important for her to stay fit and maintain a good body mass index so that when she is ready to have a child there are minimal complications.
Alleyne also gets to travel a lot and it says it gives her invaluable experience for her growth and opens up the possibilities of what can be accomplished. She explained that she does not procrastinate because time waits for no man and even though she is fit and a bodybuilder, she fell ill and was shocked when she found out that she had other health issues. She said it was important to not stay in a work environment for too long, especially if it is not good for your health.
Having a strong support system is also vital for Alleyne, who said her parents, siblings and friends are some of her biggest cheerleaders in life and since becoming an entrepreneur she has been better able to express herself with more authenticity.
