From the winding hills of Stony Hill to the boardrooms of global finance, Dr Kesha S Christie’s journey to corporate leadership is marked by resilience and triumph, proving that no hardship is too great to overcome.

The founder of KCLH Full Business Solutions, Christie recently penned the book The Currency of Grit, which carries autobiographical elements. However, this book is not just her story of success.

“The Currency of Grit seeks to give hope and inspiration to individuals from underserved communities, as it reminds them that they already have everything in themselves to achieve success and that their start does not dictate their end. Additionally, the book is ideal for especially women and young girls who have struggled with childhood trauma and rejection as it delves into issues of identity, self-confidence and self-worth,” the businesswoman-turned author told Our Today.

She added that it can also be a resource for young professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs who can benefit from the lessons she shares about navigating corporate life and building a business from the ground up. The book aims to motivate readers as Christie shares her real-life transformation stories.

A brief history of Dr Kesha Christie

Born into a life of instability, Christie was thrust into adulthood far too soon. With an absentee father and a mother who left in search of a better future, she and her sisters had to navigate life on their own. For her, the eldest of the three, “the weight of provision and protection came down like a heavy axe—sharp, relentless, and unforgiving”.  

The author highlights how she endured emotional and physical abuse, betrayal, and the trauma of sexual grooming even before she was twelve years old. Yet, she refused to be a victim.

She has since learnt the art of survival despite having few options and no safety net. Navigating educational struggles, financial hardship, and professional barriers. Christie fought for her future, putting herself and her sisters through school, securing qualifications, and building a name in the corporate world.

Now a chartered accountant, business owner, global taxation expert and Justice of the Peace for the island of Jamaica, she founded in 2010, KCLH Full Business Solutions, a thriving consultancy that serves over 500 clients across industries and borders. The company is a financial solutions and business development services provider with offices in Kingston, Montego Bay, and recently in Linstead.

Christie has worked with notable local companies, including Manufacturers Merchant Bank, where she held the position of accountant, and later finance manager at GW Christie Limited. She was also senior audit manager at Mair Russel Grant Thornton.

Aside from her professional achievements, Christie prides herself on being a mother of boys and a committed Christian who dedicates time to mentoring women and young girls.

Commenting on Currency of Grit, the entrepreneur describes the book as “a testament to the power of vision, grit, and unwavering faith.” Moreover, she says it serves as a reminder “that survival requires strategy” and that individuals have the power to rewrite their stories.

Unlocking the value of The Currency of Grit

Here are five takeaways the author hopes to convey.

1. Grit is Greater than Circumstance: You may be born into lack, but you don’t have to live there. Dr. Christie’s life epitomises this by crediting her transformation to the hard and unconventional choices she made, coupled with having a clear vision and roadmap to achieve her goals.
2. Faith and Fierce Determination Go Hand in Hand: God will make a way, but you must be willing to walk it, whether hungry, barefoot, or broke. In retrospect, Dr Christie shared that it was God’s grace that kept her in some perilous situations as she navigated the hardships she endured.
3. Never Underestimate the Power of “Unqualified” People: You can rise even without connections, titles, or privilege. Growing up Dr Christie was considered an outcast by many due to her circumstances but used her solid education and skills to open many doors and prove herself.
4. Healing is a Process, but Purpose Makes It Worth It: Traumas don’t define you; your response does, so choose to turn your pain into purpose.
5. Everything You Need is Already in You: This is aptly the subtitle of the book, as it reinforces that our biggest resource is not money, it’s mindset.

Businesswoman-turned-author

When asked how she transitioned from a business mindset to that of an author, she told Our Today: “For someone used to balancing spreadsheets, writing this deeply personal book was a shift. I spent most of my career dealing with precision and numbers, not emotions and vulnerability. This story was years in the making because it required me to relive some of the hardest moments of my life.”

She added, “Writing the book was both therapeutic and terrifying, but ultimately worth it. I wanted people, especially women who have been silenced or sidelined, to see that their stories matter too.”