Voylla Highlights Strong & Empowered Women Around US - Ber Keating
Who am I?
My name is Ber and I’m from Ireland. I currently work in the NGO sector between Ireland and India, and I’m hugely passionate about public health and child education.
What has made you want to work for India?
Originally I came to India by chance, but thanks to a highly positive work experience and some fantastic friends, I’ve since returned every year. The kindness and warmheartedness of Indian people stands out above all. Although it’s been challenging at times, I've always felt welcomed when interacting with locals.
How do you balance your professional and personal lives differently?
My professional work and personal life are greatly mixed together during the week. My work often involves fundraising and other promotions that I need to use my personal contacts for, so I don’t like to completely separate the two sides. My work is my passion and it’s what I enjoy doing most, so I find that the balance with my personal life comes naturally. I don’t need to run away at the end of the day and look for something different. I spend time with my colleagues outside of work also, and am lucky to work with great people.
Most weekends I make travel plans with friends and see different parts of India. It’s a great way to take my mind off things as India is so diverse and you constantly learn something new on the road.
What do you think the biggest global feminist issue is?
Education equality. Especially in developing countries, gender equality and access to equal education and respect is an issue of utmost prominence. It is important to ensure that boys and girls get the same opportunities and prospects in life, and it's not all one-sided.
If you had the opportunity to get a message across to a large group of people, what would your message be?
-Be more grateful at home and more appreciative at work.
-You may be only one person, but you can make a difference. It only takes one idea. It’s not good enough to leave this world with a big bank balance; we should leave something useful on this earth that can help the next generation.
What in your life has brought or given you the greatest satisfaction or fulfillment? Looking back, what would you have done differently? What would you do again?
Life is always, and forever will be, predominantly about the people who feature in it. Having great friends, family and colleagues surrounding me has brought the greatest satisfaction in day-to-day life.
Looking back on my life, there’s very little I would do differently. Maybe I would think less seriously about having life figured out and fixed at such a young age. There is no one formula for life. We are all different and unique people. I've had wonderful opportunities to travel to different countries and meet people who have inspired and challenged me. I would do all of that travel again and again.
Stay tuned with Voylla ...
What has made you want to work for India?
Originally I came to India by chance, but thanks to a highly positive work experience and some fantastic friends, I’ve since returned every year. The kindness and warmheartedness of Indian people stands out above all. Although it’s been challenging at times, I've always felt welcomed when interacting with locals.
How do you balance your professional and personal lives differently?
My professional work and personal life are greatly mixed together during the week. My work often involves fundraising and other promotions that I need to use my personal contacts for, so I don’t like to completely separate the two sides. My work is my passion and it’s what I enjoy doing most, so I find that the balance with my personal life comes naturally. I don’t need to run away at the end of the day and look for something different. I spend time with my colleagues outside of work also, and am lucky to work with great people.
Most weekends I make travel plans with friends and see different parts of India. It’s a great way to take my mind off things as India is so diverse and you constantly learn something new on the road.
What do you think the biggest global feminist issue is?
Education equality. Especially in developing countries, gender equality and access to equal education and respect is an issue of utmost prominence. It is important to ensure that boys and girls get the same opportunities and prospects in life, and it's not all one-sided.
If you had the opportunity to get a message across to a large group of people, what would your message be?
-Be more grateful at home and more appreciative at work.
-You may be only one person, but you can make a difference. It only takes one idea. It’s not good enough to leave this world with a big bank balance; we should leave something useful on this earth that can help the next generation.
What in your life has brought or given you the greatest satisfaction or fulfillment? Looking back, what would you have done differently? What would you do again?
Life is always, and forever will be, predominantly about the people who feature in it. Having great friends, family and colleagues surrounding me has brought the greatest satisfaction in day-to-day life.
Looking back on my life, there’s very little I would do differently. Maybe I would think less seriously about having life figured out and fixed at such a young age. There is no one formula for life. We are all different and unique people. I've had wonderful opportunities to travel to different countries and meet people who have inspired and challenged me. I would do all of that travel again and again.
Stay tuned with Voylla ...
