1 month ago
7
Dr Karrian Hepburn Malcolm has been a well-known figure in the banking industry for almost two decades. Her journey in the field has taken her around the world, with her most recent role seeing her oversee the National Commercial Bank’s Wealth Management division.
With experience like that, it’s no surprise that some of her fellow bankers were surprised to learn she was working on a début single titled Guide Me in My Purpose.
“They were really, really surprised. Some of them kind of knew I liked singing, but to think that I would have written, sang and recorded an actual song is something that they never expected to hear,” Hepburn Malcolm said. “Despite their shock, their comments and feedback have been amazing. Persons have been saying that this is exactly what they needed, or that it was inspirational, or that it sounded good. And that made me feel really good,” she continued.
The 44-year-old explained that while she had always enjoyed singing, she had never taken it this far. Venturing into new territory was daunting, but with the help of veteran music producer Mikey Bennett, she was able to find solid ground.
“This is where I really have to big up Mikey Bennett, my producer. Of course, Mikey is a veteran in the business, so when I had this strong pulling to do something with the creative talent that God has blessed me with, I know I needed someone to help guide me through this process,” Hepburn Malcolm said.
“When I first sat down with Mikey, he basically taught me the fundamentals of songwriting – mind you, he still had to hold my hand through this whole process. So, he told me that when writing a song, you need to figure [out] who is talking to who, and that gave me like a great framework.”
Now that she had the platform and the know-how, all she needed was the subject matter. Reflecting on her life, experiences and upbringing, she realised there was no better way to encourage others than by speaking to their purpose.
“This song is like a prayer or a request of God for me. For Him to give me the knowledge and the wisdom and the discernment to continue discovering and uncovering my purpose. I don’t feel like I have self-actualised or figured out all the pieces of my purpose as yet and so it was really important for me to speak about my truth,” Hepburn Malcolm explained.
As she continued to ponder on her own purpose-finding mission, Hepburn Malcolm came across several revelations.
“What I have discovered is that within the purpose can be a number of things – almost like a multipronged approach. So I think I am walking in my purpose by being in banking and helping people achieve financial freedom…but I also feel like another part of my purpose is to help aspiring persons in the corporate space to realise their dreams of expressing themselves,” she said.
Hepburn Malcolm hopes that her song will continue to be that guiding light for those in need, and she is encouraging anyone else with a burning need to express themselves to follow in her footsteps.
“This process has made me feel so fulfilled – like I have satisfied a portion of my inner self in this grand scheme of life. And so, I definitely think it is worth it for people to explore their talents, whether it be poetry, cooking, or even writing,” she added.
On the importance of exploring one’s hidden abilities, she told The Gleaner,
“I believe most humans are blessed with more than one talent, and what are the odds of our jobs capturing all of that? Yes, you might be passionate and gifted in what you do, but I feel like there is more than can be uncovered.”
English (US) ·