Before she was helping people build their careers, Keshala Knowles thought she’d spend her life saving children’s lives.
She possessed a fiery desire to help others. She set her sights upon pediatric care until one defining moment shifted her on a new course: one that would span decades, cross industries and ultimately lead her to the executive suite at Cable Bahamas, where she is now appointed Vice President of Human Resources.
A Change of Heart That Sparked a Calling
In her early teen years, Keshala imagined herself in medicine. But an incident when an occurred while helping to care for her newborn nephew, she realized medicine was not her life’s calling.
“That moment made me realize I didn’t want to spend my life working in medicine,” she recalled with a smile. “I loved helping people, but maybe not in that way.”
Then, fate intervened. In 1997, a young HR professional visited her high school to speak about careers in human resources, describing how fulfilling it was to help others find their purpose, chart their career paths, and grow into their potential.
“It was at this time that I made a decision to help people in a different way” Keshala said. “Not as a doctor treating patients, but by helping adults find direction and success in their own lives.”
That single encounter reshaped her purpose. Though the field was not as popular as it is today, Keshala made a quiet, yet fierce decision. As written in her high school yearbook, she would become a leader in the field of human resources.
A Career Built on Purpose
Over the next two decades, Keshala charted her career with precision and purpose.
“This appointment represents the fulfillment of a goal I set for myself early in my career,” she shared. “From the very beginning, I’ve been intentional about every step: the education I pursued, the mentors I aligned with and the opportunities I embraced along the way.”
Her journey took her across industries — aviation, hospitality, finance, and telecommunications — giving her a rare 360-degree perspective in her field. Along the way, she held senior leadership roles in talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, labor relations, and employee engagement, earning a reputation as a people-first strategist who understands that culture drives performance.
“I’ve always been guided by mentorship, authenticity, integrity, and continuous learning and growth,” she said. “Those values shape how I show up as a leader and how I help others show up for themselves.”
Leadership Through Intention
When Keshala joined Cable Bahamas Group as Director of Human Resources, she quickly became known for her collaborative leadership and her ability to align people development with business goals.
Her promotion to Group Vice President of Human Resources marks not just a personal achievement, but the fulfillment of an almost 30-year vision.
“One of my areas of focus is developing people,” she explained. “Helping them to better understand their value, how their work contributes to the bigger picture, and how they can grow into the best version of themselves.”
As she steps into her new role as Group Vice President, her focus lies on deepening the company’s investment in talent development, strengthening collaboration across departments, aligning performance and reward using data, and strengthening employee recognition initiatives.
“Along with the leadership team, I want to facilitate a culture where employees are not only supported but inspired to own their professional growth,” she said. “That means investing in leadership and skill development, creating clear pathways for growth, and recognizing the behaviors that truly drive our success. When our people feel valued, empowered and engaged, the entire organization thrives.”
Thinking Beyond HR
As the human resources field continues to evolve, it’s important to expand beyond policies and process. She believes HR leaders have a responsibility to think strategically and to understand the full landscape of the business they serve. “Today, human resources is at an inflection point, and key to our success is understanding human capabilities and stakeholder value”, Keshala shared.
“Think beyond HR,” she advised. “Position yourself as a strategic organization leader. People often see HR as an administrative support function, but in order to be effective you must align HR practices to business strategy and that cannot be achieved in a silo. Some of my most influential mentors weren’t HR professionals. They were VPs of Operations, Finance, and others who worked in key leadership roles throughout the organization. That exposure helped me develop a leadership mindset and become a business leader with HR expertise at my core.”
It’s a philosophy that has shaped not only her career but the culture she’s helping to foster at Cable Bahamas: one where HR is a driver of growth, not a department of checking the box.
Walking in Purpose
While her career is a story of discipline and determination, Keshala is the first to say that her success is not hers alone. Her journey from aspiring pediatrician to Group Vice President of Human Resources at Cable Bahamas is a story about the power of believing in what you’re called to do and not shying away from it.
When asked about her advice to young professionals searching for their fit in the workplace, her response is simple but powerful: stay curious, keep an open mind, and never stop learning.
“Every opportunity is a chance to grow,” she says. “Raise your hand, take the risk, and be visible. When you speak, add value. Growth happens when you step out of your comfort zone.”
True leadership in HR exceeds title and for Keshala Knowles, her purpose in profession and in life has always been clear: to help people, empower change and lead with faith.
