#WomensMonth: 'Always be true to who you are' - Kerry Morris, Tower Group

Kerry Morris, CEO of the Tower Group

Morris's exceptional people skills have helped her create solid, long-lasting relationships with staff and clients alike. During her time with the Tower Group, Morris has been instrumental in implementing an authentic and diverse workplace culture, enabling her teams to successfully navigate their way through the Covid-19 pandemic.

This Women's Month, we chat to Morris about her journey and experience as CEO, her wishes for women in the corporate world and the importance of being authentic.

Tell us a little bit about yourself...

Kerry Morris: I am 38 years old, CEO / Director of Tower Group – a national recruitment, business solutions company with 60 staff nationwide. I am passionate about key-quality human resources, building long lasting relationships, and I’m an advocate for empowering women in business.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced as a female CEO and how did you overcome them?

Morris: I have had many challenges being a female CEO, and at a fairly young age. Externally in the corporate world, often women are overlooked, over-ruled and undervalued – I didn’t let this throw me off course, I had a mission and I continued to forge forward on my mission, adding value as a women in business.

What do you believe women bring to the workplace that you feel men don’t?

Morris: I believe as woman we bring emotion and empathy to the workplace, which is definitely needed to create a balance and introduce a safe space for vulnerability.

What can women do to positively stand out among male applicants in the job market?

Morris: Believe in their abilities, stand firm in the value they believe they can add and most of all, be authentically themselves.

If you could change one thing in the corporate world to assist women become the most successful version of themselves, what would it be?

Morris: The corporate world is demanding, and for many women I see their struggles daily in trying to excel in corporate, as well as be a mother and homemaker. More and more these days I am seeing a need for women to have the flexibility to be both a present mother as well as build their corporate career. If I could change one thing, it would be to find the balance of corporate / motherhood to assist women to become the most successful, happy version of themselves.

If you could have dinner with any three women – dead or alive – who would they be and why?

Morris: My mother, whom I am very blessed to still have beside me in my daily life – she is my role model and whenever I have the opportunity to have dinner with her – I grab it with both hands!

My Gran, who passed away. I didn’t get the chance to know her, and I would love to have had a relationship with the woman that raised my mother!

Princess Diana, I would love to hear all about life as a Princess!

What is your message to young women this Women’s Month?

Morris: Always be true to who you are, you can achieve anything you set your sights on!