60 seconds with Ketty
Meet our newest team member - Ketty Lawrence, who will be joining BE-ST over the next 12 months as Associate Director of Stakeholder Engagement. We’ve asked her some quick-fire questions in a '60 Seconds With' spotlight to help get to know her a little better.
What inspired you to join the built environment sector?
The built environment is all around us, yet we often take it for granted. It's one of Scotland's biggest sectors and has a huge impact on our economy, society and environment. I’m excited by the opportunity it presents to help Scotland tackle some of its biggest challenges - creating good jobs, improving health and wellbeing, addressing the housing crisis and achieving our climate ambitions.
I want to help people see the built environment as a powerful driver of positive change.
What's your career been like up to this point?
Varied. I graduated in Economics and Business, started out in advertising and design, then creative technology. Ten years ago, someone encouraged me to move into skills and inclusion, where I discovered my passion for purpose-led work.
The common thread throughout my career has been bringing people, ideas and organisations together to create meaningful change.
Up until now, my work has focused on creating positive change for our people and economy. I'm excited to bring the environment into that mix to help create a better future for Scotland.
What's your biggest professional achievement?
The achievements I'm most proud of are the ones that have made a real difference to people's lives. Whether that's helping someone gain new skills, build confidence, feel a greater sense of belonging or access new opportunities, the positive outcomes are what matter most to me. I've had the privilege of leading a wide range of programmes over the years, but it's seeing the impact on real people that gives me the greatest sense of achievement.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
"You can do anything, but you can't do everything."
It's a simple reminder to focus on where you can add the greatest value and to recognise the strengths that others bring. None of us can solve Scotland's biggest challenges alone. Whether we're tackling housing, health or climate, lasting change comes when people understand the role they can play, work to their strengths and collaborate across the system. That's where the real magic happens.
What's your life motto?
"Leave everything better than you found it."
Whether that's a project, a team, a relationship or a place, I always try to make things better. If we all play our part in driving improvement (no matter how small), then we can achieve lasting positive change.