Keethy started her career in the coffee estates, where opportunities were scarce. Seeking better prospects, she joined The Real Elephant Collective, initially working on stick cleaning. Breaking gender barriers, she became the first woman to join the Lantana Elephant making group. She vividly recalls creating her first elephant, a calf. She was very excited and took lots of photographs to commemorate the milestone. Now her six-year-old daughter, after observing her mother’s work is fascinated by elephants and does not miss any opportunity to see them. Despite personal losses, Keethy supported her family with the strength of a true matriarch. She continues to move forward, setting a powerful example for other women in the Lantana Elephant making group, and proudly leading the way.