PUBLISHER’S NOTE Garth Walker Managing Editor
" The time is long overdue for women to dream the possible dream" - from New York Times bestselling book, Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO. This is an exciting issue for me, particularly because of its focus on powerful women who are making a difference in Jamaica. While we live in a country where our mothers and grandmothers have a impact on the raising of our children and the everyday running of our economy, it has been my experience that at the boardroom level, there is still room for a greater female presence. I am fortunate to be surrounded - both in my personal and professional life - by a cabal of smart, industrious, change-making women. In this issue, we are pleased to feature some of Jamaica's leading entrepreneurial game-changers and yes, they happen to be women. Our team of writers has gleaned insights on the challenges and obstacles faced by these women and also highlighted their coping strategies, and the rewards of success. It is my hope that the Jamaica of the future will be home to an increasingly receptive entrepreneurial environment for bright and hardworking women and men. Enjoy.
Leighton Davis Managing Editor
Women and Wealth. This issue features three powerful female business leaders who are breaking the mold of traditionally male-dominated roles in the business world. It is always a challenge to maintain being on top, mixed with the responsibilities of also being mothers and wives at the same time. Balancing your time and leading a multimillion dollar organisation with hundreds of employees during these times truly takes "the strength of a woman". In many ways, the increased number of women in managerial positions has helped to transform businesses into more efficient and productive entities. Today, our businesses are better organised and more in tune with the needs of our clients. I genuinely believe that many of these improvements are directly attributable to the presence of more women in the boardroom, making more and more transformational decisions. Thanks to women like the ones we feature in this edition, both boys and girls can aspire to manage large companies and lead successful lives of distinction. I applaud these ladies and must say, it is a pleasure to have such a diverse group to feature in this our 17th issue.
Publisher
Managing Editors Garth Walker Leighton Davis
Brand Manager
The Editor’s Survey
Simone Riley
Sales Executives Allawney McIntyre Corey Scott Safiya Carroll
Cover Photography William Richards
Cover Location
Spanish Court Hotel
Cover Make-Up
Chic Image Consultancy
Cover Stylist
Kerry Clarke KERRY manwomanhome
Cover Design
Denieze Anderson
Designer
Conroy Green
Photography Kristen Landell
Printers
The Herald Printers Ltd.
“This is a man’s world. But it wouldn't be nothing without a woman or a girl.” When soul legend, James Brown, puts vocals to those lyrics in 1966, I highly doubt he was specifically speaking about the Jamaican business sector. But the truth about the world at the time he sang it was a story of male domination in most spheres of life. However, much has changed since 1966. In many respects, it is not a man’s world anymore; although it still would be nothing without the contribution of women to development. Women, through sheer perseverance and determination, moved up the social, political and professional hierarchies and taken their place at the summit of society. In recent times, women have risen to the top positions in professions that have traditionally been bastions of male domination. They have shattered the glass ceiling and have made the boardroom their own space. In this, our 17th edition of Wealth Magazine, we shine the light of public focus on the women behind some of the strongest brands in Jamaica. The stories we will tell you are an inspiration – not only to every young girl who might read them – but they are also testament to the fact that all of us can achieve our goals if we apply ourselves. So from James Brown in 1966 to Orville ‘Shaggy’ Burrell almost 40 years later, we move from admitting that it's a man’s world to celebrating the Strength of a woman. Thankfully, societies and cultures are dynamic and constantly changing. Have a read of our features in this edition and a glimpse at how far we have come. Cheers, Dennis Brooks Guest Editor-in-Chief @dennisbroox
Contributors Laura Tanna
Ryan Strachan
author of the books Baugh: Jamaica’s Master Potter and Folk Tales and Oral Histories with DVD and CD versions as well as the CD Maroon Storyteller. She does interviews and writes on art, culture and travel for various publications.
is the Manager of Wealth Division at Stocks & Securities Limited and can be reached at rstrachan@sslinvest.com.
Garth O. Williams
Shelly Anglin Smith
is a vibrant, creative, intelligent communications professional and father. Follow him on twitter @ohGarth.
is a freelance writer who has contributed to various publications over the years. She is also a communications professional. And although she has worked in a myriad of areas, writing holds a special place in her heart.
Rese Young is a certified health & lifestyle coach, and motivational speaker, with expertise in the art of personal transformation and development. Rese works with Corporate companies hosting wellness workshops, seminars and talks on various health topics.
Aida Davis
is an insurance advisor with Guardian Life Limited and can be reached at 876-564-4290
Kimesha Walters
Christopher Reckord
Arvel Grant
Tanesha Samuels
is a trained journalist with experience in the local print media. She is also a communications professional who specializes in public relations.
is a technology evangelist and it strategist on a mission to help businesses and entrepreneurs create wealth and maximise opportunities using technology. Questions and comments may be sent to arvel.grant@gmail.com.
is a businessman, entrepreneur and wine enthusiast. For a decades, his love for the wine business has seen him become the leading local voice on the subject. His entrepreneurial ventures include leading IT solutions provider Innovative Corporate Solutions, Bin 26 Wine Bar, and Devine Wine. Follow him on twitter @Reckord.
is a consummate professional and holds an MBA in finance (Dist) and BSc in Earth Sciences (honours) from the University of the West Indies, Mona. She serves as the assistant manager of Bio-Tech R&D Institute and Procurement Specialist with the USAID Climate Change Project at Environmental Health Foundation. She enjoys reading, swimming, hiking and photography.
Zina Edwards Malcolm
Steve Jones
Andreen Rose-Cephas
Latoya West-Blackwood
born in Bermuda, studied in Canada, worked in the US and explored Africa’s Okavanga Delta, has fallen in love with Jamaica. She works at CGR Communications.
is a LCGI/Trichologist, lecturer HCBS proprietor Hair Extreme Beauty and Barber concept
Steve Jones is the author of the marketing book Brand Like a Rock Star: Lessons From Rock ‘n’ Roll to Make Your Business Rich and Famous. He has spent nearly 30 years in the music business, developing successful radio brands in the Caribbean, USA, and Canada. An in-demand public speaker, Steve also writes a popular marketing blog at www.brandlikearockstar.com. On Twitter, Steve is @rockstarbrands.
is a publishing professional who enjoys travelling and writing. She is passionate about youth and community development and has served since October 2008, as the Public Affairs and Resource Officer and Secretary of the Board of Youth Crime Watch Jamaica, a youth-led voluntary non-Governmental organisation.
Good Business Fundamentals of a
Plan
by: Garth Williams
E
very successful business starts with a plan – a business plan. Even though it may start off as a bit of scribbling on a Post-It pad or even a little scratching around with a pen on a paper napkin at a bar, eventually it has to be formalised into a well organised, properly written document. This article will help you move from the paper napkin to a document which will be much appreciated by your potential investors/financiers. In all, your business plan should be no longer than 30 - 40 pages, including the appendix of supporting documents.
Note well
Solid business plans don't guarantee success but for entrepreneurs with decent ideas, they surely boost the odds. A good plan accomplishes three important tasks. First, it aligns the management team toward a common set of goals. Then, once the vision is on paper, it forces the team to take a long, hard look at the feasibility of the business. Finally, a business plan is a sales document; It aims to attract professional investors who may only have time for a cursory glance at each idea that crosses their desks.The fact is, crafting a meaningful business plan takes thought, time and money. Kick things off with all the basics: company name, address,
telephone number and contact info for all owners, along with a road map for the rest of the document.
Executive Summary
In no more than two pages, highlight all the important/critical details about the business. Communicate what your company does, how it will make money and why customers will want to pay for your product or service. If you are sending your plan to investors, include the amount of money you need and how you plan to use it. You need to know the whole picture before you can boil things down, so tackle the summary after finishing the rest of your plan.
Market Opportunity
Once you have established the product/service you're selling, explain who you're selling it to and why that group is particularly attractive. The following questions must be answered:
• How large is your target market? How fast is it growing?
• Where are the opportunities and threats, and how will you deal with them?
Market information can be found through industry associations, chambers of commerce, census data or even from other business owners. Be sure to source all of your information in case you are asked to back up your claims or need to update your business plan.
Industry Analysis
Sources And Uses Of Funds
If you are trying to raise money from investors, they will want to know how you plan to spend it and why you plan to spend it that way. Use this section to outline your estimated one-time start-up costs like site selection, new equipment, office furniture and logo design.
Be sure to know the industry in which you compete. Most Most entrepreneurs underestimate just how expensive starting importantly, know your competition. a new business can be, so do your research before asking for funds. Who are the major/key players? What do they sell? How much market share do they have? Why will customers choose your Prepare a full budget and be sure to include actual proforma product or service instead of theirs? What are the barriers to invoices from the companies/individuals you will source the entry? various items you need. Include indirect competitors–those with similar capabilities Appendices that currently cater to a different market but could choose to A good business plan clearly conveys the basics of a business challenge you down the road. in a hurry; Put supporting documents toward the back. This collection of related material might include résumés, The Team credit histories, industry studies, blueprints, advertising Investors have quite a keen interest in who they will be materials, invoices, press coverage, copies of leases and funding. That's why institutional investors care a lot about contracts, letters of intent from future customers, patent and who is on your team. Never forget that execution is just as trademark registrations, partnership agreements and letters of important as the idea. incorporation. Include profiles of each of your business' founders, partners Well, there you have it. All the above items, if properly written or officers and what kinds of skills, qualifications and and substantiated, should give you an advantage in convincing accomplishments they bring to the table. investors. Of course, the bulk of the persuasion depends on how well you can deliver your presentation. If the business is a partnership, explain why those partners were chosen. If it's a corporation, outline the corporate structure and introduce your officers. (Include résumés in the appendix.)
Business Model / Operational Plan
This section covers the 'nuts and bolts of the operation', including all revenue streams (product sales, advertising, services, licensing) and cost structure (salaries, rent, inventory, maintenance). •
List all assumptions and provide a justification for them.
•
List any names of key suppliers or distribution partners.
Financial Performance / Projections
If yours is a going concern, include at the very least a 12-month trailing income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement, then project all three statements forward at least three years. Also, do a break-even analysis that shows how much revenue you need to cover your initial investment. For early-stage companies with only so much in the bank, the cash flow statement comparing quarterly receivables to payables is most important. Accounting profits are nice, but cold cash is what pays the bills. Don't wait until disaster strikes to find out how your business will fare. Outline the worst-case, average-case and best-case scenarios for your business. Make sure you have enough cash to weather the worst of storms
The
BIG-Brand Marketing approach
– a start-up’s best friend
F
or many new entrepreneurs, the idea of marketing a business is an intimidating process that requires exorbitant budgets and a specialist marketer to launch a marketing campaign that rivals that of their larger, more established counterparts. The truth is, however, that the only difference between the marketing campaigns of a recognised business versus that of a new business is the scale. The most important consideration for each campaign though, regardless of scale, is to achieve the desired results from the activities undertaken. New business owners today are at a major advantage as there are countless elements available for marketing a business. With new media technologies now firmly established as a bona fide means of disseminating information coupled with tried and trusted traditional marketing components, today’s entrepreneurs have more flexibility in designing better integrated marketing campaigns that give the sense of a bigbrand approach without expending half as much resources as their larger counterparts. Better-designed marketing campaigns target audiences directly and mean more visibility and bigger impact for the business. New businesses that approach brand marketing
by: Sancia Campbell with big ideas and out-of-the-box concepts are more likely to get noticed, increase their brand awareness and build a loyal fan base. The notion that a big budget is required for big impact branding has been dispelled time and time again. The successful marketing campaign of the 2008 United States election ran by the sitting President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, was won utilising an Integrated marketing communications approach targeting different groups on multiple platforms Obama, through his brick-bybrick approach to marketing himself, was able to rise from a Chicago senator to the highest office in the world. The Internet provides advertising for pennies on the dollar and - in most cases - offers a more targeted approach for campaigns by utilising demographic and geographic information to maximise on reach. Likewise, traditional marketing campaigns may be skewed to create big branding impact; the onus is therefore on the entrepreneur to determine the scale and to create marketing campaigns that leverage the product’s benefits and provides the requisite visibility for the targeted audience.
So let’s talk about scale: As a new business, marketing must definitely be part of your business plan. However, the extent of the marketing activities depends on the needs of your business. Things such as the size of the business, the industry, where the target audience is and what media outlets they utilise to acquire information are all critical in deciding the media mix to use. Importantly, with multiple media outlets, it is easy to become confused and overspend. Market research is therefore crucial to making strategic marketing decisions. The media mix that works best for a restaurant will probably differ from the approach that will work for an agricultural business. Before implementing any advertising, marketing, public relations or social media campaign, find out what approach will most effectively serve the company’s objectives. Each company’s needs are different, which is why the selected approach must be individualised and tailored to suit your specific business.
There are several approaches to marketing that sometimes work on their own and other times work in conjunction with a public relations campaign.
A short marketing list would include: • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Traditional advertising (including print ads and commercials) Online advertising (including ads, banners, pop ups, etc) Direct marketing (including flyers, mailers, etc). Traditional public relations (including print, TV and radio) Social media (including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google Plus, etc). Email marketing Seminars Workshops Speaking Engagements Cold Calling Article Marketing Digital Media Apps Mobile Advertising
The important considerations are to know what works for your company, your affordability and the kind of impact desired.
Advt.
Lets Talk
Export:
Preparing your Business for Export
A
by Sancia Campbell
s with starting a new business, the decision to enter the overseas market is a big one. Such a decision signals a company’s readiness to take on the myriad tastes and preferences of a new market. However, prior to making the leap, some critical steps are required to ensure that the decision is not only a profitable one but also beneficial to building the company and its brand in its new location. This initial and vital first step is to prepare what is called an export plan. An export plan is a guide for the development of an international business, which is essentially what the decision to export amounts to. It consists of identifying markets, setting goals for that market, planning activities that build and enhance the company’s position and the product in the market, proposed ways of achieving set objectives, required resources – whether financial or capital, and expected outcomes. Writing the export plan is a demanding process which is synonymous with scripting an entirely new
business plan; however, a good export plan properly executed can propel a small manufacturer from virtual obscurity to unprecedented international recognition as a producer of high quality, top-tier products. However, before settling to write the export plan, it is important to undertake several pre-planning tasks. These include conducting market research and creating a marketing plan. Market research first helps the company to ascertain whether or not a market exists for its product. The research further identifies where the market exists, how the products will get to the market place, at what price, and identify competing and substitute products in addition to other relevant information. The marketing plan on the other hand, helps in the selection of distribution channels, packaging and selecting the type of promotional programme that will be engaged to spark interest in the product offerings. It is also critical to appreciate that an export plan must address the market entry approach, i.e. methods of market entry, and trade regulations such as the laws associated with exporting to the selected country. The market entry approach and especially maneuvering the trade regulations of the overseas markets are quite possibly the most complicated portions of the export plan. The market entry approach helps to determine the size of the investment required. A company may either choose to export directly or indirectly. An indirect exporter operates through an intermediary and requires less marketing investment but the business loses substantial control over its products and the marketing process as well. This can be a frustrating process for a local manufacturer whose total dependence on the intermediary can misrepresent the image of the product in the overseas market and cause irreparable damage to the brand. While it requires much more financial and capital investment, direct exporting affords the company better control. The firm can choose to open a franchise, enter a licensing agreement, manufacture by contract or piggyback on an overseas company’s products. Whichever method is selected, the company will be able to capitalise on economies of scale locally thereby affording better control over its ability to deliver on time and distribution. Significant too, are the regulations associated with entering the new market. Most foreign countries have individual standards and import certification requirements on things like: product standards, certification requirements, electricity regulations, packaging and recycling laws and quality expectations. We will recall recently when the United States Food and Drug Administration implemented the Food Safety Modernisation Act of 2011 which required all entities producing, handling, transporting, importing or distributing food to meet heightened food safety requirements in order to trade in that country. The Act required that local manufacturers among other things had to plan, test and document their food-safety
controls, document and update their plans every two years or sooner if the company changed suppliers, processor or ingredients and implement acceptable traceability and recall procedures which would enable entities to rapidly trade back from where a product was received and tracked forward to where it was sent.
" concentrate on Achieving International Benchmarks " Locally, two organisations assist businesses that are export ready to enter international markets; the Jamaica Exporters Association and the Jamaica Promotions Corporation. Prior to approaching these organisations however, businesses should concentrate on achieving international benchmarking and quality standards, and the Bureau of Standards Jamaica is the chief organisation that supports businesses in this effort. Another requirement for local manufacturers seeking to go overseas is an export license. This can be obtained relatively easily from the Trade Board. Details regarding the list of items which may be exported as well as the process and the documents required are listed at "http://www.tradeboard.gov. jm"http://www.tradeboard.gov.jm
The Waiting Game T
ime is perceived to be perpetually against us and everything must be done now. “Hard work pays off in the future, laziness pays off now!” Procrastination is the mantra of many persons. Much has been written about the merits of hard work now and reaping the benefits later. But have you ever really paused to think about time and the concept of ‘now’ versus ‘later’? We often use the misguided cliché that “time was against me.” Yet the truth is that time is never against us. Time is simply a unit of measurement to sequence and compare events by their duration and the intervals that lie between the events’ occurrences. Here is a proposition for an alternative view of ‘laziness now’; it is the strategy of patience, the waiting game. In a recent discussion with a master patience strategist, the myriad benefits to waiting were espoused along with examples of how deployment in your personal and professional lives could be met with great success. From a personal and professional standpoint, she espoused how taking your time
by: Tanesha Samuels leads one to think more, act deliberately, correct mistakes in perception before acting and correcting by trial and error that is avoiding mistakes instead of correcting them, being flexible and having and operating on a deeper plane of understanding to avoid regret. It was underscored how waiting may be a part of a longer-term and more intricate strategy, or knowingly waiting for the perfect hire or opportunity.
Waiting is a deliberate act The act of waiting is deliberate but it can also be painful, especially if you have a go-getter pioneering spirit. Think of a baseball player who waits for the perfect pitch to hit the ball out the park for a home run. Think of a company with an intriguing innovation waiting for the right moment to launch for maximum success. The moment may be a change in regulation, an opportunity to plug into the most advanced platform for enhanced performance, a change in preference and tastes of consumers.
A point to note is that there is no right answer or formula to know when and/or how long to wait. It is essentially a feeling or instinct of knowing when the time has arrived for action. Here are six situations where waiting can work over acting and two critical success factors for effectively using the waiting game to your advantage.
options open, then there is a real benefit to waiting. This ties in with the longer-term strategy. Improving your skill set with on-the-job training while in pursuit of future opportunities is an example of using the waiting game strategy to your advantage. If you can move forward with specific actions which support a definitive path to be pursued later, then wait!
Waiting vs Acting
Not burning bridges or time/opportunity wasting. Waiting can impact future options available to you. If while you wait, future options are not being shut down (or are expanding) with the passage of time, then there is a real incentive to waiting. As long as you are in a position of being able to decide your course of action, as opposed to having inaction making decisions for you, then waiting makes sense.
Long term strategy – waiting is consistent with a longer-term strategy. Awaken the Japanese in you! The Japanese way of life is infused with longer-term strategy and thinking. They plan for millennia, not for a year as some companies do, nor for four years, as some nations do. The longer-term strategy innately builds in a pre-determined reason for waiting that was conceived in your initial strategy. From the simplicity of their tea service to the ingenious construction of buildings and ratification of legislation, the Japanese have perfected the art of deliberation and longer-term strategic thinking. As with longer-term strategy, there must be some flexibility and a window of opportunity to accommodate several situations or timeframes occurring concurrently and/or sequentially. This is especially true when your strategy could apply to a variety of different market or organisational scenarios. As in physics, waiting for the ‘best fit’ is the most viable approach. Waiting can be painful. That said, if your window of opportunity and your risk exposure is so small, so as to allow you to willingly walk away and endure the window of opportunity going away completely, then it is the perfect situation for waiting. If you are in a waiting game, you have to be able to walk away from the deal (or have it walk away from you) and still be okay. This is a classic negotiation/strategic technique used in business, casinos, classroom, playground and homes. While waiting, learning or receiving benefits that will improve your ability to respond is a tool used by many patience strategists or fast followers. Rather than diving in first and learning by trial and error, fast followers watch the pioneers and adapt and improve on their mistakes before launching a similar effort. This is used effectively in the Telecoms industry in Jamaica and internationally. If you are able to make progress while keeping your strategic
Critical Success Factors To better safeguard against missing too many opportunities while you are content to wait, here are two critical success factors for effectively making the waiting game strategy work:
Out of Sight, Out of Mind!
Do not allow the opportunity you are waiting on be pushed out of sight, out of mind. You need listening posts to monitor market and competitive actions relative to the opportunity you are waiting on to make sure you actually pull the trigger at the latest and best possible time.
Appoint Cheerleaders! Have individuals in your close circle that will instigate for action and keep forcing the issue. You want to make sure that even during a period of strategic patience you have people in your organisation who are advocates for taking action. As much as you may be fine waiting for things to play out over an extended period of time, you want someone pushing action to keep you motivated. One of the greatest and most valuable life skills to learn is that of timing your next move. Whether it be in stock trading, deciding when to expand your business or the cut and thrust of a political campaign, learning when not to act can be just as essential as learning when to act. Patience is indeed a virtue that can reap real dividends.
The Importance of a PBX
System for your Business
T
he PBX (Private Branch Exchange) has grown as an important communication tool for the enterprise ever since it evolved from its predecessor, the switchboard. The PBX was invented to automate the operators’ then manual task of plugging the line for an incoming call into the line for their desired destination. Thanks to the Internet and other advances in technology, the PBX now allows software to manage a company’s internal network of telephone extensions, connect to the public telephone network and even host videoconferences using VOIP technology.
How does a PBX work?
Consider the hardware and software in the PBX like a combination of roundabouts, bridges and stoplights for communication traffic. Like a roundabout, the PBX allows a calling party within a company to access their chosen destination without the intervention of a third party (operator). As a bridge, the PBX grants communication traffic with access to external locations i.e. calls from internal telephone extensions are allowed across the bridge to the public telephone network/mobile networks and vice versa. Lastly, the PBX acts as a stoplight by stopping connections if certain criteria are met (e.g. no calls to extensions outside of business hours) and filtering traffic to different destinations based on predefined rules (e.g. if the called party is busy then forward the call to their team member or to voicemail).
Main Benefits of a PBX System
Prior to the adoption of PBXs, if an organisation had 10 employees or departments, which required the ability to make/ receive external calls, then 10 separate telephone lines had to be rented from the telecoms provider. However, once the PBX was invented, it enabled unlimited internal communication with no per minute charges and the sharing of a set number
by: Arvel Grant of external telephone lines around the entire organisation. The result is cost savings on line rentals and improved ability to communicate both internally and externally.
Traditional vs. IP-based Systems
Traditional PBX systems use physically wired exchanges that require telephone cables to be run from each extension directly to the PBX. This makes the setup and maintenance for traditional PBX systems a high cost, time-consuming undertaking. Business development Manager at tTECH Limited, Simona Watkis, indicates that the advent of IP-based PBX systems greatly reduced the installation and maintenance costs by allowing voice communication to be routed over a company’s computer network. Since IP-based PBX systems share the network ports, that a company has in place for their computers, there is no additional cabling required for setup.
Proprietary vs. Open-source PBX Systems
As with all software-based systems these days, PBX systems come in proprietary and open-source flavours. PBX Systems built on open-source frameworks such as those offered by XORCOM, tTECH’s PBX Solutions Partner, have been growing in popularity over the years due to their ease of customisation and their ability to operate with other proprietary and opensource PBX components.
Typical features of modern PBX Systems
The feature set of the modern PBX system literally goes from A to V with analog phone support, blacklists, call monitoring, caller id, conference rooms, database integration, extension range flexibility (extensions from 2 to 10 digits), fax to email conversion, music on hold, speed dialing, three-way calling, voicemail to email, etc. Here’s a detailed look at the most common features:
A single entry number–Once you deploy a PBX then you can promote a single telephone number as the point of contact for your organisation. There will be no need to communicate the numbers for each employee/department. The PBX can route calls from your 555-COMPANY number to any extension in the PBX. Call records–PBX systems these days come with a full suite of administration software. This allows you to check the number of minutes being used by each extension and possibly implement policies to limit excessive use. You can also monitor how much time your customers are spending ‘on hold’ or record phone calls for later review or quality assurance.
Find Me–Some PBX systems allow an advanced form of call forwarding referred to as Find Me. Fine Me allows incoming calls to simultaneously ring several numbers at the same time (e.g. an incoming call can ring a work number, home number and cell phone at the same time). Call Groups– A block of extensions can be treated as one so that any calls routed to that specific department (e.g. sales) will ring all numbers in the group. Time of Day Scheduling–The PBX can allow for an automated attendant to pick up calls which are received outside of business hours while calls are routed to the receptionist during business hours.
Conferencing–Many companies have opted for conference calls where possible to reduce the traveling/accommodation costs associated with meetings. This is especially true for large distributed companies. The PBX system supports teleconferencing and videoconferencing by allowing multiple calls to be connected to a conference line.
PBX systems are available in all sizes and features sets, which can be customized to meet any need from the small firm to the islandwide distributor with multiple branches. The investment in a PBX system will give your business a professional edge and aid effective communication between your employees and with your customers.
Menu Options–A common feature of PBX systems these days is the IVR (interactive voice response). The IVR allows incoming callers to be presented with a menu of options callers may get the option to connect to a specific extension or in the sophisticated systems callers may be able to initiate some automated actions like checking outstanding balances, making payments, etc.
The IP-based systems are the standard these days and opensource systems are the most cost effective and flexible. tTECH Limited offers the best of both worlds so be sure to contact them at http://www.ttech.com.jm/ for more information.
The Magic of Rice:
A Home Remedy For A Water-Damaged Gadget
by: Arvel Grant
Y
ou have probably heard it before - if your cell phone gets wet you can cover it with uncooked rice to save it. At first it sounds strange but does it really work? Yes, it can work for your gadgets though there are conditions that must be followed to ensure it does. Rice is one of the materials scientifically known as desiccants. A desiccant has a high affinity for water and acts as a drying agent by absorbing or adsorbing water from its environment. Desiccants that absorb moisture take the moisture into themselves (e.g. rice) while those that adsorb moisture take the moisture on to their surface (e.g. silica gel). Rice is only a mild desiccant unlike silica gel and calcium oxide, which
are strong desiccants. However, the average person doesn’t have calcium oxide lying around the home so rice is the most convenient and most affordable remedy for wet gadgets.
Here’s how you can help the rice to work its magic.
1
. If your device gets wet do not attempt to turn it on! Unless you have a waterproof gadget like the Sony Experia Z smartphone, then the first step is to turn off the device (if it is still on) and remove the battery. By removing the battery you ensure there is no current available to cause a short circuit in the device.
2
. Remove all accessories, cables and any parts of the device that can be easily detached. If the device is a phone then the sim card, protective case, etc should also be removed.
3
. If the device was in contact with sea/salt water then wash it off quickly with fresh water. When the salt water evaporates it can leave salt particles on the circuit board, which can cause damage.
4
. Remove excess water. Dry off all visible water with paper towels/absorbent cloth or carefully blow the water off. If canned air is used then ensure the can is held steadily in an upright position otherwise cold air will come out and actually add moisture to the device. Also take care not to blow water further into the device.
5
. Avoid excessive heat. DO NOT USE A BLOW DRYER, OVEN or MICROWAVE to dry the device as excessive heat can melt the circuits. You can try a vacuum cleaner, which can suck the excess water from the gadget or a fan to blow streams of air across the device. The goal is to push or pull water from the gadget without heating it.
6
. Lastly, completely cover the device and its battery in a bag or container of uncooked rice and leave for at least 24 hours for the magic to happen. Any moisture that remains in the gadget will be absorbed by the rice and abracadabra; your device is ready again.
Many people think about taking the device back to the place of purchase for repair but take note that water damage is excluded from warranties on electronic devices. Most manufacturers place a sticker inside the gadgets that changes colour upon contact with water so they can instantly know if the warranty has been voided by water damage. The rice remedy has proven successful for cellphones, mp3 players and other gadgets so give it a try before replacing your gadget. Rice may just extend your gadget's life.
JPS e-STORE
Aims to usher in a new era in energy consumption
by: Kimesha Walters
I
n the hope of impacting the way Jamaicans view and use energy, the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) has opened its first eStore in the island. It is a historical step into the retail marketing, and one that is expected to usher in a new era of energy consumption locally for businesses and households. Located at the company’s Ruthven Road Customer Service Office, the eStore’s main objective is to empower customers to enable them to better manage energy consumption, whether through energy management or energy efficiency tools. Director of Sales and Marketing at JPS, Garth McKenzie, gave some insight into what the company envisaged when they conceptualised the eStore, revealing that they wanted a central location that provides solutions to the most pressing energy concerns for customers; one that would allow consumers to become more aware of energy usage, as well as a place where they can find innovative devices to help reduce wasted energy and to assist the average customer to monitor his/her usage at a more intimate level. In essence, McKenzie said JPS wanted to provide “…a place to begin new relationships with our customers, and a place where customers would feel comfortable asking for and receiving advice on energy efficiency and a channel for offering other products and services that we know would be appealing to our customers.”
He said the initial feedback for the eStore spanned the full spectrum from disbelief and ridicule, to vigorous agreement and support, but the launch in early April had the full backing of those who witnessed it, with many expressing interest in the devices that were on show. In fact, McKenzie revealed that many questioned why JPS took so long to open the store. The JPS eStore carries three main categories of devices: (1) e-Save or devices designed to save energy such as energy efficient bulbs, electronic timers and switches – a good mixture of tools and items that businesses can use to reduce their energy consumption; (2) e-Safe or devices designed to protect equipment from surges or low voltages and (3) e-Smart or devices that help you to monitor your energy consumption at the “whole-house” or appliance level. So what benefit will the eStore provide for JPS? “We believe it will go a long way in repairing the relationship we have with our customers and assist rebuilding trust,” McKenzie said. “It will open many other avenues and channels for interaction as we provide other products and services.” As for businesses and households, they will be able to get the tools, devices and information to empower them to reduce wasted energy, and to make more informed decisions about energy efficient equipment and behaviours when making
purchases. McKenzie says the next move is to open their Bay West Store in Montego Bay, another highly anticipated venture. But the long term-objective holds even more for JPS, as the company aims to build the brand and to be able to franchise its operations in the Caribbean. Chairman of the Energy Committee in the Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) Alliance, Anthony Morgan, weighed in on the new JPS initiative describing it as “a good and timely intervention. Morgan said. “Worldwide experience with the application of energy conservation and efficiency best practices shows that savings of 20-30 per cent can be realised.” However, he adds that a much work needs to done to ensure energy efficiency in Jamaica. “There is need for a large scale public education programme on the effective utilization of these devices,” Morgan explained. “The long-term impact of the eStore will be its contribution to the understanding of the necessity of incorporating the principles of energy management in our businesses and households.” While lauding JPS for the new initiative, Morgan said it should also be noted that the eStore is not currently offering renewable energy generating solutions. He added that renewable energy is a component to the solution of our energy problems but the low availability imposes serious limitations.
The chairman told Wealth Magazine that energy, electricity and fuel costs comprise approximately 30-70 per cent of MSME's operating cost. Fuel cost, he said, is usually hidden in the transportation costs of materials and personnel, but electricity cost is most visible and ranges between 20-50 per cent of operating costs. Therefore, any measure which can assist in alleviating these expenses is to be applauded. “We are all aware that the cost of electricity is making our businesses globally uncompetitive and know that we are trapped in a situation with no short-term structural solution,” he asserted. Morgan offers that the eStore takes on added significance for the local economy, given the constantly rising energy costs. “We will never in our lifetime experience cheap fuel, so energy conservation and efficiency will be critical to our survival and the MSME recognises that this is a new economic frontier offering great business and employment opportunities,” he declared.
JPS eStore Opening Hours Monday – Thursday: 8:30am-4:00pm Fridays – 8:30am to 3:30pm
Everybody is a Target, including
by: Christopher Reckord
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t was only several years ago that mention of the words ‘security’ or ‘crime’ brought on thoughts of protecting one's physical possessions and surroundings. Not so anymore, especially in business as data and information have become intrinsic to the core of business success.
act where a victim suffered or could have suffered a loss, and a perpetrator made or could have made a gain and is associated with computers”
Hyperconnectivity
The three most commonly cited threats to businesses, communities, and Government are:
Computers and electronics run our infrastructure and our world. The critical infrastructure that underpins our daily lives increasingly depends on hyper-connected online systems Electronic signals support generation, transmission, and distribution of power that keeps our lights on and the water coming out of our pipes. The statistics show that Jamaica has more cellphones than people, we have approximately 700,000 persons on Facebook – that’s 25 per cent of the population – we are indeed hyper connected. In the recent Global Risks report from the World Economic Forum, it is stated that as we move forward, our lives will be more intensely shaped by transformative forces, including economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal and technological–The resulting complexity threatens to overwhelm countries, companies, cultures and communities. The report identified three overarching global risks, one of which is termed “The dark side of connectivity” – Cybercrime and cybersecurity is the focus.
The Risk
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Unavailability: denial of service, sabotage, blocked access, paralysis
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Damage to data: strategic, personal, confidential, sensitive
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Damage to image: misinformation, defamation, compromise.
What about you? Let’s bring it home closer–Do you have photos on your computer that might hurt you if they got into the wrong hands or spread on Facebook? What about your payroll files, would your entire staff be happy if they saw what everyone is being paid? What if someone installed software on your PC and was able to read every email you sent or received? Do you have files on your computer that might have information that is valuable to your competitor?
Steps you can take to mitigate the risks Implement an IT security policy in your company, regardless of size and ensure that all your staff understand it and have bought into it. •
This IT policy should include strong password management policy, software upgrade policy and computer usage policies.
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Do not give out your passwords.
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Do not use IT products and systems designed for consumers in your business environment – most of them don’t have the adequate security components built in.
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Educate your staff on the topic of IT security.
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You might want to consider locking down all USB ports.
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Erase/reformat all USB memory as soon as you use it.
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Hire an IT specialist to assist if you are not able to handle any of the above.
What is Cybercrime? Fundamentally, the primary goal of crime has never changed. It seeks to maximise financial profits by minimising risks, analysed from its own point of view. Cybercrime refers to a broad range of these crimes perpetrated through cyberspace by means of information and communication technologies (ICTs). In the case of this type of criminality, the computer is a tool of crime, and the computer is a target. Additionally, the computer is incidental to crime. In other words - “…any intentional
You can also call the police Under the Jamaica Cybercrime Act 2010, Jamaican authorities can arrest and prosecute: 1. A person who knowingly obtains, for himself or another person, any unauthorised access to any programme or data held in a computer. 2. A person who does any act which that person knows is likely to cause any unauthorised modification of the contents of any computer. 3. A person commits an offence if that person knowingly: a. secures unauthorised access to any computer for the purpose of obtaining, directly, or indirectly, any computer service; or b. without authorisation, directly or indirectly intercepts or causes to be intercepted any function of a computer. 4. A person commits an offence if that person, without authorisation or without lawful justification or excuse, wilfully causes, directly or indirectly:
a. A degradation, failure, interruption or
obstruction of the operation of a computer; or b. A denial of access to, or impairment of, any programme or data stored in a computer 5. A person who accesses a programme or data with intent to: a. Commit any offence punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.
b. Facilitate the commission of above offence
6. A person commits an offence who for the purpose of committing or facilitating an offence possesses, receives, manufacturers, sells, imports a. A computer b. Any access code or password; c. Any data or device adapted for the purpose of committing a core offence.
Your information is valuable,
protect it!
New Refrigerator with Digital Inverter Compressor
" Advanced technology, warranty, durability, less noise and better freshness for food preservation."
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amsung Electronics presents its New Refrigerator with Digital Inverter compressor that gives consumers more durability, energy saving and automatically levels the power fluctuation, thanks to the Digital Inverter Compressor. Additionally, it has a higher cooling performance for your food to be kept in top condition. In many ways, the refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in the kitchen. Most of us use our refrigerators daily to maintain freshness and preserve food longer. Samsung’s promise is a 10-year warranty on the new Digital Inverter Compressor. Samsung continues to bring important technological innovations into our homes, allowing families to get maximum performance, durability and practicality of your appliances. The refrigerator also shows Samsung’s dedication to offer innovations with appliances that have a better design, organisation and convenience for the day to day activities at home.
Contributed
High Durability and Efficiency The Digital Inverter feature increases energy efficiency by automatically choosing between five-speed RPM in response to cooling requirements. For example, opening the door frequently or placing a hot plate of food in the refrigerator can create changes in temperature, but the “Digital Inverter” Compressor reacts quickly to provide cool air, reducing energy consumption. Moreover, unlike other conventional models, Samsung's compressor is silent. In the same way that technology gets to prolong the life of the refrigerator, Samsung reinforces its commitment to the durability of its products offering the 10year warranty on the compressor. Offering ideal cooling freshness and unpublished resources in this category. This refrigerator offers various unpublished resources in the
Samsung's Assistant Manager of Marketing for Home Appliances Lohanna Sinclair, Courts' Nariesha Murray Product Supervisor of Appliances, Samsung representative Kasheema Jeffery, Samsung's Regional Manager of Sales Alvin Vanegas, Sales Manager in Jamaica Karen Gardener pose for a photo op with Director of Sales Ann-Marie Walters and General Manager of the Constant Spring Road branch Oscar Kerr of Courts.
category to ensure the freshness and cooling ideal for food storage. Among these innovations is the “MoistFresh Zone”, which controls the air flow to maintain optimum moisture, creating the perfect environment for storing fruits and vegetables and keeping them fresh longer. In addition, the “Coolpack” keeps the cold from the freezer for eight hours in case of power failure, preventing food from spoiling in the event of an ice-melt. Also, the “Power Cool”, causes the refrigerator to reach the ideal temperature quickly, thereby reducing the waiting time. Efficient use of space and resources suitable for families with little free time. This new refrigerator comes equipped with unique resources that provide convenient storage options and efficient use of space, including a sliding tray– “Easy Slide Out” to store and get food more easily and a compartment door which is longer and deeper for larger bottles that enables better organisation of food. Additionally, the refrigerator has Auto Ice Maker, Ice Max or Ice packs (depending on the model you choose) that offers two ice compartments (one removable), ideal for entertaining at home, or even for large parties, without worry about the ice. The refrigerator also features LED Light, which is highly efficient and better at illuminating the interior, unlike conventional models. The sophisticated design of the door makes it easy to open it effortlessly with the “Easy Handle”. Furthermore, the location of the water dispenser “Easy Access Dispenser” makes it even easier to use because it is the right height, eliminating the need to tilt the body to use. NOTE: The product features may vary depending on the model you choose.
This is an awesome product, ideal for every household! You can purchase your new Samsung Digital Inverter Refrigerator from Courts, Appliance Traders Ltd or Singer.
two chairs and a dream
The Norma Webster Story
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panning 40 years of operation, Norma Webster has managed to provide western Jamaica with the best in cosmetology and hair care through her business Norma Webster Salon, Spa & Cosmetics. After leaving Mount Alvernia High, Norma became an apprentice for Dorothy Gourzong-Vendryes where she perfected her craft and was determined to make a name for herself. She trained with some of the top lines in hair care including Vidal Sassoon, Redken and has worked as a technical consultant with Soft Sheen (West Indies). Norma Webster is a well-established cosmetologist, businesswoman, hairstylist and western Jamaica's only certified trichologist; trained in identifying and treating disorders of the scalp and hair. It is well known that the life cycle of the average business is five years. As such, operating a business for 40 years – naturally–takes a great deal of dedication and discipline. So when Wealth asked about what drives her to continue she immediately noted, “…first and foremost, I love what I’m
by: Garth Williams doing. It’s not so much work because I really enjoy it. I’m driven and very ambitious, I suppose that’s it”. With all the challenges to thwart the best intentions of micro, small and medium-sized businesses, Norma admits that it was much easier to start a small business then than it is now. “I started small. It was basically two chairs and a dream. We just worked continuously, developed a good reputation and a high standard which we tried to maintain and improve over the years.” She had no investors at the time and relied on a solitary bank loan to get the start-up capital. “I bought an existing business. We had no customers with which to start, it was just us and the equipment but the bank was very supportive – it was Barclay’s Bank at the time. My husband and I had some property at which we used as collateral so it wasn’t very difficult.” One of the lessons she learned is that good customer service can spawn the most effective advertising campaign. “The business grew basically by word of mouth. Customers are
your best PR. I was working in the industry before, so I had a couple customers. One referred others and we built the business from that because we couldn’t afford newspaper advertisements or other forms of commercial promotion.” Norma says the company now enjoys a large client base and makes very good use of local media to advertise, but word-of-mouth continues to be quite an effective tool in broadening the clientele. “The best business-building type of PR I still believe is a satisfied customer.” The salon has embraced the use of technology to improve efficiency. It uses business software to manage appointments and other areas of daily function, but that’s not all. “We have or Facebook account, we have our website and we send out e-mail blasts to remind clients of what’s happening.”
Business Evolution In order to survive, businesses must remain dynamic. They must adapt to the environment and dictates of the market. As Norma insists, this is a lesson she learned very well; very early. “There have been many changes over the years. We moved, opened locations and closed locations too,” she said as she laughed while reflecting on the evolution of the spa. Additionally, entrepreneurs would do well to appreciate the fact that a business can get bogged down if it becomes to comfortable where it is. As such, a well-timed move can be key for the growth of the business. “We were at 4th Street where it all started, we moved to Market Street where we had six stations, from there we moved to Bay-West Centre which had eight stations. While at Market Street we opened the Half Moon salon which was quite large, 2000 sq. feet to be exact. It was our first time doing a spa so we had the salon downstairs and the spa upstairs. Then we opened at Fairview which also has a spa along with eight stations in the salon section,” She revealed.
Challenges Responding to the austerity of the times, Webster shared that one lesson she learned was when to batten down during an economic storm. “When the economy began to contract we opted to consolidate our operations which are now concentrated at Fairview.” Another great challenge to fulfilling your dream as an entrepreneur is finding the right people to execute your vision. Norma admits that in some instances, persons were brought in with the requisite skill set, while others had to be molded and trained into the individuals she needed them to be.“Our greatest Challenge was staffing. It’s always difficult to get qualified people to work with and fit into our very demanding standards. Proper training helped us along the way.” A hallmark of her own success is the number of successful businesses her tutiledge has produced. “Jamaican women
are so ambitious and entrepreneurial,” Norma added, as she pointed out that many of her ‘trainees’/’apprentices’ have moved on to start their own practice in the industry. “I have lost a large number of my very good staff members who now operate their own salons, which interestingly I encourage.”
“If you cannot pay a bill don’t hide from those you owe. Express the difficulty and how you plan to make good on the debt. People will respect you more if they can always find you when they need you.” -Norma Webster Yet another calling card of how Norma Webster operates her business, is the emphasis on providing room for the growth and development of her employees. Many young people have come to work with her, having few if any formal qualifications. And yet, like diamonds in the rough, she produces them into priceless gems thereafter. “I have one member of staff who has been with me for over 20 years. She started as the receptionist and went on to become qualified in cosmetology. We have an excellent relationship. My daughter Monique joined in 1993 and she’s now the Managing Director.” Of note is that Norma was instrumental in the development of the cosmetology programme at the Montego Bay Community College and was an integral member of the standardization committee working with the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET) to bring more structure to the local cosmetology industry.
Succession Planning Business enterprises can never really be considered to be successful if they die when the progenitor has left it. The fact of life is that we are here but for a time and eventually, we have to leave our business to someone else or watch them be closed down. For Norma, she holds to the belief that her vision has been
passed on to her daughter, who will keep it alive.“My hope is that my daughter will continue the business, but if that doesn’t happen I’ll deal with it… if it arises.” The business – evolving over time – has seen the development of new original brands that are specially tailored to the needs of her clientele. “Over the years we have developed our own line of cosmetics and skincare products. Recently we added a line of shampoos and conditioners that I’m quite proud of. It’s sulphate-free shampoo which prolongs the life of your hair and its colour, it’s also vegan. I would like for that end of the business to grow and expand on the products.” “Interestingly the creation of these products came as a result of my annual trips overseas to attend industry seminars and conferences where I met professionals who create these products to the specifications of companies and individuals who require same.”
Advice And so, after over four decades, this seasoned campaigner has definitely learned a thing or two worth noting. Whether you operate a hair salon, a brokerage firm or a small food cart, there are certainly some principles you can adapt from her story.
Keep Learning: “Choose a field that you genuinely love. Get training and continuous training. For me, every year I go away and do training, upgrading and keep up with trends in my field along with understanding the technology at work and the new ideas,” she insists. Put in the Time: “No business can run by itself and staff will not run it for you if it’s a small business. You cannot pay for the expertise of the large businesses so you are going to have to put in the hours,” she adds. Carefully select your staff:
“If there are things that you cannot do, get trusted professionals. You’ll need a good accountant, a good lawyer and keep your banker close,” she carefully stated while laughing. In doing your business, please be honest: “If you cannot pay a bill don’t hide from those you owe. Express the difficulty and how you plan to make good on the debt. People will respect you more if they can always find you when they need you.” Norma left us with her guiding philosophy, “Whatever you’re doing get it right the first time. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” It is certainly possible that, if you take her advice, someone might just be interviewing you 40 years from now about the successful business you started today.
TRAGEDY TRANSFORMED
TO TRIUMPH
Ajmal Khan, CPL financier and mogul reveals how a major loss in his youth fuelled a lifetime of success.
by: Zina Edwards Malcolm
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enture capitalist, Ajmal Khan enjoyed a charmed childhood as the eldest son of a high-ranking British diplomat. Born in Nigeria and exposed to the finer things in life, by way of the international diplomat corps, Khan’s appetite for luxury was whet early on. His comfortable lifestyle and support system would be unexpectedly upended. He explained that, as a teen, his achievements, discipline and scholastic abilities were unremarkable and his peers might likely have dubbed him a ‘most unlikely person to make it.’ Tragically, before he reached 18 years, his father passed on and the stability afforded them by his role as sole breadwinner and head of household passed away with him. Khan’s mother, pregnant with his youngest sibling, was distraught and moved the entire family to Canada to restart the newest chapter of their lives. The family was large and the eldest Khan knew he had to figure out a way to support
the family during those lean times. He cites the heartbreaking loss of his father, as being the lightening rod that crystallised his determination and forms the core of all his successes. “When circumstances in life changed, it became crucial for me to give 110 per cent,” he said. “If you give your all, chances are you will be successful.” Khan enrolled in a course as a chartered financial analyst when he arrived in Canada. He studied hard, but realised that he had no interest in working as a CFA. During the course of the programme, however, he discovered he had a talent for parsing lucrative opportunity out of mundane business transactions. He dropped out of school but used the broking skills he learned to construct a profitable new business. Khan learned that real estate was one of the most common tax shelters for fiscally prudent Canadians at that time. Within his first year he had identified a large building with individual
units for sale, wrangled enough active investors to cover the purchase cost of the building and a built-in commission for himself. To cut a long story short, he came home to his mother with a cheque for $100,000 and Ajmal Khan's new life as an entrepreneur had begun. His first major business coup fueled his belief in self and reinforced the value of determination and focus. His advice: “ never give up. If anyone tells me I can’t do something, it inspires me. I become even more determined.”
Why the Caribbean, Why Barbados? Khan explained the move from Canada where his fortunes were first made to the small island nation in the Caribbean. With his hands in a diverse range of capitalisation projects from real estate–he was recognised as Canada’s largest syndicator of properties–to private equity transactions and retooling of troubled companies for success that have totalled over $4 billion, Khan’s sizable earnings were in the top tier of Canada’s tax code. He expressed distaste for the idea that for every 12 months of his income, he would have to hand over more than seven months to the Canadian taxman. He felt that as a serial investor in the country, a substantial portion of the earnings would have been best reinvested in capital projects to stimulate the economy.
as its president and chief executive officer. Verus Capital has invested in growth companies on the internet, media, biotechnology and real estate. In 1999 Mr Khan partnered with Citigroup to jointly form the Verus International Group, an international investment company focused on corporate finance, capital raising and advisory services, buyouts and financial services to middle market and emerging technology companies around the world. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of the Verus Group, which has offices in New York and Barbados.
Connecting Cricket, the Caribbean and FDI The story of this Caribbean-based global citizen and business giant gets even more interesting with the recent announcement of his company’s foray into the world of T20 cricket. Khan has revealed that Verus International has entered into a multi-year license with the West Indies Cricket Board for the exciting new franchise-based Caribbean Premier League scheduled for its inaugural series set to run from July 29 until August 26. The league will be a boon for cricket’s global T20 fans, with leading Caribbean and international players slated to represent franchises in Caribbean’s six major cricketing countries–Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad, Antigua & Barbuda, St Lucia, Guyana. See Wealth Magazine’s feature article (p.46) on CPL and the franchise players in this issue.
“Never give up. If anyone tells me I can’t do something, it inspires me. I become even more determined." -Ajmal Khan
Khan discovered that Barbados had entered a particularly amenable tax treaty with Canada where tax earnings from companies of Canadian citizens domiciled on the island are exempt from Canada’s aggressive taxation policy. So, 15 years ago, Khan picked up and settled in Barbados, operating his various companies from his offices in St Michael’s, Barbados and Midtown Manhattan.
Khan expressed a high regard and passion for his islandhome, Barbados. When asked his views on success for the Caribbean, he responded that he strongly believes that the regional Governments must reinvest in their people by providing unhindered access to education, and opportunity for growth. He emphasised that it is critical for the success of the region that “Governments ensure that bureaucracy does not stifle growth and that they uphold their duty to their people”.
An entrepreneurial tale Ajmal Khan’s corporate bio reveals an entrepreneurial approach to building capital and a penchant for seizing on lucrative and timely opportunities. In 1985, prior to his Caribbean resettlement, Mr Khan founded the Verus Capital Corporation, a diversified investment group, and has served
When asked why a man whose experience and accomplishments range from successfully revamping failing corporate organisations and building value in huge real estate portfolios, would invest such a significant amount of capital and time on a sports venture, he replied, “Most of my company’s work involves investment and projects in foreign markets. The Caribbean is my home and I have been looking into ways of making a major investment here in the region.” “We have a unique brand of cricket, and I see the Caribbean Premier League, not as a sporting venture, but as a startup business venture. We are not doing this for ego. In fact, we see a solid opportunity for investment success and don’t expect to be funding this alone in the long term. We will attract foreign investment to build out the league across the region and envision investments that will extend to tourism, infrastructure, global broadcasting and even team buyers.” Ajmal Khan, mogul, cricket lover has been an agent of transformation in his own life through, in his own words, “… hope, determination, passion, ethical conduct and focus…” and looks headed to use those same markers to become a transformative agent for cricket in the Caribbean. We look forward to the next Khan success story on and around the nearest cricket pitch.
The Montego Bay
Convention Centre: Jamaica’s next Great Infrastructural Asset
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amaica needed this facility. Those four words would have sufficed in making the case for the importance of the Montego Bay Convention Centre. However, permit me to add an additional 1200 or so, in order to elucidate the point. Jamaica has, for many years, been synonymous with many great things. Our music has changed the rhythm and sound of global culture forever. Our cuisine has added flavour to the menus of restaurants the world over. A cursory glance at our pantheon of sportsmen and women tells a story of phenomenal success against the odds. Another fundamentally important feature of Jamaica’s great
by: Dennis Brooks story is that of our culture of hospitality, which has spawned into a profitable industry, providing opportunities for economic growth and development. It cannot be denied that people from all corners of the earth are not only aware of, but also enamored by Jamaica and Jamaicans. They love coming here for pleasure as well as for business, in large measure because we love having them here. We genuinely enjoy welcoming and being hospitable to the world.
A New Dimension to Jamaican Tourism
It is for this specific reason that Jamaica needed the Montego Bay Convention Centre. The nation’s tourism product has
evolved over time. From small quaint villas to sprawling all-inclusives, the country appeals to many persons seeking a getaway. However, it has been lamented for so long that the tourism product needs something more. And that is precisely what The Centre offers; a whole new dimension. Consider the fact that prior to 2011, Jamaica was missing out on a piece of a pie worth nearly US$280 billion in the conventions and exhibitions market due to the fact that we lacked a venue that could genuinely compete globally. Jamaica’s vision of breaking into the upper echelons of the convention market began to be realised as far back as the summer of 2007, when the Government of Jamaica and that of the People’s Republic of China signed a loan agreement worth in excess of US$45 million. Those funds have now translated into one of the most state-of-the art conference facilities in the Caribbean.
Size Does Matter
It is the only one of its kind in the English-Speaking Caribbean. It boasts in excess of 50,000 sq ft of conference space, more than 20,000 sq ft of banquet space and over 11,000 sq ft of meeting space. Beyond a doubt, The Centre separates the proverbial cats from the pigeons, as it swallows up every other Caribbean facility several times over. This makes the venue the most ideal place in the Anglophone Caribbean for the largest of trade shows. However, lets examine what makes it more attractive. The location of the Montego Bay Convention Centre is not only strategic because of the fact that it’s in Rose Hall, Montego Bay; Jamaica’s tourist capital. However, as if it wasn't already perfectly located, it did not escape our notice that the facility is nestled in the midst of five major international hotels and a mere 15 minutes away from the Sangster International Airport. What this means is that The Centre is a powerful magnet capable of attracting the larger business in the conference market that these and other
hotels were unable to secure. As such, the property can serve to help fill the hotel rooms around it; particularly in the off-peak season. As if having some of the most massive, eyecatching meeting, conference and banquet facilities were not enough, the Montego Bay Convention Centre also boasts the largest, most state-of-the-art kitchen in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean. The award-winning Executive Chef, Randie Anderson, along with his team are the envy of the hospitality industry, given the resources at their disposal. Designed by Appliance Traders Limited, with over 15,000 sq ft of space to work with and the most up-to-date technology at their disposal, the kitchen staff now leads the rest of the industry ‘by a country mile!’
The Management
Although the property is owned by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), the Government of Jamaica sought to ensure that the best minds in the business globally are managing the facility. It is for this reason that the US-based firm, SMG, was selected to manage the property. SMG is the world leader in convention venue management. Heading up the hardworking team at The Centre is the very affable General Manager Ditty Guise. Ms Guise was actually born in the parish of Portland before migrating to the United Kingdom at the age of two years old. She brings to Montego Bay over 30 years of convention centre managerial experience in the United States of America. The chance to return to her homeland and use her expertise as a catalyst for the country’s development was one she could not pass up. Grabbing the opportunity with both hands, Ms Guise leads this dynamic team of creative individuals with distinction.
World-beating Technology
The Centre’s jaw-dropping ocean front views, cut stone courtyards, gorgeous interior décor
Lady
Premier Lana Forbes
Director, Sales and Services Scotia Jamaica Life Insurance Ltd. What inspires you?
Ordinary persons who everyday face the challenges of life with energy and enthusiasm and still find time to laugh and enjoy everything around them.
What’s the last good piece of advice you received?
Stay focused on your purpose no matter what dissenting voices you may hear from time to time and you will always persevere.
Growing up, what was your dream job?
I wanted to be a scientist. But when I got to the Natural Sciences faculty at UWI at 17 years old, I suddenly lost interest and then discovered the world of business and later sales.
If you could travel to any place, where would it be and why?
I have always had an interest in visiting the Far East, such as China, India, Thailand etc.. The architecture and culture of these areas are so distinct and ancient so I have always thought it fascinating.
What is your dream car?
My dream car is the BMW X6. It combines the sleek attractiveness of the BMW cars with the powerful features of the SUV.
After a hard day, what relaxes you?
Time with my family, great music and comedy on Television. I get a good laugh from "The Big Bang Theory".
What current projects are you working on?
Trying to get a backyard vegetable garden going at home. Of course there are always several projects at the office, the main one now being we are about to launch a new product.
What is your favourite aspect of living in Jamaica?
The fact that if you drive for about half an hour out of Kingston in any direction you start to run into the most beautiful scenery that makes you remember that we live in paradise. Also, the fact that I live among a people who are so talented and with the most amazing sense of humour. They are able to stay happy under the most dire circumstances, Nothing keeps us down.
and massive floor space might lead one to believe that all the emphasis has been placed on aesthetics. However, beyond the fact that the place looks amazing, is the emphasis that the designers and builders placed on fitting the facility with the latest in conference technology. As far as international industry standards go, the Rose Hallbased facility is amongst the best in the world. It offers the very latest audio-visual and Information Technology (IT), including excellent wifi and Internet coverage in all areas of the property. Pop out your tablet in the most remote corridors of the Convention Centre and you will still be able to browse the net with ease. For international conferences, translation booths are also provided. The Grand Ballroom’s excellent surround sound technology ensures that patrons won’t miss a word of that keynote address, regardless of where they are sitting.
Making the Most
Though still in its infancy, the Montego Bay Convention Centre is already showing great signs that is will continue to pull tourists of a particular ilk to our shores. Many scoffed at the National Stadium when it was built in 1962 to host the Commonwealth Games. Nobody was scoffing in 1997 when Jamaica qualified for the World Cup in France; or at the recently concluded Boys and Girls Athletics Championships, when records went tumbling one after the other. In like manner, no one doubts the significance of the Jamaica Conference Centre, which opened its doors in 1983.
The legacy of the Montego Bay Convention Centre is a story that is only just beginning to be told. It is for the present generation to make the most of this national asset, and use it to spur further growth and development. In order to make the most of it, Jamaican event planners need to break out of the very Kingston-centric mold within which they operate. More of the ‘great occasions’ being planned need to take place in Western Jamaica. As a country, the time for thinking outside of the box is long gone. It is now time to think as if there is no box. When we do so, it is then that we will see the Montego Bay Convention Center for the national asset that it truly is.
Top Of The Pile:
Seprod Group bags Top Honours at JCC Awards by: Dennis Brooks
S
eprod is a giant. It is quite that simple. The sheer longevity of the business and its ability to evolve itself and, not only stay afloat, but also remain profitable, speaks volume to what the company has been about for over seven decades.
the top prize; why they were so deserving of the Chamber’s adulation. As such, Wealth Magazine sat down the Seprod Group’s Chief Operating Officer, Carl Domville to track the development of this great company.
To say that there is an indelible link between Jamaicans and Seprod is not to overstate the relationship between company and country. This, as the average Jamaican has been literally born and raised with Seprod products all around us. Be it the butter that mother glazed our bread with, the juice the little girl is sipping from her Dora The Explorer lunch box at break time or the detergent the young lad is using to learn to hand wash his khakis for school, Seprod has been part of so many dimensions of our lives for so very long.
Planting the Seeds of Success
It came as no surprise, then, when Seprod Jamaica won top honours at the 31st Annual Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) Awards. The awards sought to determine which companies represented the ‘Best of Chamber’ in three categories; large, medium and small business. of course, given the magnitude of its range products in the Jamaican landscape, Seprod was nominated in the large category, along with Jamaica International Insurance Company (JIIC) and the Jamaica Biscuit Company. By now, most of our readers will be of aware that when the curtains came down on the gala event at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on March 21, it was the 73-year old Seprod that stood tall. However, there are some readers who might wonder what the JCC’s judges used to determine why Seprod was right for
Carl Domville is one who can surely speak to many of the ebbs and flows of this great company, having been with them since 1992. As he points out, while Seprod appears to have grown exponentially over the years, the more recent successes were born out of austerity of earlier days. The company began with a core focus on soaps and detergents along with some edible products, and eventually expanded to produce snacks and set up a distribution company for its manufactured products. By the early 1990s, there was well over a thousand workers employed to the company. However, as most watchers of the economy know, the ‘90s were tough years. “During the 1990s, the Group had to sell the soaps and detergents side of the business to Colgate-Palmolive. Contraction came … and that was a huge move on Seprod’s part. It was beneficial too because it happened at a time when cash was scarce. The cash that was received was invested and it produced good returns for us and put us in a position where subsequently the company started expanding once more,” Mr Domville explains. That expansion of which he speaks refers to the Group’s acquisition of several companies, some of which were in
things, which often lead to reduction in costs and better ways of doing business,” he admits.
Brian pengelly, Red Stirpe and JCC President Francis Kennedy Presents Carl Domville of Seprod with Best of Chamber Award at JCC 31st Annual award cereony.
financial difficulties of their own. Companies like Jamaica Edible Oils and Fats, Serge Island Farms and Serge Island Dairies, were among the companies that Seprod acquired while in trouble and turned them into growing, profitable companies in their own right.
Building a Culture of Success
One of Seprods secrets to profitability is really no secret at all. This is a company that has done well because it has strong and innovative managers who inspire their teams to lead. As Mr Domville notes, “Seprod has an excellent management team, led by Mr Byron Thompson, our CEO. He is very experienced and a very sharp individual. Seprod has a culture of always trying to do better and I believe that is the genesis of a lot of the progress that this company has made.” Success can often, ironically, become the enemy of success. People and companies become satisfied with that they have managed to achieve in the past, and it clouds their vision. Not Seprod. Every year, the Group re-examines its operations. Managers and workers are challenged to come up with better, more efficient ways of doing everything. Mr Domville says the exercise, though tedious at times, often reaps real rewards. “Sometimes you believe you have done everything you can and you would tend to want to rest on your laurels and say ‘I am fine.’ But then the next time comes around and you are challenged and you are again called upon to find new and better ways of doing what you are doing. You would be surprised to know the responses to the challenges, because people always find unusual and ‘out-of-the-box’ ways of doing
This organisational culture translates to many other areas of operations. The Chief Operations Officer points out that one of the defining features of the company a clearly stated set of norms that indicate best practices for a wide range of tasks. “Seprod has well-documented policies of how to do things. Almost anything you can think of, we have a policy and procedure to deal it. These procedures are reviewed from time to time for the purpose of improving them. We call them Standards. You name a procedure or activity, we have a Standard for doing it, and the standard is the best way that we have decided to do it, taking internal controls into consideration.”
A Bright Future
One naturally wonders how - for a company that has done so much for so long – the next frontier is determined. For Seprod, there are always new waters to be charted. One of the areas of relatively new ambition for the company is to become a major player in the local mutton industry. Over the years, the Group has introduced several sheep projects and now boasts a stock of over 1400. The company does supply to the local market as present, but Wealth Magazine understands that the company’s intention is to grow the heard in such a way as to position itself as a large-scale supplier of sheep meat. Seprod has also ventured into Bee Farming and has been building beehives. The aim is to make a significant impact on the local market, and to also export the product into overseas markets. So, whether its canned vegetables and meats, snacks, cleaning or industrial products, sauces, spreads or personal care products; the Seprod Group of Companies has interwoven itself into almost every inch of the fabric of our great nation. In many respects, they are as Jamaican as a plate of ackee and saltfish. As a matter of fact, close examination of that plate and its contents might just reveal that they all came to your dinner table – in one way or another – courtesy of Seprod. After over 70years of innovation, to be named ‘Best of Chamber’ in the ‘Large’ category by the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, is deserving recognition for an excellently played innings.
FINANCE
Caribbean Cricket ‘On the Up’ CPL targets the Caribbean to become the World Capital of Cricket
T
he Caribbean is abuzz with news of the upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL) set to elevate the Twenty20 cricket format to an IPL-styled professional league of franchises. Venture Capitalist, Ajmal Khan, and Dirk Hall, CPL, CEO have teamed up with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to create a 'carnival-esque', yet competitive T20 cricket model enmeshed in a robust business framework. The league is set to run its first tournament series from July 26 to August 29, 2013, with a prize purse for the winning team that organisers claim will be the largest for any sporting event in the Caribbean.
by: Zina Edwards Malcolm
Party on The Pitch
The carnival atmosphere of cricket matches in the Caribbean is a unique and highly memorable cultural marker, universally beloved by cricket fans. Indeed, the revelry that surrounds limited-over cricket in the region is legendary with an everpresent merry cast of characters and ubiquitous musical celebrations, popular with broadcasters and celebrants on the ground. In May, the CPL machinery released the CPL 2013 anthem, How We Play, an up-tempo collaboration featuring dancehall sensation, Konshens and soca superstar, KES that is set to be a hit both on and off the pitch.
Dirk Hall, CEO Caribbean Premier League in conversation with Wealth Magazine's Brand Manager Simone Riley at CPL launch, Spring Cove House, Barbados.
“We view cricket as a fundamental love of the Caribbean, it’s in our DNA. What Monaco is to Formula 1 racing, we want T20 to be to the Caribbean… glamourous, festive, exciting” said CPL Chief Dirk Hall, himself of Jamaican heritage, “We want a full-out party in the stands, but serious cricket on the pitch.”
Batting for Billions: Revenue Strategy
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has generated over USD 4 billion in revenue for its model, which admittedly has a larger pool of cricketers and a much broader native population of cricket fans than the CPL region. However, the lucrative earnings from merchandising, franchises, the hospitality industry and global broadcast rights are revenue streams that can likewise be tapped into by the regional markets served by the CPL, particularly Jamaica. CPL boasts solid financing from Verus International, an investment company owned by Barbados-based mogul Ajmal Khan (see his profile on p.34). The venture capitalist was emphatic in the assertion that the CPL is ”not a one-man show” and emphasized that Verus’ most valuable input would be to identify and corral strategic partners and investors to distribute the risk and build a broader, global body of funding and support. At the time of the interview in Barbados, CPL had not yet revealed confirmation of broadcast rights assignments, franchise ownership or merchandise licenses. Since the interview, Digicel, a supporter of West Indies Cricket since 2004, has signed on as a regional sponsor.
Creating Opportunity, Developing Talent While the revenue-generating opportunities are a key part of the CPL business model, the development of a deep bench of Caribbean professional cricketers is a critical goal of the CPL
executives and their partners at the WICB. Dirk Hall shared with Wealth, “West Indies was the 2012 world champion in T20 and WINDIES were once the most dominant force in cricket. The reason the shine of our WINDIES has somewhat diminished is because of a dearth of development for our younger players. Now that talented young cricketers can be full-time cricketers, the school kids know they have something to strive for”. The league requires participation of young players and will help mid-tier players sustain themselves through cricket. CPL has designated USD 360,000 salary funding for ten of the mid-tier players in each territory. The ten young players will get paid at least USD 1,000 per month from January to June. They will be free to serve as full-time cricketers based on a 30day tournament period. This represents an unprecedented opportunity for a corps of sixty regional cricketers to devote themselves full time to the sport and create a desire and sense of opportunity in the ranks of junior cricket players.
League Organisation According to a recent release from the CPL offices, the league will consist of six franchise teams each with fifteen players, a coach and a physiotherapist. Of the 90 total players, contracted to play in the CPL, all teams are required to have a minimum number of local players from the particular franchise country. At least four of them must be under the age of 23, and teams can also field a maximum of four international players. The remainder of the team must consist of regional and/or local players. International stars Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist from Australia, New Zealand’s Ross Taylor, Pakistan T20I captain Mohammad Hafeez and Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa are confirmed big-name signings. Sri Lanka spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan, the man with more international wickets than any other player in history, has been confirmed as the sixth
CPL Notable Quotables “I am (sic) excited that there will be so many young West Indian players involved in the tournament and I hope to pass on some of my cricketing experiences as the tournament progresses. I can’t wait for it to get started!” - Muttiah Muralitharan, International Franchise Player; Royal Challengers, Bangalore player, IPL.
Verus international President, Ajmal Khan Shares the spotlight with West Indies T20 Champions.
and final international franchise player for this year’s Caribbean Premier league (CPL). Also confirmed are six West Indies franchise players – Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy and Marlon Samuels. The executive has appointed an illustrious panel for the Caribbean Premier League tournament committee headed by former Jamaican Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson as chairman and joined by Zorol Barthley, Conde Riley and Walter Scott, QC of the WICB and Ian Bishop, Lance Gibbs and Charles Wilkin, QC of the CPL.
“The CPL is a perfect fit for Digicel. We’re huge fans of West Indies cricket and this is a great opportunity for us to invest not only in what will be an amazing event, but also in the young cricketers who will benefit from around the region,” Kieran Foley, Digicel Group Marketing Director/ CPL Sponsor. “The idea of limited-over cricket is very exciting and encourages more people to enjoy cricket. The CPL provides a good formula for the advancement of young people in cricket” - Sir Everton Weekes, cricket's sole surviving member of “the Three W’s”. “Overall, CPL will have a great impact not only in Jamaica but in the Caribbean. Youngsters will get a chance to share dressing rooms with international stars which will aid development of the game in the Caribbean.” Chris Gayle, World’s leading T20 batsman.
Visit http://cplt20.com to stay abreast of updates and the CPL schedule of twenty-four matches slated for July 26 – August 29, 2013 in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, Guyana, and Trinidad.
“What Monaco is to Formula 1 racing, we want T20 to be to the Caribbean” – Dirk Hall, CEO, Caribbean Premier League
12 Cash The Entrepreneur’s
Commandments
T
by: Ryan Strachan
o frame this correspondence appropriately, let me begin by stating that I believe entrepreneurship is a noble undertaking that anyone so inclined should embark on at the closest possible time. With that said, it is also important to note that entrepreneurs are a different breed, exposed to unique risks, which must be appropriately mitigated.
insolvency.
To that end, I have devised The Entrepreneur’s 12 Cash Commandments, which–while suited to the average entrepreneur–are also applicable to the ‘Average Joe’.
4. DON’T make a habit of injecting personal funds into the business.
1. DO Maintain and continuously Add to an Emergency Fund Pool. - Due to the degree of variability an entrepreneur is exposed to, and the occasional lack of stability (especially in the earlier days), which can cause them to have to forego salaries/stable earnings, it is critical that sufficient emergency funds be put away. My recommendation is for this fund to amount to six months’ expenses at a minimum and eventually grow to one year. Continuous additions should be made from any bonuses/dividends received or any major cash inflows. This pool should be treated as sacrosanct. 2. DO Contribute to a Retirement Fund from day one. - This stems from point (one) and again is important because despite having the best of times in business, fortunes can change overnight and leave a businessman without his shirt. Thus regular and consistent contributions to a retirement fund will guard against complete exposure to the elements such as
3. DO Pay Taxes religiously - Tax obligations past due can accrue very quickly and become exorbitant when penalties and potential lawsuits for tax evasion are added to the mix.
- These must be kept separated once the business is able to sustain itself. Second, the business’ capacity to sustain itself must be determined from the cash flows it generates separate from the owners’ ability to inject capital as a reprieve. Third, any funds injected must be treated as a loan to the business. 5. DO keep personal and business funds completely separated. - See point (four). 6. DO have a financial advisor manage your finances while you manage the business. - Entrepreneurs are busy people with lives consumed by the affairs of their business. As such, the task of fund management should be left to an independent and sufficiently capable individual who will be able to stay abreast of all market developments. Expertise in the management of one’s business does not necessarily equate to proficiency in the oversight of one’s finances.
7. DON’T make ‘big ticket’ acquisitions out of savings; use above-average cash inflows.
with liquidity crunches and taken on expensive loans because of this very scenario.
- This has the added benefit of sustaining the cash flow pooled in points (one) and (two), and will do a fair job of ensuring the entrepreneur is able to adequately determine what can be comfortably acquired and what should be waited on until the necessary time.
10. DO take Estate Planning seriously, as transfer taxes can be exorbitant
8. DO Supplement Income Streams.
- Entrepreneurs should remember that their participation in private enterprise renders them exposed to the volatility of equity-based investments. As I have said on many occasions, owning a business and owning stocks is the same thing. Accordingly, entrepreneurs should ensure they have a balanced portfolio overseen by a qualified professional able to guide them prudently.
- It is said that one is on the path to true wealth upon having seven revenue streams A few streams include: o Dividends o Salaries o Capital distributions o Bond Interest o Rental Income 9. DON’T overload on Real Estate. - This issue is increasingly prevalent in Jamaica and entrepreneurs must resist the temptation to overindulge in the pursuit of rental income due to the factors of illiquidity of a property in the event of a delayed sale or rental, and/ or the length of time it requires for a sale to close. History is replete with stories of entrepreneurs who have contended
- This I believe is self-explanatory. 11. DO Diversify across currencies and asset classes
12. DO continually Reinvest in your Brand and Employees - Of all the points mentioned previously, this one has the greatest degree of potential return as a business comprised of the right people who are continuously growing will survive even the toughest of times by virtue of the quality of human capital in-house. The same can be said of solid brands, for in recessionary times when markets aren’t growing, the companies that do continue to succeed grab market share from the competition.
MARLEY AND THE MONEY TURNING PASSIONS INTO PROFIT
by Steve Jones
B
ob Marley is world famous. His brand, even all of these years after his death, continues to generate millions of dollars every year. Yet Bob Marley never set out to make a profit. He set out to follow a passion. There is a lesson in Bob Marley’s career for businesses to take note of. When Marley started making music in the early 1960s, the word 'reggae' didn’t even exist! Bob and his friends simply made the music that was in their hearts, a reflection of their lives, religious beliefs, and cultural heritage. Their music didn’t have a name, but that didn’t matter. By the time the word 'reggae' was coined, this unique island music was starting to catch on around the world. Artistes like Paul Simon, Johnny Nash, and Eric Clapton came to Jamaica to absorb the island’s influence and record their music with Jamaica’s richly talented musicians. Bob Marley did become wealthy beyond his wildest dreams, but had he started out on a mission to get rich, he would
have quickly been pressured to compromise the powerful set of values that he represented. After all, the new reggae sound was, at the time, just a small niche market outside of the Caribbean. If Bob wanted to quickly get rich, logic would have directed him to become more like the popular American and British performers of the day, leaving his Jamaican roots behind. That quest for money would have resulted in Marley making music that wasn’t true to his heart, a path to short-term profits with terrible long-term results. The world fell in love with Bob Marley’s music and bought millions of copies of his albums because of the powerful values that he passionately sang about and stood for. His songs captured the spirit of Jamaica, and proudly shared its “one love” attitude around the globe. He sang about his heritage, his upbringing, and his family. Bob sang about peace, togetherness, and unity. He wasn’t afraid to declare his Rastafarian beliefs and his pro-ganja stance, even if those attitudes risked alienating some potential fans. On
every album he poured out his heart, never compromising to please anyone. His fans rewarded him by making his Legend album the best-selling reggae album in history, with over 25 million copies sold worldwide. Throughout music history, there are plenty of examples of artistes who have compromised their sound in order to cash in on short-term fads. The most obvious was the late 1970s rise of disco music. As disco became more popular, many rock ‘n’ roll artistes were tempted to alter their sound in order to profit. The fad sucked in Rod Stewart when he released Do Ya’ Think I’m Sexy. Paul McCartney recorded an ill-fated disco song called Goodnight Tonight. Even the Rolling Stones took a shot with songs like Miss You and Emotional Rescue. But perhaps the most glaring was hard rockers KISS, who consciously decided to try create a fusion of rock and disco with a song called I Was Made For Loving You. While "I Was Made For Loving You" became a major hit, it also divided KISS fans bitterly. Many long-term fans felt abandoned by the new disco sound and accused their favourite band of selling out. Meanwhile, a wealth of new fans were hearing KISS for the first time when they heard I Was Made For Loving You. But when they heard other KISS songs, they were no doubt unimpressed by the fact that none of the band’s music sounded like the hit they were hearing on the radio. To this day, I Was Made For Loving You remains a controversial moment in the history of one of America’s legendary hard-rock bands. While it made the band tremendous amounts of money, it also seriously eroded their original fan base. In the years following their disco hit, the band’s popularity took a serious decline. In business, we need to remember that our profits come about as a result of our passions, not the other way around. When you do something that you are passionate about, and you do it passionately well, people are far more likely to support your mission. Businesses built on passion have values, and customers identify with those values. When business decisions are filtered through the passion filter, the answers become much clearer. Tempting opportunities that present short-term financial gain but go against the passionate core values of the brand (like KISS
recording a disco song!) become much easier to walk away from. One of the top airlines in the United States is Southwest Airlines, a company that has built its brand upon low prices and a fun attitude. Achieving the lowest prices for their customers while at the same time providing them with a positive experience was their passion from day one. Every
In business, we need to remember that our profits come about as a result of our passions, not the other way around. decision at Southwest, from the early start-up days until today, was put through the low price/great service filter. New routes and new planes are added only when they contribute to offering the Southwest customer the lowest price with the best possible service. If proposed new routes or new planes offer short-term financial gain, but fail to contribute to their passionate goal of giving their fans the lowest prices and best service, they walk away from them. As a direct result of their passionate dedication to low prices and great service, Southwest rose to become America’s leading low-cost carrier, and steadily ranks as one of the country’s top overall airlines in terms of passenger traffic. Those fliers keep coming back, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, which consistently ranks Southwest Airlines as the leading airline for passenger satisfaction. It would have been easy for Southwest to compromise along the way in order to make quick dollar, but they wisely stayed true to the passionate values upon which they were founded. Music fans around the world can be thankful that Bob Marley did the same thing. By always staying true to his passionate values, he created a legacy of music and storytelling that has enriched the lives of people of all nationalities, races, and faiths.
What to expect from the
IMF
M
by: Ryan Strachan
ost would deem it reasonable to say that in the eyes of most Jamaicans, it is regrettable that we are locked in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for support as a result of mismanagement of the nation’s public resources. Some would argue that it was a long time coming, while others may perhaps be surprised that we have found ourselves at what can only be called square one for a second time in four years. Preamble aside, at the time of writing in April 2013, Jamaica and the IMF are on the brink of closing a borrowing arrangement which will result in nearly USD$1 billion flowing into the nation’s coffers. Of course, in the world of finance, and by extension, the world at large, the concept of a free lunch is merely an illusion and one can reasonably expect an array of changes to result when the ink finally hits the contract. First, it would be within reason to foresee tougher times, as these multinational lending agencies tend to have expectations and clear key performance indicators (KPIs) which must be met upon the conducting of quarterly assessments. It would not surprise me if the penalty of non-compliance involved the borrower being unable to access any further funding. As a result, it also follows that said KPIs would be quite stringent and result in: •
A reduced public sector: The recent wage freeze is just the start of lowering the public-sector wage bill. It is also fair to hope that this will lead to a restructuring of the sector as a whole and lead to increased efficiency for the bureaucracy in doing business with Jamaica’s public sector is extensive and not conducive to private enterprise.
•
Increased push for tax compliance: This will result for the obvious need for increased revenues by the Government and goes hand in hand with the recent $15.9 billion tax package announced. As a result, do
not be surprised if you hear of more tax cases being announced in the public sphere (as commenced a few weeks ago when 300 names were published on the back page of one of our nation’s newspapers). •
Lower interest rates: With the National Debt Exchange (NDX) came a 50-basis point fall in the Bank of Jamaica’s base lending rate from 6.25 per cent to 5.75 per cent annualised over 30 days. This lowering should also find its way to the repurchase agreement market and subsequently impact the yields on local and global bonds. Whether this is sustained is another matter altogether, but it should definitely manifest itself within 60 to 90 days. Another result of lower interest rates will be funds shifting from fixed-income investments to equity-based investments such as stocks, real estate, unit trusts and mutual funds. This has already started to happen this year given all the advertisements speaking to the aforementioned and new product launches.
•
Reduced pressure on the local currency: Similar to the previous point, this is likely to be the case in the short-term as has been the case since the announcement of the most recent expectation of an agreement was made in the first week of April. Sustainability will be due entirely to market forces and confidence in the Jamaican economy, but one can reasonably expect a lower rate of devaluation on the Jamaican dollar relative to the first quarter of 2013.
•
A more friendly business environment: Entrepreneurs may be hoping this actually occurs and isn’t a pipe dream. This writer can also be counted to be a member of such a camp, but a more friendly business environment is critical to stimulate the private sector and enable Jamaica to grow its way out of this mess we find ourselves in. The truth of the matter is that a pending IMF agreement has bought the country time to get its house in order. The NDX may have facilitated the debt to gross domestic product ratio significantly, but in order for further changes to result, the right side of the equation will have to be addressed and that will require economic growth.
•
Increased reliance on exports: Given the pressure being faced by the Jamaican dollar, one should expect that exports and activities which earn foreign currency to be premium in the eyes of any businessman, investor or public-sector employee.
If Jamaica is indeed able to pursue and achieve economic growth, this could usher in more private investment from both local and overseas sources in the country as globally there is a lot of capital looking for a home at this time. The reality of the dalliance with the IMF is that bitter medicine will be administered to the nation and austerity and consolidation will be the order of the day. To close, one expects that cuts in capital expenditure, further divestment of public-sector entities and overall Government spending will be the order of the day. The concluding hope of this writer, however, is that four years down the road, we are celebrating the difficult decisions now and not pondering ‘what if’ scenarios.
S H E 'S CELEBRATING THE WOMEN AT THE HELM
THALIA LYN
AUDREY HINCHCLIFFE
R OYA L T
he journey of entrepreneurship can be extremely lonely, timeconsuming and stressful. Surely, there is great truth to be found in the Shakespearian classic; Henry IV, when the King, in a moment of weakness opined that “…uneasy lies the head that wears the crown”. Be it a crown of political or economic leadership, the weight of responsibility weighs heavily on the head. When that weight is coupled with the struggles of motherhood, managing a marriage as well as other social responsibilities, female entrepreneurs often carry multiple burdens. The stories you are about to receive are each unique. They prove that, while many businesswomen have trod similar paths to economic success, each path is unique with its own obstacles and hurdles to overcome. Each story has its own lessons that we can learn from, as we pursue our own dreams. One thing that is for certain, corporate Jamaica is no longer a bastion of male dominance. The boardrooms of Jamaica’s top companies are not mere old boys' clubs. These stories are proof that women in Jamaica – once prepared to learn and apply themselves – can ascend to the highest heights, shattering the glass ceiling along the way.
MICHELE ENGLISH
MICHELE
ENGLISH SMALL-TOWN GIRL
BIG TIME IMPACT
P
oliticians do not own the monopoly on ‘humble beginnings.’ Many stories of success around the world reflect the theme of an individual from a small town ultimately having a global or regional impact. Michele English’s story follows in that vein and proves that a small-town girl can, indeed, have a big time influence. Hailing from St. John’s, Newfoundland in Canada, Michele grew up in a small family with her only sibling being a sister; five years her junior. Consistency and stability were dominant themes of her life, as while growing up, she lived at the same address from birth until a few years after graduating university when she migrated to another part of Canada. She fondly recalls having the same neighbours and friends all her life. It is no stretch to suggest that this notion of stability early in her life may well have laid an excellent foundation for her to become a safe, reliable and stable pair of hands at the helm of one of Jamaica’s strongest companies today.
Sewing Seeds of Creativity and Determination
As a youngster, Michele was one for the ‘great outdoors’ and spent considerable time exploring nature and enjoying everything in her environment. Even in the winter, she spent much time sliding and building snowmen. Having learned to skate at the tender age of two, she became a competitive figure skater by age eight and continued until her mid-teens when she recognised she couldn’t pursue the sport as a professional career. Michele’s sporting interests were numerous so she moved on from figure skating to playing basketball, volleyball, soccer and even field hockey. Her nonacademic interests went beyond athletics; she was quite involved in student politics, becoming the president of the student council among other things. While speaking with her, she fondly recalls being heavily involved in extracurricular activities is an effective way of keeping out of trouble by channelling all of her energy into positive actions. Today, her style of leadership boasts elements of her creative and sporting background. Her sense of competitiveness was honed very early and has translated into an insatiable appetite for turning the companies she has worked for into world-
beaters. The creative style is evident in just about everything she does, and her signature permeates every aspect of her interactions as a boss. Listening to Michele’s story, one must wonder where she found time and energy to attend to all her various engagements. She worked to assist in funding her bachelor of commerce degree. While studying, she maintained a job at McDonald’s, worked as an accounts payable clerk and also delivered flyers for another company. However, it was the accounts payable engagement that opened her eyes. Being the daughter of an accountant, she thought she would have entered business but found it a bit too “dry”. Her mother worked in HR and this influenced her to concentrate on HR as part of the Commerce degree at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, which she completed in 1986. The programme had an internship component, which allowed her to get her feet wet working for IBM as well as the Transportation Authority in Newfoundland. The IBM work term saw her along with three girlfriends moving to Halifax to work, which has her first time living away from home. Her time at IBM taught her some fundamental lessons in hiring the right persons for respective jobs. In fact, one of her work philosophies is “…to hire people who are better than me”.
Welcome to the Real World
Her first job out of university was with a value-added reseller for IBM. She continued this while searching for a job more in line with her commerce and HR concentration. This led her to work with the Housing Authority as a classification specialist – essentially developing job descriptions and evaluating positions to establish salary scales among other things. By her mid-20’s Michele became the HR director for a workers’ insurance company. At such a young, occupying such an important role could very well cause the average professional to get ‘bigheaded’. But, make no mistake; Michele English is not average. The challenges of her job kept her grounded and helped foster personal growth and maturity. She admits that it was during this time that she discovered many of her strengths and weaknesses; ultimately helping her decide where she really wanted to go with her life. Armed with a greater level of self-awareness and confidence, Michele began searching for jobs that would give her the nuanced experience. She eventually secured another director of HR post with then Regional Cable Systems (later becoming Persona Communications). Taking that post, in spite of her limited interest in HR came about because the CEO, Brendan Paddick, was the president of the Commerce Society when she was its VP at university. She made the move at a crucial time because Persona had just acquired another company of a similar size and there were no HR protocols or policies in place. This essentially presented her with a project to develop the company’s
HR from scratch. Not being one to shirk from a challenge, Michele spent the first two years building the HR structure, which helped move the company forward. It is worthy of noting that this new challenge came about while she and her husband, Doug, were preparing for the birth of their daughter. The balancing act continued and soon after, she was presented with another career opportunity; this time to lead the Newfoundland operation of Persona Communication. Under her stewardship, Michele English led the rebuild of Persona Communications’ network to deploy digital cable television and broadband Internet services in her region. This helped her develop considerable experience in planning and executing large-scale telecommunications projects including several educational and community networks in rural Newfoundland, Canada. Persona Communications was eventually bought but Paddick had a vision to create company which would deliver highquality telecommunications services to the Caribbean and Latin America, resulting in the birth of Columbus Communication (operators of the Flow and Columbus Business Solutions brands in Jamaica) in 2004.
Finding her way to Flow
She describes it as getting the team to link their personal responsibility with the company’s collective responsibility. This strategy seems to work because among the awards Flow has received are:
Michele English is all smiles as she receives her award at the PSOJ 50Underfifty Awards Ceremony.
PSOJ 50UnderFifty – The Game Changers – recognising the profound impact that Columbus’ broadband network has had on positioning Jamaica as a strong and viable business destination, and transforming lives by delivering innovative products and services that have changed the way Jamaicans work, learn and play.
It didn’t take much cajoling for Michele buy into the vision. She arrived in Jamaica in 2006 as general manager; performing that role with distinction for 2 years. By August 2008, the quality of her leadership paid dividends, and she was promoted to the office of president and chief operating officer. Michele has played an integral role in managing Columbus’ aggressive US$350+ million capital investment programme to build out Jamaica’s first all-island broadband network; a programme that has virtually transformed the telecommunications industry in Jamaica. In this new role, the world began to really see the girl from Newfoundland blossom into the corporate leader that she was born to be. The success that began to manifest was the product of over 20 year's experience in telecommunications. She admits that her strengths and weaknesses have helped her achieve success and get the best out of the teams and people with whom she interacts. “I think I can be cut and dry sometimes, but not in a bad way. I’m not going to candy coat the truth for you. I will tell you as it is without being offensive.” While working on her weakness of being sometimes impatient, she admits that it gets people to deliver on promises/ deadlines, ultimately leading to high productivity. Michele says part of her strategy to get the best out of people is to be very clear on everyone’s roles and objectives. She allows each person and team to do their respective jobs and she constantly tries to “rally the troops” to get the job done right every time. “You have to get everyone to understand what the company’s goals and objectives are, then you clearly show how their specific role ties directly into achieving the company’s goals.”
Michele English with a student of Oracabessa High School at the launch of the Universal Service Fund Wide Area Network.
AMCHAM Business and Civic Award for Excellence, 2012 in Corporate Social Responsibility (large company) for the company’s contributions to education, arts, sports and community development.
The Jamaican challenge
Michele admitted that her greatest challenge since arriving in Jamaica came in the early days during the phase of acquiring a number of local cable operators. “We had to go that route of acquisition because at the time we did not have a cable television license and this was the service which would drive our operation for the most part. So we were building out this massive plan which would see us offering triple-play service, but we could only offer two,” She reveals. She notes that there was immediate expectation from the
customers that things would change overnight. Flow took on all the existing employees, so there was a huge challenge to train them to work ‘the Flow way’ but she believes it was worthwhile doing that. Coupled with the rate and number of acquisitions the company went through, she admits things almost became unmanageable. “We had to draw a line and decide that it was better to do a small number and do it well rather than spiral out of control and be unable to deliver on our promise. So we stopped and focused on development, training and putting things in place to ensure a fully professional execution,” she said.
The Vision
Michele English at the Clarendon Crime Prevention Christmas Treat in December
When asked about the vision she has for Flow and Columbus business solutions in Jamaica, the response was clear, “To establish Flow as the best broadband communications company in Jamaica/region by bringing the best of broadband technology with the latest products and service to Jamaica, and to always stay ahead of the competition.” She added, “I want to ensure that Flow embodies service excellence for our customers. We ought to be the employer of choice. We do that by making sure employees are fully engaged, creating an atmosphere where employees are equipped to give their best and that they fully buy-in/embody “the vision of excellence” Michele English’s story reminds us that the joy of success is not to be found in the destination, but in the journey. All along life’s meandering highway, Michele was being taught and prepared for life as one of Jamaica’s most successful business leaders. No doubt, there were days when she wondered why she was going through a particular experience. However, in hindsight, it is clear that the lessons she was being taught were for a greater purpose. Today, her customers benefit from those lessons. Her simple advice for women in business is, “Be fearless. Do not let fear of anything cripple you from moving aggressively towards achieving a goal. Remain focused and resolute.”
Members of the Jamaica College Robotics Team show off their Robot and Engineering Notebook to Michele English, president and coo of Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited. Flow is one of a number of corporate sponsors for the tea m.
(L-R) Denieze Williams and Michele English, of Flow has the full attention of Kenny Benjamin and associate at the recently refurbished Hope Gardens.
AUDREY HINCHCLIFFE THE WOMAN POWER THAT DRIVES MANPOWER
A
ll smiles when Wealth Magazine entered the 1 Eureka Road headquarters of Manpower Maintenance Services Ltd., Audrey Hinchliffe had just secured contract extensions for the first two locations that signed MMS Ltd. in 1993 – Spanish Town Hospital and the Tony Thwaites Wing at UHWI. If ever anyone needs a true tale of inspiration from a story defying the odds to achieving success coupled with true love for country, then look no further than Madeline Audrey Hinchcliffe. That this woman stared in the face of death, debt and unemployment in Jamaica but chose to fight through it all, is a true testament of the strength and resolve of the human spirit.
The Beginning
Her story began in the sleepy community of Lorimers, Trelawny, where Audrey was preceded by eight siblings. Being the last of nine she reveals that it left her with no option but to be successful, as those ahead of her lead by example. Hinchliffe moved to Kingston to first attend Excelsior High School then eventually enrolled in nursing school at the UHWI. Following graduation, she worked at Nuttall Hospital, studied midwifery at Victoria Jubilee Hospital and worked at Mandeville Hospital before getting married and having two children - her son, Garth is CEO at MMS and her daughter is a doctor in the United States. She moved to New York in 1967 to do an industrial nursing course, but added a host of other qualifications and valuable work experience to her résumé. These included getting a general equivalency diploma (ged) and a bachelor of arts in community health from St Francis College in Brooklyn, making the Dean’s List consistently despite bouts of ill health. Through it all, her love for her homeland never waned. Hinchcliffe visited Jamaica often to be with her family and
most of her earnings then were remitted home to sustain the children. After receiving a nursing permit, her first job was as a staff nurse at Brooklyn Hospital. Never one to be content with her position, Hinchcliffe started a training school in Brooklyn called Nurses Own Education Centre, with a Jewish partner to assist immigrant nurses pass the state board exams She moved on in the health system until she became the deputy director of nursing at the 1,000-bed Harlem Hospital. This appointment came before moving from the frigid temperatures of New York to the relative warmth of Jacksonville, Florida (much to the delight of her children) in November 1978. It resulted in her resigning but being duly compensated of all benefits and allowances and a reinstatement to her previous office. However, Audrey opted to leave Florida in July 1982 and became the health development officer for CARICOM countries for a six-year sojourn before returning to settle in Jamaica.
Coming home
It wasn’t an easy road returning to Jamaica. For it was quite a difficult task to get a job as she often heard that she was “too qualified” or “too experienced”. After struggling with unemployment, Hinchclife saw an opportunity to provide a service like no other in the Caribbean at the time – outsourcing janitorial services. Hinchclife, having been well-read, always managed to know what was going on around her and when she learned that the Government of the day was serious about outsourcing janitorial services, she set up MMS in 1990. The Spanish Town and Linstead hospitals came up and she got the former in 1993. This was followed by getting a contract to service the Tony Thwaites Wing at the UHWI. As Government agencies, ministries and private-sector entities increased their reliance on outsourced janitorial services, landscaping services and so forth, MMS benefited from that.
Teething pains
As other similar companies started operations, MMS sought to rise above the competition. “I brought down a well-known company out of the United States to Jamaica to show me how to do tenders, how to start up, how to manage budgets, how to write winning proposals. So there was a time when you couldn’t beat me in any tender out there and that’s why we grew so rapidly,” Hinchcliffe said. She continued, “So if there’s a secret to what I do to make MMS so successful it’s because I got into the business to create work for myself, Because I couldn’t
find a job and I had to make something for myself. In doing that I created work for other people.” “Today, we have three companies. We are not only providing cleaning and all these other services, we are providing training, we have a subsidiary–the Institute for Workforce Education and Development and we have a placement agency – the MMS Placement Agency Ltd. I love education, that’s part of the reason behind starting the institute.” Further, Audrey Hinchcliffe created the Manpower Foundation, supported by MMS and herself through donations requested when invited to speak at events/functions. The foundation’s money goes to underwrite some training, groom some staff for jobs and to assist workers in crises. She admitted to being quite anxious at the start, “This was a difficult country to come to at the time. Nearly everybody I knew was overseas including my immediate and extended family. So I had to literally start from scratch and I found it frightening. “I was super anxious. I had to go for counselling because I could have gone back overseas after coming to Jamaica, Remember I was away for 22 years. I had all sorts of job offers overseas and here I was struggling. I was actually tempted to go back but I refused to return to North America or Europe as I hated winters.”
Advice to young entrepreneurs
One of the things she always tells today’s entrepreneurs – “please plan. I did not have a plan, I just did things as they presented themselves to me and I still operate that way today. If I have something to do I just fight it to the death. You have to anticipate hiccups, obstacles and challenges. Also think about what you will do to advance the business when you reach the next level.” “Also you have to think about how you are going to equip your workforce to deliver exactly the high quality of service you have in mind. There will be a need for written policies and guidelines for each member of staff. Additionally, you have to talk with and engage the staff for their feedback. Optimise their environment to get best results. Monitor the work they do rather than micro manage the staff – manage the systems and policies you have put in place.” “I’m driven by self-confidence; very few things shake my confidence. I don’t get distracted by the fluff around me. I’m very focused. While people worry about IMF and the economy I’m always reading and looking for opportunities to make money. I comb through the papers and constantly stay on top of the news because that’s where a lot of opportunities are – some advertised directly, others arise from the situations people/businesses find themselves in.” “You have to be patient. The want-it-now mentality does not work. Every successful person has a journey and you must be prepared to walk. When something needs to be done, do it and quarrel afterwards. Avoid the blame game and remember that every setback is a set-up for a comeback.” “Learn from the best and do research. Probably someone else has already done the unique business idea you think you have. Find
out what made their execution successful and see how that method could apply to (or inform) yours.” Audrey Hinchcliffe interacts with a member of Staff at Manpower Maintenance Services Ltd.
She gives some gender-specific advice to one demographic of entrepreneurs, “Women in business need not behave like men. Chart your own path and go for it with passion and strong determination, just be you. Don’t fight with men, instead, learn the game and play it well. Never stop educating yourself as knowledge is very important. While a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree can increase your knowledge base, there are so many other things to learn. So take courses to get certificates and diplomas in continuing education.”
“Humility is priceless. Integrity cannot be bought." -Audrey Hinchcliffe
“Humility is priceless. Integrity cannot be bought. When I was invited to sit on the International Council of Women Business Leaders by the US State Department I thought it was a hoax. I saw the letter under the signature of Hilary Rodham-Clinton and figured it was a prank. My son made some contacts to confirm the authenticity of the signature and I contacted the US Embassy which ultimately confirmed it to be true.”
Continuity and succession planning for MMS
Now 73-years old, Audry Hinchcliffe’s main concern is where her company is going and who will take it there.“We haven’t peaked yet. There are so many other levels and we keep breaking new ground getting into new markets. MMS has the label of a family owned business. My son is here and he’s the Deputy CEO so the question we ask is whether to bring back in family members who were once with the business or do we source from outside the family.” Clearly, MMS is built to last and it will stay around. While the boss knows she will have to bow out one day, she insists she will always be available to whoever is at the helm for support, advice or any other service. She also can admit that she will still be happy, if after stepping asidem her family decides to sell the business and ride off into the sunset. Hinchcliffe is very confident with where she has brought the business. She takes heart in knowing that if she should pass away now, MMS would still be running efficiently because of the highly-trained, well-qualified, long-standing senior staff members who she believes will continue administering the systems and policies currently in place.” And yet, the for stepping aside or riding off into the proverbial sunset is not for today. Right now, Audrey Hinchcliffe continues to be bullish about her company’s outlook. She is the maverick’s maverick and the gladiator’s gladiator. In driving her company forward, she is the quintessence of what it means to be an entreprenur. Her story is one that reminds us all that there is a whole lot of ‘woman power’ behind ‘Manpower’!
THALIA LYN THE ISLAND GIRL BEHIND ISLAND GRILL
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or most long-standing business owners and operators, there are barely enough hours in the day. When Wealth Magazine attended the headquarters of Island Grill, we walked in on the final minutes of a happy Skype conversation between Thalia Lyn and her grandchildren in California. She was beaming with joy and invited us to say hi to the family. For her, family time is therapeutic, “Family matters to me… they’re my joy. I love how technology allows me to keep in touch, regardless of distance.” Thalia Lyn is the fourth of 12 children – 9 girls, 3 boys all born and raised in St Andrew. She reveals that her own unique social context was instrumental in developing her entrepreneurial personality. As is customary in a Chinese-Jamaican family, there are gender anomalies when it comes to recognition, “because in Chinese families, the boys are the ones who count. Since we outnumbered the boys it wasn’t too difficult for us to be more vocal”. She shared that she and her siblings had many things in common; one of them being a strong entrepreneurial spirit. No one wanted to work for someone else. They all wanted to work for themselves. Lyn’s father was a very bright young student but his father kept removing him from school at St George’s to help run the family business; the very well-known Purity Bakery. Being one of the older siblings and having worked in the bakery, Lyn got a first-hand look at how a successful business should be operated. She shares that the business was a source of inspiration to the entire family. The family mantra was “work hard and look out for each other”. Upon
graduating from Immaculate Conception High School at age 15 Lyn went on to “higher schools” which predated the more contemporary Sixth Form programmes. Lyn the intellectual, received a scholarship (as did all her siblings) to attend university overseas. She laughed as she recalled being in university at the same time as four of her siblings and having to work part-time to supplement her tuition and other expenses. During her academic sojourn in the U.S., Lyn’s heart never strayed from her high school sweetheart, Michael, with whom she currently enjoys a 42-year marriage. “My father said to me then, that I couldn’t get married until I finished university and turned 21. So I expedited my university years by graduating in 2 ½ years. I returned to Jamaica at the age of 20 and taught at Immaculate. I turned 21 that March and got married in June.”
The beginning of business
“We left Jamaica for my husband to attend flying school and then having qualified as a pilot, he thought he would join Air Canada, however, Air Jamaica came into existence and we returned home. While traveling overseas we saw a number of business opportunites. So the first business venture we got into was Soft-Serv Ice cream. When we realised that ice cream wasn’t going to generate enough profit to satisfy three investors, we diversified and got into chicken along with the ice cream and it just evolved. “We then decided to move away from fried chicken and try chicken on the grill. Looking back, I would say the thing that has made Island Grill successful is that we constantly try to be one step ahead of the competition. Owning this brand gives us an advantage over other major players in the industry. You see, we constantly keep an eye on what the market trends are. We know the pulse of our customers, so as soon as they want something new we can change it virtually immediately. We don’t have to write or call the headquarters overseas. Our headquarters is right here.” When asked about the level of anxiety within herself and the business partners (husband and a friend), given the strength of the major players in the food industry at the time, Thalia laughed and said, “… you know when you’re young you don’t worry? I never worried about taking on the debt. I worry much more now. At that stage of our youth, fear didn’t matter because we thought that if we failed all we had to do was try and try again.” Lyn said in the early years she depended on her father a lot because “…he was a common-sense business person. His business acumen was just
unmatched,” she said as she beamed with pride. “What gives me great joy is that I have created a local brand which started from scratch; a brand which enjoys much goodwill across the length and breadth of the country. What keeps me focused is the fact that I have come this far and done so well that I must be able to continue.” “Every time I think I’ve reach a goal that I’ve set and then think I’m going to retire or take it easy I always want to go a bit further.”
Challenges
Over the course of Island Grill’s operation, political administrations have changed, market conditions have deteriorated, and companies have sprung up and died. Lyn said the greatest challenge she faced was when interest rates skyrocketed. “That is when I really started to worry because I had debt and wondered whether I would survive. We had an overdaft at that time as well. That’s one of the things my current general manager (Albert Bailey) changed upon taking office, then as financial controller.” Another time she really worried was when Island Grill entered the Florida market and started off so well only to be hit with the September 11 (2001) attacks. The subsequent fallout forced them to rethink their position with the two stores there. The question was ‘where best to capitalise on our operation?’ She then decided that the best thing to do was to strengthen the home base. They packed up all the equipment, shipped them back to Jamaica and opened five stores in Jamaica that year just to prove to herself that it wasn’t the brand or the quality of food that was taking a hit.” Speaking to the issue of gender-related challenges, she insists the only challenge she faced was the banks not taking women seriously, not thinking that ‘here is a woman who wants to start a business and build a brand’. “I don’t have that problem anymore. Looking back I can understand their scepticism because at the time there weren’t many women doing business or not many women starting from scratch. If then I wanted to buy an international franchise it would have been met with much less resistance.”
Investing in staff capital
Thalia added that part of what keeps Island Grill going is a philosophy she learned from her father – it’s always important to give back. “Always remember the people that have built you,” she said as she shared that the company is investing in a “People Project” aimed at developing and enhancing the entire staff complement. “We are helping our staff develop so they can each become leaders whether with us or elsewhere in future. We have delved down into what is important to them. In fact, we were the first QSR to offer a HEART-certified course which is internationally recognised because it is tied into NCTVET. We’re almost making it mandatory because we’re raising our standards. In order for you to be an Island Grill kitchen supervisor you must have this HEART/Island Grill
“Always remember the people that have built you,” Thalia Lyn
qualification. It allows you to matriculate into colleges and other institutions for further educational pursuits.”
Beating the competition
One of Thalia Lyn’s strengths is the time, effort and detail she puts into watching the market and reading the proverbial domino game her competitors are looking to play.“We stay ahead of the competition by tracking trends and immediately responding to the needs and suggestions of our customers. We have such a strong presence on Facebook and other forms of social media which we use to engage with our customers.”
Free advice and the future
“To aspiring entreprenuers, especially women I say, take the chance. If you don’t take the chance, your life might be dominated by that big ‘what if’–especially when you’re young. In these times, the environment is perfect because interest rates are low if you need to borrow to execute your plan. The junior market gives you the opportunity to have investors and you’re not servicing debt. I think there is so much more available to a young investor now than when I started.” “No idea is crazy, so take yourself seriously because, in these days especially, you can do it!” When quizzed about succession planning and the future of the Island Grill brand, Lyn leaned forward with a focused stare and confidently said, “I really feel that the brand is strong in Jamaica and will continue to do well. My vision is for the brand to continue outside of Jamaica because as it is now, we are in Barbados and it does well there. I need a strong partner with tremendous focus to re-enter the international market and make it really work.” “My son and daughter-in-law work assiduously with me in the business but they don’t reside in Jamaica. We’re on a good path and we have a really committed and qualified staff. We keep opening new locations so there are always opportunities to enter different areas.” “Expanding the catering arm of the business as well as approaching schools are on the cards for consideration. I’m still figuring it all out. If my 16-year-old grandson was ready to move to Jamaica and take it over I’d be happy, of course after completing university. But as a family business I think it needs someone in the family to really drive it especially because we built it from scratch.”
Leisure Time? Really?
Thalia Lyn is a recipient of the Humanitarian Award of the American Friends of Jamaica for 2013, of which she is quite proud. This, she said, came out of her work with the Mustard Seed Community. Being a board member there, she got Island Grill to carry out a number of community feeding projects in which the staff participated hands-on. “I have no spare time,” she said as she laughed and spoke about her passion for giving back. “I enjoy being Chair of the NCB Foundation. Giving back is certainly the way to go. I wish more attention would be focused on the work of this foundation and others like it, which continue to help our Jamaican people.”
Dispelling L
by: Aida Davis
ife insurance is not as simple a product as people think. Even term life policies have many elements that must be considered carefully in order to arrive at the proper type and amount of coverage. But the technical aspects of life insurance are far less difficult for most people to deal with than trying to get a handle on how much coverage they need and why. Let's briefly examine the Top-8 misconceptions surrounding life insurance and the realities that they distort.
Myth #1: I'm Single and Don't Have Dependents, so I Don't Need Coverage
Even single people need at least enough life insurance to cover the costs of personal debts, medical and funeral bills. If you are uninsured, you may leave a legacy of unpaid expenses for your family or executor to deal with. Besides, this can be a good way for low-income singles to leave a legacy to a favourite charity or other cause.
Myth #2: My Life Insurance Coverage only needs to be Twice My Annual Salary
The amount of life insurance each person needs depends on each person's specific situation. There are many factors to consider. In addition to medical and funeral bills, you may need to pay off
the myths about Life Insurance
debts such as your mortgage and provide for your family for several years. A cash flow analysis is usually necessary in order to determine the true amount of insurance that must be purchased - the days of computing life coverage based only on one's income-earning ability are long gone.
variable universal life (VUL) policies contain several layers of fees relating to both the insurance and securities elements present in the policy. Therefore, if the variable subaccounts within the policy do not perform well, then the variable policyholder may well see a lower cash value than someone with a straight universal life policy.
Myth #3: My Term Life Insurance Myth #7: Only Breadwinners Need Life Coverage at Work Is Sufficient Maybe. Maybe not. For a single person of modest means, Insurance Coverage employer-paid or provided term coverage may actually be enough. But if you have a spouse or other dependents, or know that you will need coverage upon your death to pay estate taxes, then additional coverage may be necessary if the term policy does not meet the needs of the policyholder.
Nonsense. The cost of replacing the services formerly provided by a deceased homemaker can be higher than you think, and insuring against the loss of a homemaker may make more sense than one might think, especially when it comes to cleaning and daycare costs.
Myth #4: I Absolutely MUST Have Life Myth #8: I'm better off Investing My Insurance at Any Cost Money than Buying Life Insurance of In many cases, this is probably true. However, people with Any Kind sizable assets and no debt or dependents may be better off self-insuring. If you have medical and funeral costs covered, then life insurance coverage may be optional.
Myth #5: I Should ALWAYS Buy Term and Invest the Difference
Not necessarily. There are distinct differences between term and permanent life insurance, and the cost of term life coverage can become prohibitively high in later years. Therefore, those who know for certain that they must be covered at death should consider permanent coverage. The total premium outlay for a more expensive permanent policy may be less than the ongoing premiums that could last for years longer with a less expensive term policy.
Myth #6:
Variable Universal Life Policies Are Always Superior to Straight Universal Life Policies Over the Long Run Many universal policies pay competitive interest rates, and
Rubbish. Until you reach the breakeven point of asset accumulation, you need life coverage of some sort (barring the exception discussed in Myth No.5.) Once you amass a lot of liquid assets, you can consider whether to discontinue (or at least reduce) your policy. But you take a big chance when you depend solely on your investments in the early years of your life, especially if you have dependents. If you die without coverage for them, there may be no other means of provision after the depletion of your current assets.
The Bottom Line
These are just some of the more prevalent misunderstandings concerning life insurance that the public faces today. Therefore, there are many life insurance questions you should ask yourself. The key concept to understand is that you shouldn't leave life insurance out of your budget unless you have enough assets to cover expenses after you're gone. For more information, consult your life insurance agent or financial advisor.
Managing stress
toAvoid
Depression L
by: Rese Young
ife is a beautiful thing filled with lots of joyful moments. However, there are times when the very sweet life that you so cherish becomes overwhelming. One day you wake up and everything that you held dear to you feels all out of whack! You are filled with a mountain of debt, the bills keep coming, family and work obligations are only increasing. You feel like you have lost all sense of balance. You know you should exercise but you just can’t find the time. You begin to eat unhealthily, there is simply no time to pause and take time for you. You finally recognise that you are totally stressed and taking back control seems almost impossible. We have all been there. The truth is, stress that is left untreated can manifest in many forms of illnesses. One of the most common is depression.
Reading the Signs
Persons who constantly undergo stress, who do not manage it well, can often be pushed into a very dark place. That place can come with feelings of hopelessness. However, it must always be understood that setbacks and disappointments are simply a normal part of life. No matter who you are or where you come from, at some point you will experience a challenge. Disappointments can often bring about self-judgement and sometimes self-pity. The sad part is, some persons find it difficult to recover, they begin to obsess about the situation; failing to realise that nothing truly lasts forever. In fact it’s those very thoughts that have put them in the space of hopelessness. Left for a long time those feelings can turn into depression.
With the feelings of depression come impending doom, emptiness, restlessness and sometimes, even thoughts of suicide. If you think about it, all of this perhaps started with not dealing with the initial stressor. What many people fail to understand, is that whatever you give your attention to, you get more of it. You have the ability to choose what you think about, believe it or not. However, most persons allow their thoughts to control them. It’s important then to pay attention to how you are feeling, and truly manage the way you think. If you realise you are highly stressed then here are some great things to consider. They may just save you from heading into depression.
"whatever you give your attention to, you get more of it. "
1
BECOME AWARE OF YOUR EMOTIONS.
Are you aware of how you are feeling? Depression doesn’t happen over night. Take the time out to manage how you are feeling on a regular basis. If something is not feeling right, address it early. In this case, delays can be dangerous.
Be clear about the source of your stress.
2
Oftentimes when we gain clarity we can better deal with the challenges ahead. Pinpointing the actual stressor can help you to have a more effective strategy to address the stress.
3
Manage your reaction
Assess your typical reactions and see how you can modify your reactions to him/her or it. Sometimes our reaction can even exacerbate the situation.
Learn to Relax
4
Hearing relax when you are stressed can be quite annoying, however it’s quite a necessary reminder.
Practice meditation, and breathing exercise. In fact, just taking a deep breath helps to release anxiety. The breath actually helps to control our physical state so use it. It’s the quickest way to get calm by taking deep breaths and slowly releasing.
Help others
5
By helping someone else you can minimise your own stress. It helps you to shift your attention away from the issue at hand. This is not a bad thing when you are absolutely overwhelmed, and it can bring the well-needed relief.
Work if off
6
Physical activities are great ways to reduce stress. They release the endorphins, which cause you to feel happy and upbeat. Try running, jogging, skipping, gardening, yoga, and so much more. Just choose something you like and go for it.
7
Use the situation to power you
Sometimes through our greatest adversities come our biggest achievements. Use it to fuel you to accomplish more. Decide on what you could use it for and use it. Ever notice that success stories are from some really tough, challenging circumstances?
Get professional help
8
Have you tried a number of things and nothing seems to be working? Seek the help of a professional. There is no shame in it. Select the appropriate professional based on the nature of the stress. You may seek the help of a psychologist, life coach, psychiatrist, acupuncturist, energy healer, whatever resonates with you. They are more than equipped to help you. These eight steps are just a few of the many things you can do to alleviate and minimise stress in order to ensure you do not end up in depression. Don’t forget to simply have fun and count your blessings. Good luck and know that the universe is always conspiring on your behalf.
Getting
Your Hair Right O
ne of the most exciting things about hair is that you can change it so easily. To a certain extent, you can play around creatively with what nature has given you. But it should be noted that not every style and colour is ideal for each person. The following guidelines should help you decide whether a certain style or shade would suit you, but there are really no hard and fast rules. While your particular facial shape may call for a short cut, you may actually detest short hair and feel more confident with long tresses. In that case, there is no point in chopping off
by: Andreen Cephas your ‘crowning glory.’ Your personality also plays a crucial determining role. That trendy cut and bright colour may theoretically suit you, but if you generally prefer not to draw too much attention to yourself, anything too wild may make your life a misery. If you are planning a major change, talk it through with a hair stylist, who should be able to advise you on what will complement you and whether it will actually be possible to achieve a certain look with your hair type.
Your face as a canvas
Hairstylists mainly distinguish between curved and angled faces. Curved or contoured shapes include oval, round, pearshaped and heart-shaped faces. Angular face shapes include diamond shaped, square, rectangular (long) and triangular faces. The most desirable facial shape –from a hairstyle point of view – is the oval face. If you are lucky enough to have been born with an oval-shaped face, you are likely to be able to wear any hairstyle of your choice. In fact, as stylists, we like to create the illusion of an oval face. If you have a long face and your intention is to optically ‘shorten’ it, then avoid long straight hair. On the other hand, a heart-shaped face tends to be wide at the forehead, with a narrow jaw line. As such, hairstyles with curves or waves no longer than shoulder length are usually more flattering. A pear-shaped face is the opposite to the heart-shaped, and needs a look that is fuller around the forehead, with a narrowing effect at the jaw so as to create good balance. For both square and round faces, the aim is to recommend a style that gives length and height. Those are just a few hints on how to be comfortable with ones haircut.
Colour trends for the summer
Summer is, arguably, the greatest time of year! Schools are out and many women contemplate fun, short sassy, super shaggy flips, choppy bangs, bobs, layered locks or keeping it simple by just wearing one’s natural curls are what will be in for this summer. This is the time that women have the greatest urge to explore and try new exciting cuts and colours. Among the colour options considered at this time are duo tones, tipping, block colouring, Mosaics, brushing, or just tipping.
Care for your hair
Whether you choose to just cut, colour, or wear you natural tresses, care should be given to one’s hair. For persons who choose to colour, ensure the hair gets optimal moisture. Your stylist should offer recommendations for after care. The summer brings along a lot of fun and sun, but ensure the integumentary system is protected and be sure to use products which contain 40 SPF and more. Contrary to popular belief, many hair products do consist of sunscreen. Most females who suffer from scalp irregularities will be under attack during the summer months. A trichologist would be a great person to be in contact with, as they can minimize outbreaks, and sooth dry, itchy flaky scalp and overall render soothing treatments through this season. Make this summer the time to love adore and manipulate those tresses.
March 27, 2013
Sponsored By
First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union (FHC) CEO Basil Naar and the team of newly opened FHC Mandeville Branch.
(L-R) FHC CEO Basil Naar along with MCC Wendy Freckleton, FHC’s Mandeville Branch Manager Anthony Williams 3rd from left and Wealth Magazine’s Simone Riley caught the attention of our lens down in cool cool Mandeville.
A shot of the crowd which flocked the Bloomfield Great House Wealth Magazine's corporate Mingle debut in Mandeville
Marketers unite! Manchester Co-operative Credit Union’s Michael Gottschalk with Wealth Magazine’s Simone Riley.
The Bloomfield Great House in Mandeville was transformed to host Wealth Magazine’s, Corporate Mingle.
The wonder twins of Creative Media and Events’ Suelle Anglin and TraceyAnn Mullings grace the lens at the recently held Corporate Mingle in Mandeville, sponsored by FHC
FHC’s CEO Basil Naar addresses the room of Corporate Mingle attendees. Mr Naar was the guest speaker for the night’s event.
Our first lucky patron of the night is presented with her prize for being the first person in attendance to this staging of Corporate Mingle. She is gifted by FHC’s Marketing Manager Juven Montague-Anderson. It’s always great to see young people come out to our events. We get a chance to provide them with a networking opportunity as well as stand by our motto to Educate. Empower. Inspire
Networking with a Purpose
Another lucky winner! There were lots of prizes and surprises in store for the patrons at Corporate Mingle. This guest is presented with his prize by FHC’s Carlene Coley
Precisions Strategies and Partners Business Growth Coach Janice DacresJones alongside 20/20 Strategies’ Annette Salmon and FHC’s very own Juven Montague-Anderson take some time out from their mingle discussion to strike a pose for the camera.
Wow! That’s a lot of people. The Bloomfield Great House came alive with all the Corporate Mingle attendees.
(L-R) Andrine Cover of Columbus Business Solutions, Luwayne Byfiel of LuwVaughn Trade and Investments, Mario Mitchell of NSWMA and Tetlow Frith of Green Sun Energy Plus bid us “cheers” during another successful Corporate Mingle.
This Corporate Mingle attendee was all smiles as she entered the FHC sponsored event. We’re sure it was a night she won’t forget.
Councillors Jones Oliphant and Jimmy Collins deep in conversation with FHC’s CEO Basil Naar at the recently held Corporate Mingle.
Here at Corporate Mingle you can always count on networking at its best.
LIFESTYLE
Culinary Words
Lost in Translation
O
by: Christopher Reckord
ver the past year I have had the great opportunity to attend a number of international wine seminars and I have also had the pleasure of working with local and international experts in the culinary field to host and conduct a range of wine, spirits and food-related events. One of the many things that I have learnt is that there is a range of misused terms both locally and in the Americas. It might be due to the fact that global marketing of wines and gastronomy began in Europe, especially in France, and so a large number of the words used in the field are French-based. Some of these words seem to get adjusted or get lost in translation when crossing ‘the pond’ to this part of the world. At the risk of controversy, here are a few of those words:
Restaurateur (not Restaurant-er ) The owner of a restaurant or chain of restaurants. The correct word is restaurateur – without the 'n' . The word restaurant is originally derived from the Latin restaurer, which means 'to restore'. In her book The Invention of the Restaurant: Paris and Modern Gastronomic Culture Rebecca L. Spang informs us that back in Paris in the 1700’s a restaurant was not a place to eat, it was what you actually ate – it was a restorative broth. The quasi-medicinal bouillon restored your health, so back then the person or place that prepared this potion was the restorer, in French – restaurateur. This ‘place of restoration’ evolved into the modern day restaurant. Entrée – From French entrer, 'to enter' or 'entrance'. In the culinary world, it is a dish served before the main course or between two principal courses of a meal. So why does it refer to the main course in this part of the world? Many explanations exist, each with a slight variation of the other – in essence, in the old days when meals were grand affairs and large multicourse dinners were the order of the day – the entrée referred to the third course served/brought into the room, usually to fanfare and trumpets just before the principal or main course which was usually large roast pigs or boars. So over 100
years ago, the traditional French menu was: (1) soup (2) hors d'oeuvres or fish (3)entrée (or entrées) (4) rôti (The Roast) (5) final course (6) dessert. The entrée was bigger than the hors d'oeuvre, but smaller than the main dish. Somehow, as time passed and as the British adopted some of these customs and attempted to simplify them, a number of persons dropped some of the courses and somehow the entrée remained as the main dish before dessert. America adopted the usage of the terms to describe the menu from the British and has been using it ever since. Table wine – This term has two different meanings in the two major wine producing continents of the world. In North America, it is a legal term that simply means a still wine (not sparkling or fortified) made from grapes, having an alcoholic strength of maximum 14 percent alcohol by volume. In Europe, the wine regulations classify wines based on the region where they are made. The regulations have two main categories and Table Wine (TW) is the lower of the two. The higher category is Quality Wines Produced in Specified Regions (QWPSR). Each country has their own term - vin de table in France, vino da tavola in Italy, vino de mesa in Spain, vinho de mesa in Portugal and Tafelwein in Germany.
Launched &Ready! A
dam and Eve Day Spa, the brainchild of beautician, Kimisha Walker, began modestly on April 30, 2007 and over the years, she and her team have built a haven second to none. They began at a small location on Constant Spring Road and now they have moved to a new 5000 sq foot facility at 20 Tobago Avenue. The launch of the location was held recently and it was grand, complete with complimentary Bailey’s cocktails among an assortment of wines and spirits, fruit juices from Tru Juice. Broadband services were provided by Digicel Business and guests were treated to a haute couture fashion show to mark the launch of the spa’s clothing boutique, Glam. Every guest left fully confident in the fact that Adam and Eve Day Spa will continue on the path to greatness. The guest list included the Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining STEM, Hon Phillip
Kimisha Walker shares lens time with some of the staff of Adam and Eve Day Spa.
by: Tracey Ann Mulligs Paulwell; PR guru Don Creary and his wife Ayesha; Mr and Mrs Christopher Reckord of Bin 26; Thanida Nunez; Carmen Brown; Protocol Consultant Ambassador Madge Barrett and Sophia Max Brown of Bin 26 to name a few. To say the sumptuous cocktails were amazing would be an understatement. Courtesy of Jackie Tyson, Whitebones Seafood Restaurant and Baileys and Tru Juice, refreshments delighted all the senses and the guests certainly enjoyed. Sponsors included Digicel Business, FX Trader, Tru Juice, Chronicles Ltd, Bailey’s, Rainforest Seafoods, Phase 3 Productions, WISYNCO, Whitebones Seafood Restaurant, ATL Automotive and JIIC. The evening was hosted by popular media personality, Kiki.
Garth and Kimisha Walker share lens time with FX Trader’s Marketing Manager Kerrian Johnson and Product Development Manager Richard Blake.
The JIIC team was out in full force at the recent launch of the new Adam and Eve Day Spa. (L-R) General Manager Byron Leslie graces our lens with Assistant General Manager Leona Remekie; Marketing Manager Elizabeth Chung; Managing Director, Grace Burnett and Business Development Manager Winsome Gibbs.
A family affair. Garth and Kimisha Walker share lens time with members of their immediate family.
Red Stripe’s Kamal Powell (left) represented the Bailey’s brand on launch evening. He’s accompanied by Digicel’s Sponsorship Manager Tahnida Nunes and Adam and Eve conceptualisers Kimisha and Garth Walker.
Loyal customers Mr and Mrs Watson showed unwavering support at the launch of the spa.
Bin 26 Wine Bar’s Christopher Reckord and wife Kerri Ann were the picture of elegance at the Adam and Eve launch. Shama Johnson and Raecine Green of Tru Juice were all smiles at the launch of Adam and Eve Day Spa’s new facility.
Creative Media and Events Managing Director, Leighton Davis and wife Aida were also in attendance at the Adam and Eve launch.
Work the runway! Managing partner of the Adam and Eve Day Spa Kimisha Walker shares the stage with her Spa Manager Nyoka Smilley and models of the Glam Couture line.
Hon Minister Phillip Paulwell (left) has the ladies of Wealth Magazine in stitches!
Garth Walker (left) and Don Creary saying "cheers" to a successful launch.
Carmen Brown (right) and her friend lit up our lens with their bright smiles; an emotion that Adam and Eve continuously seems to bring out!
Pictures. Profiles. Personalities
(L-R) Samsung's assistant manager of marketing for home appliances Lohanna Sinclair, Courts' Nariesha Murray product supervisor of appliances, Samsung representative Kasheema Jeffery, Samsung's Regional Manager of Sales Alvin Vanegas, Sales manager in Jamaica Karen Gardener pose for a photo op with Director of Sales AnnMarie Walters and General Manager of the Constant Spring Road branch of Courts Oscar Kerr.
Prime Minister The Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller was all smiles after cutting the ribbon of the newly unveiled Audi/VW showroom with Chairman Gordon 'Butch' Stewart and Adam Stewart, chief executive officer of The ATL Group.
(L-R) Ruby Brown, CEO, MIND, along with Scarlette Gillings, Managing Director of JSIF, Ambassador Douglas Saunders, cabinet secretary, office of the cabinet and Faith Webster, executive director, Bureau of Women's Affairs at the MIND Conference held recently
Managing director of The Jamaica Observer Danville Walker and CEO of Stocks and Securities Ltd Mark Croskery at the recent Audi/VW Showroom Launch put on by ATL Automotive.
Head of Arc Systems Norman Horne shares lens time with Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Anthony Hylton and Wealth Magazine Chairman's Garth Walker at the opening of Arc Systems' new treatment plant.
Wealth Magazine Brand Manager Simone Riley(centre) poses for a photo with David Lee (left) of MayBerry Investments and State Minister for Tourism & Entertainment Damion Crawford at the recently held ATL Audi/VW Showroom Launch.
Wealth Magazine Business Access producer Shakera Campbell commands the attention of some first grade students at the St Francis Primary School during a literacy initiative put on by the team.
(L-R) Leighton McKnight - ACCA International Assembly Rep - Jamaica, Alleyne Graham - Marketing Manager, Jamaica Yellow Pages; Valerie Veira - CEO, JBDC, Hon. Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams - Minister of State, MIIC, Wealth Magazine's Simone Riley, Roxann Lewis - Business Development Manager, The Herald Printers and Harold Davis - Deputy CEO JBDC at the JBDC Media Launch.
'Queen of Soca', Alison Hinds seems intrigued with the content of Wealth Magazine at CPL launch, Spring Cove House, Barbados.
Marketing manager of Yellow Pages Alleyne Graham. flashes her pearly whites for the Wealth lens at the Global Launch
Judith Ramlogan,(left) CEO, Companies Office of Jamaica shares lens time with Ruby Brown, CEO of MIND.
JPS Chief Executive Officer Kelly Tomblin at the recently held Global Directories (Yellow Pages) Luncheon.
Samsung Regional Manager of Sales Alvin Vanegas presents and demonstrates the major attractions of the new Samsung Refrigerator with digital inverter compressor. The launch of the product was done at the state-of-the-art Courts store on Constant Spring Road.
Bailey’s, the number one cocktail at Adam & Eve Day Spa. Pour a glass today!
Wealth Magazine/Adam and Eve Day Spa Chairman Garth Walker with wife and business partner Kimisha Walker at the recently held ATL Audi/VW Showroom Launch.
It’s a “Spa-tastic” shot! Managing partner Kimisha Walker (center) rounds up a group shot of Adam and Eve Spa-tastic Week sponsors Tru Juice’s Shama Johnson, Celia Lee of Innovative Signs, The Jamaica Observer’s Natalie Chin, Sydney Bennett of Red Stripe , JIIC’s Elizabeth Chung, Adam and Eve Spa Manager Nyoka Smilley, Wealth Magazine’s Simone Riley and The Herald Printers’ Roxanne Lewis.
Budding Beauties Ayesha Creary (left) and Hertha Beckman exchange Pleasantries at the recently held Adam and Eve Day Spa Spa-tastic Launch.
Keneshia Nooks, Corporate Communications Manager, JBDC and Simone Riley of Wealth Magazine upped the style ante at the recently held JBDC Media Launch.
Book us now for your next corporate event. Contact: kristen@cmeja.com or (876) 754-2075. For full album visit www.facebook.com/wealthmagja
How do you create a balance between your personal life and work? I believe that in order to produce and deliver at my best, it is important to schedule time to unwind and recharge your batteries. I give equal importance to vacation time so I plan and execute them similarly to projects at work. My husband and I share a love for Jamaica’s lush countryside and we often take short trips out of town. I was recently introduced to yoga and will be including it more in my exercise regime. I have a busy schedule, so I record my favourite TV progammes and watch them in my own time, usually with a glass of red wine.
Beverley Thompson, director of consumer sales and retail services, Columbus Communications Jamaica Ltd – Flow
There will be times when sacrifice is required, but I try to manage my energy, responsibilities and time with my priorities in mind. And even though work is one of them, family and ‘me time’ provides that healthy yin-yang effect that allows both worlds to coexist harmoniously.
Janet P. Sylvester, director of marketing, Unicomer (Jamaica) Limited
I've been blessed to have tremendous family support, and that is the foundation for my balance. My work is very demanding, but my husband and my extended family are very understanding and supportive of the demands of my job. On the other hand, there are days when my husband demands that I take a break to unwind, maybe once or twice a year! All in all, I find balance in the support I get from my loved ones, which makes it easier to function, both as a wife and a mother, whilst giving my absolute best to my work.
Alysia Moulton White, manager of sponsorships and public relations, Sagicor Life Jamaica
Sadly, this is still a work in progress for me. Working in a highly competitive environment like mine, calls for greater flexibility and dedication to the job. I am very focused on my career and at times my personal life suffers. The truth is, time has to be made and so in the evenings after work and on weekends, I make the time by putting away the company tools (Laptop and Blackberry) as my personal life becomes priority.
Alleyne Graham, marketing manager – Jamaica Yellow Pages
I have not yet figured out how to create the perfect balance between my work and personal life. However, I strive everyday to secure ‘Nasha Time’, ‘Gym Time’, along with ‘Family & Friends Time’.
Nasha Douglas, Heineken brand manager, Diageo
After the chaotic routine of a regular work day, I embrace the idea of going home to my family. Creating the balance is sometimes a challenge as the position I hold desires constant thought processing and innovativeness as everything in my surrounding has an impact. The focus changes, however, from the in-office manager to the nurturing mom, wife and fun-loving me who loves to take care of my family. I also ensure that time is set aside for shaking off a little stress through my love for music. I also enjoy driving to the country and absorbing our island’s scenic beauty. Ironically, the ideas for the next impactful marketing/operational strategy might just pop up at that moment of relaxation.
Nordel Leach, operations & marketing manager, LASCO Financial Services Limited
I dedicate time for myself to meditate and reflect on each day and to prepare for the day ahead. I find uninterrupted time without Tv or phones really helps to provide focus. Additionally, I try to commit at least one full day a week to spend time with friends and family to unwind and remind myself that there's life beyond work.
Kimberley Mullings, brand manager non-carbonated beverages, Pepsi Co Jamaica
From
BRICKELL
toKINGSTON: The AFJ Brings Wealth to Jamaica
J
amaican real estate tycoon, Gordon Tewani, recommended for months that we dine at Zuma, 270 Biscayne Boulevard Way in Miami where chef Rainer Becker's modern Japanese cuisine and waterside locale at the Epic Hotel attract celebrities and locals alike. We did and Gordon's right. People-watching is fascinating and the beef is delicious. Zuma ranks as one of Miami's trendiest restaurants in an area exploding with such activity that it threatens to eclipse South Beach. At the Sony Tennis Tournament on Key Biscayne, always a pleasurable experience, Miami attorney Tony Pelle told me his favourite after work stop is the Brickell Irish Pub, 1451 South Miami Avenue and that the Shops at Mary Brickell Village, 901 South Miami Avenue, offer a variety of popular restaurants, including Oceanaire Seafood Room, Rosa Mexicana, Balans and the Blue Martini Lounge. He explained that with the real estate sales down, rentals are more affordable in the spectacular skyscrapers of Brickell Avenue, in the range of US$2,000 for two-bedroom condos, sometimes less, making the area attractive to young professionals and new families. Friends and I drove through late one Friday night and found crowds overflowing from bars, cafes and restaurants making for a very merry scene. In 1870 Mary Brickell and husband William opened a store to trade with Seminole Indians on the southern bank of the Miami River. Following his death, she became a real
by: Laura Tanna estate developer, creating a posh neighbourhood in the early 20th century called "Millionaire's Row." It's only fitting now that Miami is becoming such an international city, with cosmopolitan appeal, that this vibrant area should be known for the woman who first developed it! It's not surprising then that another formidable female, Wendy Hart, a Director of The American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ), and Chair of the Jamaica Charity Gala, should choose to hold it at the Four Seasons Hotel, 1435 Brickell Avenue. Having worked for Chris Blackwell's Island Outpost organisation for 12 years in her youth, Hart, and the South Florida Planning Committee, including fellow Florida-based AFJ director Barron Channer, had all the right connections to make this gala on April 13th the best ever. AFJ directors flew in from California, New York, Nebraska, Alabama and Jamaica to honour Jamaicans Thalia Lyn, OD, CEO & Managing Director of Island Grill with the AFJ 2013 International Humanitarian Award and Glen Mills, OD, Coach Racers Track Club with the AFJ 2013 International Achievement Award. Cocktails in the lobby and hallway between tables filled with fabulous silent auction items made for some very highpowered networking. Retired US Ambassador J. Gary Cooper, also a retired Major General, US Marine Corps, told me that to his best knowledge, in 1976 the highest post a black man held in a national US bank was as a janitor. That was the year Amb. Cooper obtained one of only three minority-owned
Photographs contributed by Laura Tanna
AFJ Pres. Amb Johnson (left), Honouree Thalia Lyn (centre) and AFJ Pres. Emeritus, Amb. Sue Cobb at the Jamaica Charity Gala.
Gordon and Diana Tewani at the Jamaica Charity Gala.
AFJ Directors Barron Channer (left) and Amb. Gary Cooper at the Jamaica Charity Gala in the Four Seasons Hotel, Brickell Avenue.
Boys at the St Andrew Care Centre eagerly awaiting the opening of the computer lab.
Former Prime Minister the Most Hon P.J. Patterson (left), Gloria Holden (centre) and AFJ Director Amb Glen Holden (ret.) at the Gallery Barrington welcome reception in Kingston
AFJ Directors Manuela Goren (left), Chair of the New York Gala and Wendy Hart, Chair of the Miami Jamaica Charity Gala.
LIFESTYLE
Thalia Lyn's brother, Raymond Chang, and her equally famous friend, Michael Lee Chin, two of Canada's wealthiest financiers, were there to show their support. Indeed an entire contingent of her family and friends attended, as did supporters of Coach Mills, including the very dapper Patrick Dawson, technical director of Racers Track Club. The dinner was delicious, the speeches by AFJ President, Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson, and honourees Lyn and Mills heartfelt, inspiring and mercifully short, the pledge drive and live auction especially exciting, with Chang and Chin bidding into the many thousands for a pair of Usain Bolt's spikes, and the FabFive Band with DJ Richie D a great success. Did I mention that the beautiful Neki Mohan of WPLG TV, ABC Channel 10 was the gala MC?
This year the board enjoyed a private dinner at the beautiful Coral Gables home of AFJ President Emeritus US Ambassador Sue Cobb (ret.) and her husband US Ambassador Charles Cobb(ret.) before the week's activities started. Upon arrival in Jamaica, AFJ President, Ambassador Johnson, hosted a welcome cocktail reception for directors, donors and AFJ sponsors at Barrington Watson's Gallery, 75 Old Hope Road, where in addition to Watson's paintings, wooden and ceramic works by the Rose Town Artisans were on display for sale, The Rose Town Foundation being one of the AFJ's beneficiaries. Another organisation supported by the AFJ is the St Andrew Care Centre (SACC), which educates and feeds street boys up to the age of 15. A state-of-the-art computer centre funded by the Anschutz Foundation through the AFJ and set up with training by Teens for Technology was opened by the AFJ board in conjunction with the SACC board members. Boys in the programme eagerly sat down to immediately get to work on the computers.
The point of all this was to raise money for health, education and economic development in Jamaica, so every year the AFJ board flies down to Jamaica after the Miami gala to dispense the proceeds from the black-tie autumn New York gala and the more relaxed spring-time Miami gala, as well as to distribute designated donations made by those who wish to enjoy the benefits of contributing to Jamaica while simultaneously getting income tax benefits in the US since the AFJ is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organisation and provides the appropriate letters to donors at tax time.
Kenny Benjamin, Jamaican entrepreneur who featured on the cover of Wealth Magazine's Issue 13, hosted a meet and greet reception and dinner at his Stony Hill home after the AFJ's board meeting while the following morning Pamela E. Bridgewater, United States Ambassador to Jamaica, hosted the official AFJ Grant ceremony where J$ 6,300,000 was given to qualifying Jamaican organisations in health and education. A tour of the American International School of Kingston to which Jamaican-based AFJ director Monica Ladd has contributed ended the AFJ board visit to Jamaica.
national bank charters, which means that he with partners can operate a bank in any state in the US, something that might be of interest to others.
VALUING Roland Watson-Grant
CREATive the
Industries
I
f you scribbled a lot during playtime in kindergarten, did abstract pieces on the walls of your room or got lost reading books for hours, chances are your ‘hardworking’ middle-class parents saw these activities as mere hobbies. Studying the arts, especially in developing countries like Jamaica, has – quite frankly–been seen largely as a waste of time and money or the acting out of wealthy youngsters afraid of doing something with their lives. The truth is the creative industries the range of economic activities concerned with the generation or exploitation of knowledge and information have never been viewed in Jamaica or the Caribbean as a serious source of financial rewards or economic development. That is until now, when the traditional areas of occupation have come under serious and sustained threat (I’m thinking of doctors being replaced by robots as I type these words) and knowledge generation
by: Latoya West-Blackwood
has become the way of the present and future. The potential to create wealth and jobs through the development and packaging of intellectual property has never been greater than it is now. Jamaica, the cultural ‘Super State’, is poised to benefit from this global shift but has to prepare itself through training and attitudinal change. According to a study published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation WIPO in 2012,the creative industries contributed 4.81 per cent of the island’s GDP in 2007 alone and were responsible for roughly 3 per cent of employment. While in the face of Jamaica’s current economic crisis this might not seem like much, there is an indication of the massive potential, considering the fact that areas such as film, music, publishing and software development remain hugely underdeveloped and in some cases unexplored.
The hope lies not in the traditional sociopolitical framework but in the pioneering efforts of individuals like Roland Watson-Grant, who has merged his passion with his economic pursuits.
Roland Watson-Grant: Living a Full Creative Life You probably didn’t know it, but Roland Watson-Grant has been in your ear for years. In 2001, his was the voice that introduced a new and ‘extraordinary’ mobile company to Jamaica. He has done serious corporate voiceovers as well as written and chanted lyrics for the characters in the most popular animated patty ad on Jamaican television. But now it’s his pen that’s doing most of the talking, and his characters are set to run on to the world stage in May 2013. In October 2011, this advertising veteran won a Lightship International Literary Prize in the UK. One of his short stories Sketcher was included in the Lightship Anthology of best new voices in Literature worldwide. Another Flash Fiction entry, Home Run was also listed in the Top 30 of its category.
After reading a portion of his work in Hull, England, WatsonGrant earned a book deal from a London publisher to expand Sketcher into a full-length novel. That debut novel of the same name was launched in London in May 2013. The quality of this novel already has people asking, ‘who will do the movie?’ Advanced reading copies have been getting very favourable feedback from both sides of the Atlantic. Last month an independent panel in the UK chose Sketcher as one of May’s best books. In an interview with Bookseller Magazine in March of this year, Watson-Grant said he had been writing ads since he was 21 years old. These ‘30-second short stories’, as he likes to call them, with plot, conflict, characters and conclusion were great practice for his new job as novelist. "It is a job. I get going at three in the morning and then go to begin my other job by 8:30. It’s a full creative life". Roland’s story demonstrates that, for creative industries to thrive and progress from scribbling to software, there must be a supportive platform on which those with innate talent and potential are able to stand and build careers while also accessing economic benefits.
GETTING THAT
PROM D
by: Shelly Anglin Smith
o a quick impromptu survey among your colleagues on the status of the job market and I’m sure that most will agree that the past few years have been some of the most challenging in recent times with fewer positions available across the board in many fields. For the aspiring ‘upwardly mobile professional’ chasing the golden carrot at the end of the stick, it’s definitely time to take stock of your goals, slather on the elbow grease and lay out your strategy on how to achieve your goals. Here’s how to lay hold of existing opportunities and get that promotion!
Acquire the hard skills. Your skill set is a key determinant of your readiness to advance, so become familiar with the requirements of the job you want and see which skills you need to improve on to get there. Identify gaps in your skills and get the additional qualifications or training needed to get ready for the next step. If your company doesn't offer this training, fund a course yourself and study in your own time.
TION Hone your soft skills.
Less tangible 'soft skills' can be trickier to improve on but are as equally important as hard skills, especially in management. Look objectively at your competency in areas such as communication and teamwork; negotiation and presentation, along with any other soft skills that are relevant to your industry. Seek out ways to improve, such as
volunteering to lead a presentation or training programme or becoming an informal mentor to a newer employee. Taking on the project no one else wants to do often gains you valuable experience and visibility
Network internally. Often it is the case
in business that it is not just what you know, but who you know. Networking internally helps to raise your profile within the business, and keeps you in the mind of key players for when new opportunities for promotion arise. So get to know some key people and decision makers in your organisation. Find a sponsor or mentor who can assist you in playing up your strengths and eliminating your weaknesses. Also, try talking to other departments about ways you can help them or facilitate the building of better communications and processes with your own.
Definitely be a team player. Even
if you are one of those employees who prefer to work solo, you should step up to join a group when the occasion demands.
Adjust your image. Does your image inspire confidence? The experts say that persons looking to advance at work must make sure that they are giving the right impression to their bosses and co-workers, citing it as a ‘simple exercise with potential for significant benefit.’ So put a personal timeframe in place to improve your professional profile and review your readiness for the planned new role.
Take action. Make yourself indispensible and go
the extra mile. Are there ways you can help to grow the company, increase revenue or save it money? Then pursue these as anything that helps the company's bottom line will go a long way to improving your worth and visibility at work.
Be vocal. In the current tough economy, employees
feel lucky to hold on to their jobs and are afraid to rock the boat. However, good companies want to keep good employees, so have faith and confidence in your ability and start to build your case to grab the next rung on the ladder. Promotions aren't handed out lightly so if you want to get ahead express this desire and be open with respect to any advice given on how you can achieve this. Afterall, you won't get promoted for length of service or just doing your job. Choose your moment and arrange a meeting with your boss or with the human resources manager. Pick a quiet time of the day, week, month or even year so as to Minimise potential distractions for them. It is advised
that you approach the meeting like an interview, but where you are in control. Prepare your case and try to anticipate any questions or opposition your boss or HR may have. Highlight your achievements, performance and experience with strong evidence of figures and facts.
Use feedback given. You may not get the answer you hoped for during this meeting, but ask for feedback and use it to move forward. It will be useful in tailoring your strategy to get to where you want to be. Turn it into a positive plan of action. Try not to become emotional or defensive if your request is rejected this time around and try again when an opportunity opens up. And finally, be confident in your abilities. Sometimes people are better than they think they are but a lack of confidence keeps them from where they want to be. Demonstrate self-confidence without going on an ego trip, and be willing to move out of your comfort zone to take on that next big step in your career. This may mean moving to a new company if no opportunities exist in your current organisation. Remember that irrespective of where or how it takes place, a step up is still a promotion.
Want To Be a
GREAT Team Player? Well, get in the Game!
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships." -Michael Jordan by: Shelly Anglin Smith
M
ichael Jordan, considered to be one of if not the greatest American basketball players in the history of the game, in speaking about the importance of teamwork said “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." The expression ‘good team player’ is commonly used in both sports and professional life. Its meaning seems pretty obvious in a sports setting. Team members are assigned certain playing positions, whether for defense or offence – assigned according to his/her strengths, and with each carrying out this assignment they work together as a unit applying predetermined, strategic, and well-timed moves in an attempt to gain victory for their team. No doubt, teams need strong, committed and disciplined players in order to perform well. ok. So we get the term ‘good team player’ and its importance as applied to sports. The next step is to transpose that sporting analogy into a business context, so we
can appreciate the importance of being a great team player here as well. The game-winning question is: how to become a ‘star player’ leading your corporate team to victory?
Get off the Bench
Well, it certainly won’t get accomplished by sitting on the sidelines. Teamworking is a vital way of completing difficult or multifaceted projects, and it's worth developing and refining the skills that will help you make a valuable contribution to whichever type of team you're in. Probably the most vital exercise that you can undertake in effectively working as part of a team is to evaluate and determine your own strengths which you can utilise in helping to push the group to success. Do you know what you do best? Perhaps you're incredibly organised. Or, you excel at motivating people, helping resolve disagreement, or researching hard-to-find information. Find a role within your team that allows you to do what you do well. This will help you make a meaningful contribution and
increase your chances of doing a great job. Plus, it's usually much easier, and more satisfying, to do tasks that you're naturally good at.
is also true: If people discuss a plan that you think is a good one then say so. They might really need and appreciate your support, even if they fail to express this.
Also essential to your outstanding performance on a team is to have a clear understanding of the team’s objectives. Determine things like: Why was it formed? What is it to accomplish? What is the deadline for a given project? What is the budget for accomplishing the task? What is the role/ responsibility of each team member? Be clear about the details of your assigned task as this will help you to effectively carry it out.
Execution
In carrying out their role, each team member needs to be trustworthy and reliable. The team must believe that each member will complete his task as best as possible, within the timeframe agreed on. Andrea recalls the frustration she felt when recently working on an important project and a team member failed to carry through on promises made to carry out tasks undertaken. “It slowed down the team and caused us to have to reschedule our deadline for completion. Everyone was upset with him.” Reliability also applies to quality of work so ensure that your standard is consistently high so as to ensure as high an output as possible for the group as a whole. Great team players are active participants. They come prepared for meetings and listen and speak up in discussions. They're fully engaged in the work of the team and do not sit passively on the sidelines. Team members who function as active participants take the initiativeto help ‘make things happen,’ and they volunteer for assignments. Their whole approach is a can-do one. Their focus is: What contribution can I make to help the team achieve success? So dive in and do your part!
Communication is Critical
As in everything else communication is important. For a group it is akin to the proverbial glue that will hold the whole undertaking together. So ensure that all matters are properly communicated and understood; and that communication is effected in a timely manner. Also, be involved and active within the group. Sitting silently while someone else discusses an idea that you know won't work could damage the team's chances of success. If you have an alternative idea that might be more effective, then share it with the group. The opposite
In communicating with team members – whether showing support, or challenging an idea – it is important to remain respectful and positive. Any time a group of people attempts to tackle a problem, there will be differing viewpoints. The important part of staying productive throughout these disagreements is being willing to listen to each other and compromise. Even if you disagree with someone, don't become emotional. Objectivity and fairness make for a good impression. Getting upset and angry doesn’t. Among the challenges one may encounter in working with a team is the fluidity of certain situations. Things may and can change quickly. People may join or leave the group, goals may be redefined, or budgets may be reduced. Team members, the approaches used, and the goals you started with may all change by the time you've finished the project. Stay flexible. Don't fight the necessary changes but instead see them as opportunities for growth.
Team Comes First
For the good of the team be sure to provide help to others if they need it. Your willingness to collaborate and help others will make a good impression on both the group and senior management. Above all, maintain a positive attitude. If you complain, delay, or give the tough assignments to others, people will notice and they may start to avoid you. A positive attitude can be a refreshing, and it will help others stay focused and productive as well. Being a good team player isn't always easy but this can be your chance to shine. Look at teamwork as not only a challenge, but a great opportunity. Afterall, an ‘A+’ for the team is an ‘A+’ for you.
The Résumé – A Strategic Marketing Document
T
he Jamaican job market has changed considerably over the years. As our economy has modernised and evolved, employers care less about who you are and more about what you can do for their company. More often than not, advertisements for vacant positions ask interested parties to submit a résumé. And yet, can we honestly say that we know what a good résumé looks like? Do we know what a résumé is supposed to achieve? Believe it or not, sending the prospective employer a detailed and lengthy document that provides data right back to the very first job held isn’t the best option. As conventions in résumé writing change, many people increasingly want to know whether they should include hobbies, interests and other personal details such as date of birth, marital status and number of dependants. A commonly held misconception is that a résumé will secure you the position you are after. This is far from the truth, because the main purpose of a résumé is to secure you an interview. We have prepared some tips to assist you in the development of a professional résumé that portrays your expertise in such a way that demands an interview.
Contributed First of all, consider yourself as a valuable ‘product’ to be marketed by an advertiser to a prospective buyer. Of course, the prospective buyer is the employer. There is currently a ‘need’ - because of the advertised position - so your résumé will be the marketing document that strategically informs and promotes your expertise to their requirements. What you are trying to do is demonstrate how you can not only fit into the role, but also make a significant contribution that can be portrayed with a succinctly written job scope. The aim is to create a desire by showcasing your expertise and, through building an interest in the benefits and value you bring to their organisation, that motivates them to take action (i.e. give you the interview.) So just how do we go about developing a document that demands an interview? Following is a list of how to go about identifying relevant content; how to develop high-impact wording in order to portray your abilities as best as possible by identifying dynamic “action words”; and various sections to include to develop the best format and structure for your résumé.
Let’s taken the word R É S U M É as an acrostic, where each letter is associated with a strategic process. • Research • Expand • Script • Underpin •
Materialise and Methodise
• Edit
RESEARCH
Collate all relevant information regarding career and educational history. This should include your employment history, courses and certifications completed will demonstrate keeping up with the latest trends in your industry. Don't forget your IT & computer experience. Include hardware and software utilized throughout your career or personal use.
EXPAND
Once you have completed the initial collation of employment details and other transferable data, it’s time to expand on the relevant data by digging deeper in order to identify information that will truly separate you from the rest of the applicants. Utilise the process below in order to identify any significant contributions or accomplishments throughout your career.
SCRIPTING
With all your relevant transferable data and corresponding accomplishments, it’s time to translate the information to the written word, in such a way that captures and maintains the reader’s interest right through to the last sentence. This is not the time to rewrite your entire position description, but to identify the key accountabilities relevant to your career goal. Also remember to incorporate industry-related key words, as well as attention grabbing, action words. For instance: Orchestrated, devised, instructed, spearheaded, maximied, led, directed, streamlined, oversaw, managed, motivated, controlled, delegated, consolidated, generated, implemented, proposed, specified … and the list goes on.
UNDERPINNING
It is vital to underpin your job scope with a bulleted section of key accomplishments and quantifiable results. These valueadded achievements provide the prospective employer with the results your initiatives and expertise have secured as well as presenting the reader with potential cost savings, increased revenues and market growth that you can contribute to their organisation.
MATERIALISE & METHODISE
Begin by formatting all of your details into a carefully structured, concise and aesthetically pleasing document. Keep headings and other formatting (i.e. italics) consistent throughout the document. Do not bold one job title and then italicize the rest – bold them all. Your name and contact details should be at the beginning of the document – don’t make contacting you difficult by placing your phone number in an inconspicuous place. Do not include information such as date of birth, marital status or number of dependents. This information is not only irrelevant but in some countries, illegal for an employer to request this data as it could be considered discriminatory. Next goes the qualifications profile (also known as the career profile or professional profile), which is a strongly written paragraph that Summarises your expertise in one concise paragraph. Many people begin their résumés with a career objective, however this is often a weak statement and seems to focus more on your own needs than that of an employer. Summarising your competencies into a strong opening statement will seize the reader’s attention and encourage them to read on. For added attention you may want to follow your opening statement with a bulleted list of core competences, again marketing your expertise. Employment history should then be addressed with your most recent position detailed first and working backwards, only representing the last 10 to 15 years if these roles are the most relevant to your job target. After that, your education and additional professional development, followed by relevant professional associations.
EDIT Subject your résumé to multiple layers of editing. Once you’ve edited it, edit it again, and even a third time. To be safe, get a fresh pair of eyes to read through it to ensure your careermarketing document is free of typos or grammatical errors.
Book Review by: Latoya West-Blackwood
What Not to Write:
A Guide To The Dos and Don’ts of Good English Binding: Hardcover Pages: 152 Publisher: Words at Work (September 2006) ISBN: 978-0955279805 As a publisher and writer, there are some key tools of trade that I use on a daily basis and this book is one of them. Kay Sayce’s What Not to Write: A Guide To The Dos and Don’ts of Good English is a pocket-sized reference book on how to simply but effectively communicate through writing. Packaged in an entertaining format – see the hilarious illustrations peppered with British humor that won’t fly over your head – this is indeed a must-have for not only a creative desk but offices in general. With this book on your desk, forget about rushing to Google in those awkward moments when your brain goes blank (well, assuming it was filled before) trying to figure out acronyms, ambiguity, American versus British English, business English, captions, cliches, grammar, hyphens, jargon, punctuation, quotations, sexist writing, spelling and writing letters. Good writing comes with lots of practice and can be a career maker or breaker. One bad email – as per our telephonic discussion instead of as discussed – can make the wrong person cringe. Business professionals who write well bring a certain level of non-verbal confidence and versatility that will capture the intended audience – colleagues, potential clients and customer – and make a lasting impression. This handy reference book is a vital tool for anyone working with the written word, think company reports, presentations and investment pitches. As one reviewer stated, ‘This easy-to-reference guide is a response to the rise in computer literacy and the seeming demise of literacy au naturale. It leads you by the hand along the road of literary clarification.’
Profile of Excellence:
Strategies for Extraordinary Achievement From 25 Years of Interviewing Remarkable People Binding: Paperback Pages: 330 Publisher: Pelican Publishers (March 2013) ISBN: 978-976-8240-10-1 The genre of motivational literature is one that continues to grow in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Harsh economic times and social awakenings – crime, corruption and disengaged youth – have no doubt spurred the growth of this genre concerned with introspection, self-belief and personal conviction, even more. After 26 years of interviewing more than 1,300 successful people from every walk of life, Ian Boyne, creator and host of Jamaica’s longest running non-seasonal television programme, Profile, has penned a book about his award winning show along with co-author Glenford Smith. Profile of Excellence is not just about Ian Boyne and Profile, it is an important document showing how one journalist, committed to empowering Jamaicans and Jamaica, has engendered individual and national self-belief for 25 years. Written in plain language with compelling stories, the pages reveal how anyone, no matter where he or she starts in life, can overcome any obstacle to achieve success and preeminence by following a proven path of vision, self-belief, discipline and hard work. The book presents a balanced approach to achieving personal and professional excellence. These lessons are extracted from the lives and stories of the high achieving entrepreneurs, scholars, celebrities, entertainers, sports superstars, scientists, leaders and other winners interviewed by Boyne since February 1987. It is well worth the read and is a must for the virtual or physical bookshelf of anyone on the road to success.