Q: Are you where you’ve always wanted to be?
A: A trick question. I studied criminology at university and then moved to Europe to model. So I guess the answer is No. I certainly never ‘wanted’ to do all that I am currently doing. But I am happy where I am in life and all that I have achieved. I am beyond shocked actually.
Q: What is your biggest professional challenge?
A: I have accepted the fact that I am a big picture person, and have had to hire trustworthy people to help me with the fine print. Magazines are all about the big picture, however, which I am good at. My accountant hates me.
Q: What is your biggest life challenge?
A: I am a cancer survivor so feel that life is simply a journey filled with challenges we need to overcome. My challenge at the moment is balancing my time between work and the stress that comes with it, and ‘down time’ to spend with my four-year-old son who wants to play Batman the moment I walk through the door. I lack the energy I had when I started the company 15 years ago, and kick myself for not having Tej (my son) earlier on in life. No regrets though.
Q: When you look to the future what do you see?
A: A four day week. I need that extra day to cover the greys, go to the gym and buy a pair of bifocals. But I doubt that’s in my cards as I am launching two new businesses. One of them is a ‘brand’ which I hope to build out through the Caribbean. I love brand building.
Q: What is your favourite pastime?
A: Playing tennis, reading, cooking, drinking, Pilates (not necessarily in that order).
Q: What is your favourite meal?
A: I am a foodie. I love food. I have no favourite meal; it could be a bowl of mashed potatoes, or a perfectly cooked risotto with white truffles, asparagus and parmesan. Whatever wows my taste buds.
Q: On Saturday nights where are you likely to be?
A: Home entertaining on my beach deck, with good wine, good food and a bunch of ridiculously entertaining friends. A good laugh for me, is Chicken Soup For My Soul.
Q: What upsets you the most?
A: Lack of effort – an epidemic all over Barbados starting at the Grantley Adams International Airport.
It takes effort for:
• Immigration officers to welcome tourists to Barbados before asking for their passport.
• For the security officers at the scanning machine to say the word ‘please’ before instructing travellers to de-robe.
• For people on island to throw their litter in a garbage can instead of pelting it out of their cars.
• For us in the business community to mentor our young, so that our island has a future. (the list is long, but you get my point)
Q: What is your guiding philosophy?
A: To do everything better than I think I am able to.
Q: If you had the chance to manage Barbados for a day what would you do?
A: I would do what they all do, take a break and go out for lunch. Before that, I would extend the high school curriculum to include a tourism/hospitality class.
