Q: Are you where you’ve always wanted to be?
A: I am a work in progress. I always wanted a stylish boutique for women of all sizes to be able to shop in comfort and I’ve achieved that but there is always room for improvement and expansion.
Q: What is your biggest professional challenge?
A: Time management, undoubtedly. As a small business owner, you are doing almost everything yourself; you have to seriously multitask and find creative ways to get things done.
Q: What is your biggest life challenge?
A: Keeping fit and active, especially having a ‘Cross Fit junkie’ husband.
Q: When you look to the future, what do you see?
A: A happy family and thriving businesses. My dreams and aspirations are quite extravagant and I need some time to accomplish everything but one thing is for sure, I certainly will try to reach them. The sky is my limit.
Q: What is your favourite pastime?
A: Of course, shopping is at the top of my list. Otherwise riding, reading and spending time with family. Occasionally, I’ll do something more adventurous like paddle-boarding down the coast.
Q: What is your favourite meal?
A: I am like Bubba from Forest Gump – shrimp in all different styles. I am also a “recovering” sugar addict constantly fighting the urge to grab a Kit Kat or Cadbury chocolate.
Q: On Saturday nights where are you likely to be?
A: Saturday nights is movie night. I am a movie buff and go sometimes twice a week. I am also a serial renter of DVDs.
Q: What upsets you the most?
A: If my procrastination leads to a missed opportunity, it upsets me. However, I have learnt through being in business to make decisions quickly and constantly.
Q: What is your guiding philosophy?
A: The power of attraction has always been my guiding philosophy both personally and professionally. I am naturally a positive, optimistic, happy person and that energy connects with the universe in such a way that it attracts good forces and blessings back to me. I always have this sense of surety that things will work out and ‘lucky’ things just seem to come way; my husband says, ‘I have an angel on my shoulder,’ I also think it’s good karma. I can live with myself and the decisions that I have made so far without regret.
Professionally, I’m equally positive which helps me to take chances. My philosophy is taken from the movie Field Of Dreams with Kevin Costner: build it and they will come. When I was considering opening The Hub, there were many voices of caution regarding the viability of another clothing business and the location but I visualized a store that was modern and stylish and knew I had to try. Failure for me would be to have a dream and not even try.
Q: If you had to manage Barbados for a day, what would you do?
A: I would make it easier for businesses, the backbone of the economy, to operate. I would reduce taxes and duties and create more incentives for new businesses to open.
