Are you where you’ve always wanted to be?
I believe that my experiences to date have brought me to where I am today. I am working in a profession that is dynamic, with a team that is supportive and who have fun together, and with a visionary leader who allows her team to grow and develop.
The journey to this point has been one of challenges – personal and professional – but they have made me into who I am today and I would say to anyone, make the most of every opportunity that you are given – you have no idea how the Lord is preparing you for your next adventure!
What is your biggest professional challenge?
Working with clients who say that their people are the most most valued resource yet they don’t spend the time to help them to be the best that they can be. Not enough time is spent in the hiring process. When employees join the company, do they understand why the company exists? What is its purpose and how they fit in? Are clear objectives set for performance? Are they coached and developed? And then the company wonders why their employees are not productive?
What is your biggest life challenge?
Right now it is juggling a number of balls at the same time. I am very involved in community activities involving children and also undertaking some personal projects, so I am stretched.
When you look to the future what do you see?
Professionally, a generation that needs to be constantly challenged by meaningful work. However, they need to understand that it’s not only the certificate from university that will get them that job. They need to be self-confident in interviews – know who they are and their value system.
This needs to be demonstrated during the interview, in addition to the basic courtesies, social skills and etiquette – these are not things of the past, they are still very much relevant.
What is your favourite pastime?
I have recently taken up gardening and I sure hope that for my plants’ sake that I have a green thumb!
What is your favourite meal?
Anything with corn…it’s a joke in the office….But I would seriously answer pizza or lasagna and my friend Donna’s cheesecake!
On Saturday nights where are you likely to be?
Really there is no one answer to that. It all depends….
What upsets you the most?
Unmannerly customer service; people who label others with limited knowledge. Don’t be quick to judge. You never know where you are going to end up in life.
What is your guiding philosophy?
“Give [Him] thanks in all circumstances”.
If you had the chance to manage Barbados for a day, what would you do?
I feel that teachers should be one of the highest paid professionals on the island. They are so responsible for the development of a nation, but our education system is failing us now. I am seeing that first hand.
If it is not being done now, as it was in the past, I would mandate that officers from the Ministry of Education visit every primary school on the island to assess the standard of learning at each school and be tasked to implement a programme to ensure that children are not being left behind. We need to look after our youth.
