New Venture – #JATravelLog – Just A Girl with an iPhone exploring Jamaica

So for the past six years I have been working in the government service, in Tourism, and in a matter of two weeks, that stint will come to an end.  I am now venturing into the unknown and it is both exciting and scary.  I think the end of the year is a perfect time to take such a break and make a transition because it is such a natural fit and so I am looking forward to this new phase with great anticipation.

Having worked in tourism for these many years (I had previous stints before this last 6 years) and learned so much about my country and its diversity and appeal, I have developed not only a love, but great respect for who we are and what we represent as a country and a people. I have seen some amazing places, met wonderful people who make my heart sing and I want to share that with you.  Luckily for me I have been taking a lot of photos over the years and I now plan to use #socialmedia to share them with you so you can see Jamaica through my eyes.

The name JA Travel Log is just that…a log of my travels in Jamaica. It is hoped that my views will help you to see and appreciate all that is Jamaica.

#JATravelLog #ILOVEJA #JAViews #Jamaica

Women in the Corporate World…

When we get to the boardroom, how do we ensure we stay there?

For the past twenty years I have been working in Corporate Jamaica in some form or the other as I have worked in Telecommunications, Tourism and even as an Independent Consultant working with some of Jamaica’s largest private sector companies. It has been an interesting, mostly rewarding experience and one which has taught me so much about the reality of life in a male-dominated environment.

Yes, Jamaica can boast having more female managers than many countries around the world and we can boast of having significantly more female tertiary graduates than males, but are we really making the kinds of inroads we should be making? When I look at the number number of women on corporate boards, or chairing those boards for that matter, I am not impressed! How many CEOs are there or are we only getting to the Senior management level but not really being given the opportunity to run the show? When will the tide change? What will it take to make the tide change?

A few women make it to the boardroom as board members and even fewer as CEOs. Most make it as deputies or as Corporate Secretaries as men still outnumber. For those who make it though, how are they helping to ensure that other women can walk though those doors? I mean, the men surely look out for each other and ensure their “drinking buddy” or their “lodge brother” makes it. Why don’t we do the same? Where is our “lodge” or our “watering hole” where we gather to ensure that we prepare the next batch of women leaders? It is time we realize that we are not here to do or achieve for ourselves, that we are responsible to the next one coming behind us and until we get that then we can never consider ourselves truly successful. Because one woman making it to the boardroom or one woman being a CEO is nothing to celebrate.

Do we even even believe we belong in the boardroom or in the big chair?

One has to ask whether we are even trained to think we should be there. As we start our journey in the corporate world, do we actually have a path we have defined to say “this is how I will make it to CEO or Chairman or MD” or are we just hanging on in there hoping to head the department and be okay with “Regional Head” or “SVP”?

So what do we do? I propose that as of today, we begin the plan to map out the “How To” guide, the playbook for ourselves and the younger ones to come. We have to be strategic and begin to work better together. This notion that women can’t work together is so archaic and foolish and downright incorrect! Of course we can work together…it is the men who have fed us this argument that we can’t, simply because they fear us. They know when we work together how powerful we are and how successful we are and so they have over the years managed to convince us that we are too catty or we are too emotional or we are too selfish and we have bought it hook, line and sinker!

So women… the time is now and here is what we will do:

1. Begin to realize our value and strength not only as individuals but as a collective.
2. Make a plan for where we want to get to and identify those we want to emulate – seek them out.
3. For those who are there or have made it a significant way ahead, identify those you wish to get where you are and even surpass you (yes, surpass you because that is okay). Guide them, coach them, show them it is possible.
4. Create a network…create our “lodge” because it is only through working together and lifting each other up and showing the other how to avoid the pitfalls, will we be truly successful.
5. WORK TOGETHER ….stop believing the crazy talk that we don’t get along. WE DO! Let’s get out of our own ways and be who we were created to be…leaders!

…What say you?

 

 

Can’t find a job? How about creating one?

Most of us as children were asked “what do you want to be when you grow up”? Well, I don’t remember ever knowing exactly what I wanted to be and I think because I had such liberal parents, they didn’t push me to figure it out.

What I remember vividly is almost every year I had a new dream. One year I was hell bent on being an architect, then another year I was to be a dentist. I think I remember one time wanting to be a blacksmith like my grandfather (I probably would have enjoyed this one). Well, I ended up studying business and had no memory of those dreams until after my studies were completed (seriously, I had no memory as they were so well buried). Needless to say, I didn’t do very well in college…I didn’t fail but I didn’t do as well as I know I could have. I got my degree but I wasn’t over the moon about my newly minted MBA – I didn’t even walk my graduation. Go figure!

The years went by and I have had various jobs for which I was fully qualified (sometimes over qualified) and did reasonably well but somehow I still didn’t become excited by any of them. I am now at the end of another contract and a decision has to be made as to what next. So here I am job hunting again but as much as I am qualified for the jobs, some of which I have turned down, I am yet to be truly, honestly excited. So do I continue the search and feign interest? Do I tell myself to go for money and the like/love will come?

I think I already know the answer to the questions.  So what to do…Can’t find a job, time to create one?  That almost sounds easier to say than to do but is the time ever going to be right for me to take a chance on me?

Thinking on these things… My sister gave me the name for a consulting company a year ago. FORGE Consulting. Could the time be now?