The Entrepreneur Weekly continues to highlight women entrepreneurs who are making technology work for them. This is something Tamieka Sewell-Phang, founder of TS Quality Consultants, knows all too well. With over 20 years of industry experience, she is on a mission to help companies save time, improve efficiency, and ensure compliance through integrating food safety and quality management systems.
Tamieka’s consulting career took off in 2015, after she noticed a gap in the way businesses approached quality management and food safety compliance. Many companies viewed these as just another “box to check”.
She saw an opportunity to shift that mindset.
“Companies often think of certifications like ISO 9001 or ISO 22000 as a separate task, something they do just to pass an audit,” she explains. “But what I teach them is that these systems should be fully integrated into their operations. Quality isn’t an extra step; it should be part of the company’s DNA.”
Her hands-on, practical approach has helped businesses not only meet compliance standards but also improve efficiency, reduce waste, and ultimately increase profitability.
INTEGRATING TECH FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY
Despite being an expert in streamlining business operations, Tamieka recognised that technology could take her own business to the next level. As a solo entrepreneur, she wanted to ensure her business processes were as efficient and automated as possible.
That’s when she turned to the Digital Jamaica Project, an initiative by the Government of Jamaica and the European Union (EU), designed to help entrepreneurs leverage digital tools for growth. Tamieka recently participated in the training conducted by the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce which is mandated to provide developmental services for Jamaican Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs).
“I’ve started integrating QuickBooks to simplify financial management, and I’m researching customer relationship management (CRM) tools to help me track projects and improve client interactions,” she shares.
For Tamieka, technology isn’t just about making her own work easier, it’s about delivering better results for her clients.
“One of my biggest goals is reducing lead times. If I promise a client that they’ll get results in three days, I want to make sure it’s exactly three days, not a day later. Technology is helping me stay accountable to those promises.”
The Digital Jamaica training challenged her approach to social media.
“I used to think that being on every platform was enough,” she admits. “But the training helped me see that not all platforms are effective for my audience. Instead of spreading myself thin, I’m now focusing on where my customers actually engage.”
This insight shifted her marketing strategy, allowing her to spend time where it truly counts.
Tamieka is also exploring the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to assist with content creation and automating routine tasks, a move that is helping her stay ahead in an evolving business landscape.
She firmly believes that embracing technology isn’t optional.
“If you think digital tools are too complicated or unnecessary, think again,” she says. “Even small changes like tracking customer interactions or automating financial tasks, can make a massive difference in your efficiency and profits.”
She encourages other entrepreneurs, especially women, to take advantage of the Digital Jamaica to sharpen their skills and future-proof their businesses.
“You don’t have to be a tech expert to use technology to your advantage. The tools are there! You just need to start.”
For women looking to scale their businesses and streamline their operations, the Digital Jamaica training provides the knowledge and tools to make it happen. The Digital Jamaica Project will train 2700 Micro, small & Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in digital technologies by the year 2026. Of this, 40 per cent must be women.
Training is free! Want to take your business into the digital age? Apply now at www.jbdc.net/digitaljamaica.
