As the Entrepreneur Weekly celebrates International Women’s Month, we turn our attention to the trailblazers who are making significant strides in business and technology. One such woman is Kerry-Ann Curtis, co-founder of 443 Connections Limited, a company that provides network installation and Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) security solutions for homes and businesses. In an industry traditionally dominated by men, she is proving that women not only have a place in tech but can also lead and innovate within it.
The company’s origins were unexpected. Kerry-Ann recalls that the business started out of necessity when security concerns arose in their community. Her husband, an Information Technology Specialist, decided to install Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at their home. His skills quickly caught the attention of neighbours.
“A friend of ours came by and saw the installation and was wondering, ‘Who did this?’”, she recalls. “It was well done. He said, ‘I need one as well.’ So, we went to his house (free of cost), purchased and installed it. He was well satisfied with it. Then his friends came over his house, and that’s how the inquiries started.”
What began as a few favours for friends quickly turned into a steady stream of referrals. Before they knew it, people were calling without any advertising. This demand led them to formally register 443 Connections Limited in 2020, though they had already been operating for two years.
A Woman in Tech Business: Breaking Barriers
While Kerry-Ann’s husband is responsible for the technical side of the business, she handles operations and management, leveraging her expertise as a business lecturer. This division of labour allows them to grow the company strategically. However, as a woman in the tech industry, she acknowledges that challenges exist.
“There are roadblocks that a male would not get,” she admits. “However, you just have to push through, be serious, and have your head on your body. We can thrive, we can be successful in business like normal. It doesn’t have to be gender-related. We just have to be persistent, know what we’re doing, and go for it.”
Her advice to other women entrepreneurs is clear – stay focused, push through, and own your expertise.
Going Digital with Digital Jamaica
As the company grew, Kerry-Ann recognised the need to incorporate technology into business operations to increase efficiency. This led her to enroll in the Digital Jamaica training programme, a Government of Jamaica and European Union (EU) initiative designed to help Jamaican entrepreneurs integrate digital tools into their business.
“I wanted formal training as to how I can use technology in the business side of it,” she explains. “Because we’re using it in the technical side, but how can I use technology to make the business more efficient? Both of us are working nine-to-five, and I want some things to be automated.”
The training, conducted by Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) opened her eyes to new possibilities, and she immediately began implementing changes. One of her first steps was adopting QuickBooks to automate billing and financial management.
“To be honest with you, because of school, because I’m still going to school and working and all of those things, I don’t get to focus on the implementation as much,” she admits. “But I purchased QuickBooks, and that would automate my billing system.”
Beyond QuickBooks, she is also looking at introducing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to improve customer service and track client interactions.
“I want to implement that because I want to track the customer’s satisfaction, areas of improvement, and all of that, to improve customer service,” she says. “That is what I want to implement, so I can have data to make some decisions.”
She hopes to have these systems fully operational within the next six to twelve months, allowing the business to scale efficiently and serve more clients.
Kerry-Ann believes in paying it forward. After experiencing the benefits of the Digital Jamaica training programme, she has actively encouraged others to take advantage of the opportunity.
“I saw where you guys (JBDC) were going out parish by parish, and I sent it over to my class,” she says. “I said, ‘Listen guys, you need to do this training.’ And so, you know, I’ve encouraged them to take advantage of it.”
Her enthusiasm reflects the growing importance of digital literacy for entrepreneurs, especially as businesses shift towards technology-driven solutions.
Looking Ahead
With five years in business and a solid tech-driven strategy, 443 Connections Limited is positioned for growth and expansion. Over the next year, Kerry-Ann’s focus is on fully integrating digital tools, expanding the company’s customer base, and ensuring that technology is at the core of their business strategy.
For women looking to enhance their businesses through technology, the Digital Jamaica training offers an invaluable opportunity. With 2700 persons to be trained by the year 2026, 40 per cent of the cohort must be women.
If you are a woman on a business mission like Kerry-Ann Curtis, the Digital Jamaica training is for you. Register now at www.jbdc.net/digitaljamaica.
