The week of November 12-16, 2018 was activity-packed for Team JBDC as the Corporation celebrated yet another Global Entrepreneurship Week. Under the theme ‘Minimizing Barriers + Maximizing Inclusion’, JBDC hosted four events aimed at increasing inclusion for all players involved in entrepreneurship.
The events held were Raising Capital: Driving Startup Success through Financial Inclusion, the inaugural Kin Pupalick Symposium that provided a platform for a community conversation on grounding and expanding creativity, the Closing Ceremony for the six-month long Accelerator Programme and BOSS Man meets BOSS Lady which closed out the week.
RAISING CAPITAL: DRIVING STARTUP SUCCESS THROUGH FINANCIAL INCLUSION
There were undoubtedly many wins for this year’s celebrations but the biggest win was reserved for the disabled community whose entrepreneurs who inspired a week-long conversation that had everyone talking inclusion from start to finish.
In the first session which focused on Financial Inclusion for Startups, speakers including General Manager of The Leap Co – Saffrey Brown, Managing Director of Manpower & Maintenance – Audrey Hinchcliffe, Managing Director of One-on-One Education Services – Ricardo Allen and Director of the Center for Disability Studies at the UWI, Dr. Floyd Morris, shared varying perspectives on the theme but agreed that everyone deserves a seat at the table when it came to financing solutions for their businesses.
The conversation centred on inclusion for all of the usually marginalized sub-groups including women, youth and inner-city entrepreneurs, however, it was the lack of inclusion for the disabled entrepreneurs that took centre stage after a presentation by Dr. Floyd Morris.
Dr. Morris is Jamaica’s first blind senator and an advocate for the disabled community in Jamaica. He shared a story of entrepreneurial and personal determination despite the many challenges he faced as a blind person. He also remarked about success he gained as a chicken farmer growing his first business from an investment of 50 chickens to over 25,000.
The panel was rounded out with National Financial Inclusion Co-ordinator at the Bank of Jamaica, Melanie Williams and General Manager of the Microfinance Division of DBJ, Paul Chin.
The conversation continued on Friday, November 16 with an Outside Broadcast hosted on Power 106 FM in which the hosts of The Morning Agenda looked at the different aspects of inclusion in relation to the disabled community. Participants included Executive Director of the Jamaica Council for persons with Disabilities, Christine Hendricks as well as several disabled entrepreneurs.
KIN PUPALICK: A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON GROUNDING AND EXPANDING CREATIVITY
Tuesday, November 13 saw the hosting of the inaugural ‘Kin Pupalick’ symposium; a community conversation on grounding and expanding creativity.
Held at the historic Bob Marley Museum, the event featured the involvement of Veteran Broadcaster and Cultural Expert – Fae Ellington with contributions from Nigerian High Commissioner – Her Excellency Janet Olisa, Culinary Artist – Oji Jaja, Actor & Writer – Owen ‘Blakka’ Ellis, Attorney-at-Law – Natalie Corthesy and Fashion Expert – M. Simone Clarke.
COHORT 2 GRADUATES THE JBDC ACCELERATOR PROGRAMME
The participants in the second cohort of the JBDC Accelerator Programme took centrestage on Thursday, November 15 when sixteen entrepreneurs ‘graduated’ after a six-month intensive training and capacity building programme. The programme focused on areas such as scaling the business, the importance of corporate governance and good record keeping. It ended with a product display and presentation of awards to the most outstanding participants.
Awards were presented to:
- Leighton Campbell (Mobile Edge Solutions) – Greatest Evidence of Business Process Improvement & Best Team Player
- O’Shane Bryant (O’Shane Bryant Fitness) – Most Committed to the Process
- Livingston Hines (Xtrinet Limited) – Most Investment Ready & Most Committed to the Process
- Peter A. Chin (Harmony I Mine) – Best Entrepreneurial Mindset
All participants received a Certificate of Completion for taking part in the programme.
B.O.S.S. MAN MEETS B.O.S.S. LADY
The week ended with B.O.S.S. Man meets B.O.S.S. Lady, a graduated version of the JBDC’s BOSS Man and BOSS Lady Empowerment events. Approximately 100 specially invited entrepreneurs were invited to East Lawn of Devon House to enjoy a fun and relaxing atmosphere which included games, giveaways and group chats hosted by Sakina Deer and Marlon Campbell.
The event provided much excitement as both male and female entrepreneurs competed in games such as Musical Chairs and Charades.
The high point of the event came with the awarding of the JBDC B.O.S.S MAN and B.O.S.S LADY OF THE YEAR. This year’s awardees embody the entrepreneurial spirit and mindset, embraces a culture of innovation, has evidence of significant change in revenue, entered the export market or increased the value of their export and introduced a new product or service to the market during the period.
The awardees for 2018 were:
B.O.S.S. Man of the Year – Devin Johnson (Managing Director of Dimex Technologies)
B.O.S.S. Lady of the Year – Shalane Lee Chin (Managing Director of NewTown Bakery)
Honourable Mentions were given to:
Oji Jaja – Executive Chef & Managing Director of Ashebre
Nateisha Williams – Fashion Designer & Owner FHL Designs
B.O.S.S. Man meets B.O.S.S. Lady first of its kind with the primary aim being to encourage networking, relaxation and recognition of entrepreneurs.
