Sign In
Sign In
Scotiabank Encourages University Students
Caption 1:
Guest panellist Tyrone Wilson (r), CEO E-media Interactive, is caught in conversation with business student Kezia Smith (l) just after the Scotiabank Entrepreneurships Talk hosted for students at the University of the West Indies and the University of Technology. The presentations were made by three young CEO's who shared on their own experiences as business owners. Participating in the discussion are (from left) Scotiabank's Asquith Brown, Manager, Sales & Service, Coach & Portfolio Metrics, and Peter Walters, VP Small Medium Enterprises.
Caption 2:
Scotiabank's Peter Walters, VP Small Medium Enterprises, and guest CEO at the Scotiabank Entrepreneurship Talk, Lacey Ann Bartley, chat with business students from the University of the West Indies and the University of Technology, Kristofferson Nunes and Shawneil Bailey respectively. They were all participants at a session titled Entrepreneurship Think Big hosted for students from both universities that featured three young CEO's sharing on their experiences in business.
"The best way to get anybody involved in your business is to really think big". This advice was delivered by Tyrone Wilson, CEO E-Media Interactive during his presentation at the recently held Scotiabank Entrepreneurship Talk titled 'Entrepreneurship. Think Big'. Wilson was one of three young CEO's to present to a joint gathering of business students from the University and of the West Indies and University of Technology students in an intense discussion on entrepreneurship.
"Create a big visions for yourself and for what you want to achieve" he said. When approaching business, ask yourself "what will Jamaica be like in ten years? Open your minds and create a future for yourselves, and that is thinking big". He also advised them to not let anyone tell you that your dream is impossible. "Never side-line your dream", he said. Wilson's points were reiterated by the two other panellists, Lacey Ann Bartley, Bartley's All In Wood and Patria Kay Aarons, Sweetie Confectionery.
According to Bartley "you need to follow your passion", as she did with woodwork. She has been in love with wood work from childhood, a passion that comes from her father. She finally stepped into the business after university, creating wooden jewelry for accessories. Ultimately she said, her vision is to improve and create a proper furniture and wood product industry in Jamaica. "Jamaica has a workforce of skilled crafts men… we should not be importing furniture to Jamaica" she said.
CEO of Sweetie Confectionery, Patria Kaye Aarons, told students that to go into business is always a risk. She shared her own story of how she gave up her job, and took a chance to launch her company Sweetie Confectionery. "It will always be a risk" she says. She advised them on the importance to "identify a need, a business that you have a passion, and then stick with it to the end".
The discussion was intense and insightful as the students peppered the panellist with questions on handling a pitch, identifying funding, following your passion and thinking big. Scotiabank's interest in developing entrepreneurship at the Universities has been manifested over the last three years through their support of the University of Technology's Club Billionaire and the University of the West Indies' Entrepreneurship Club. In her remarks, Pam Douglas, Scotiabank's Director Professional Partnership SME, shared that for the Bank "it is important to develop a culture of entrepreneurship, particularly among young people" but also noted that "we are also very focused on sharing a message on financial management and saving".
This Entrepreneurial Talk was aimed at increasing awareness surrounding the importance of developing businesses for job creation and economic growth. The next event in the series will be hosted at the University of Technology and will feather a different set of young entrepreneurs.
About Scotia Group Jamaica Limited (SGJL) Scotiabank has been in Jamaica since 1889 and is the premier financial institution in the country with just over 2,000 employees and 35 Branches Island wide. SGJL is a subsidiary of Scotiabank (Canada) and offers a diverse range of products and services including personal, commercial, and small business banking, wealth management, insurance, and mortgages. SGJL is an award winning institution having been named on numerous occasions as the Bank of the Year and Best Bank in Jamaica by international financial publications – the Banker, Latin Finance, Euromoney, and Global Finance magazines. SGJL has JMD$ 414 billion in assets (as at January 31, 2015). For more information please visit www.scotiabank.com/jm.