contents

The Business of Kreativity

Where Are They Now?

Global Entrepreneurship and the Caribbean

From Mentor to Investor

Motivation Behind... Empowerment

Coming Home: The Rise of DeJaFrut

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11 A-LIVEwireact and Kicking

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(Ac)counting Your Blessings and Your Business

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A New Cohort... A New Approach

Read All About It: Blue Moon Publishing

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Lisa LakeChief Entrepreneurship Officer

www.bransoncentre.co

join the movementThere is a global movement taking place – a movement around

entrepreneurship and the promise it holds for the future. As the

world feels the blows of economic, health and political crises,

entrepreneurship is being lauded by many as the key to solving some

of the toughest problems faced by this and future generations. Poverty,

in particular, is at the root of many national ailments, both in Jamaica

and abroad, and the power of entrepreneurship to create change,

provide solutions and improve livelihoods is driving the momentum

behind this movement. In November, Jamaica joins countries around

the world that are shining the spotlight on entrepreneurs during

Global Entrepreneurship Week - the world’s largest celebration of the

innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life,

drive economic growth and expand human welfare.

At the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean (BCoEC) we

live and breathe entrepreneurship and join the movement to support

and encourage not only entrepreneurs, but everyone who has a role to

play in bolstering high-growth start-ups and the business environment

in which they operate. This eZine is dedicated to the global movement,

as we highlight BCoEC entrepreneurs and partners playing their role in

building a new blueprint for tomorrow.

Randy McLaren, featured on the cover, is more than an entrepreneur.

He is a poet, artist and activist who merges creativity with business,

in order to address social issues, earn revenue and achieve global

reach. Not unlike Tanya Batson-Savage, whose company, Blue Moon

Publishing, facilitates cross-border cultural exchange through literacy.

They are both blazing new paths for the Caribbean in culture, art and

entrepreneurship.

Our mentorship piece is an exciting one, which shines the spotlight

on a BCoEC mentor who has invested more than just time in helping

his mentee achieve the level of growth that she and her business

deserve. Companies may start small, but they need to grow. Cyreca

McGaw’s small accounting firm took on it’s biggest contract to date

and found that through a successful partnership she was able to grow

her business and contribute to education reform. These stories and

more, demonstrate how the Caribbean has an important role to play

in developing and nurturing entrepreneurship globally.

Royancampbellsure financial services

“Entrepreneur and microbusiness champion, Royan

Campbell wasfirst featured in our pages just over a

year ago in March of 2013.”

WHERE ARE THEYNOW?

Entrepreneur and microbusiness champion, Royan Campbell, was

first featured in our pages just over a year ago in March of 2013.

Royan is the founder of Sure Financial Services financing, which

provides business and personal loans, insurance premium financing,

as well as business planning and management training. Since then,

the company has grown significantly in terms of numbers, clients

and products offered. They are currently in negotiations for further

investment and financing, and their client base has nearly doubled.

They added a new location in 2013 in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland

and an additional branch in Maypen, Clarendon is currently under

construction. Most recently, the company has entered into an

exciting partnership with the Jamaica Microfinancing Association,

and is now authorized to offer personal loans to employees of

the Jamaican government—a landmark achievement. Still, Royan’s

personal and professional mandate remains the same: educating and

aiding others in their entrepreneurial pursuits, with a larger goal of

positively impacting the nation’s economy.

Mr. Campbell lives by the saying “give a man a fish and you’ll feed

him for a day—teach a man to fish and you’ll feed him for life.” Sure

Financial aims to teach its clients to fish—providing not just access

to finance, but also business training. As an entrepreneur himself,

Royan understands his clients’ needs and the challenges they face.

After all, he’s lived them, and continues to live them with each

advance that his company makes.

Through the Branson Centre and others, Royan received much

needed support in his own journey and is now ‘paying it forward’

by signing on to be a mentor to young entrepreneurs in vulnerable

communities through the Diaspora Youth Connect (DYC)

programme – an exciting new initiative recently launched by the

Jamaica Diaspora Institute in collaboration with CUSO, the Branson

Centre and other key partners.

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“ . . .a s r ichard branson would say, ‘screw it

just do it ! ”

Robyn Fox17 mile postNestled high in the hills of Newcastle, overlooking both the city streets of

Kingston and the Blue Mountain countryside, you’ll find a hidden gem: 17

Mile Post, the “3-in-1” getaway spot that’s changing the face of Jamaican

tourism. When we first spoke to co-founder and business owner Robyn

Fox, 17 Mile Post was still finding its footing amidst the giants of the Jamaican

hospitality industry. Now, Robyn says, business is booming and shows no

sign of slowing down.

“The weekend demand at the café has increased, so we’ve expanded the

kitchen. We’ve recently obtained a spot on booking.com, so the guest-

house is almost completely booked for November and December. Our

farm orders have also gone up almost 30%, and so we’ve added an extra

delivery day to meet the demand from both customers and supermarkets.”

All this growth on the business side has forced the woman behind the

business to grow as well. Robyn describes herself as having gained a lot more

courage and self-confidence since beginning her entrepreneurial journey.

She says that the competitive nature of the tourism industry means you

can’t be shy. Given that her operations actually consist of three different

businesses; cafe, guest house and fresh produce delivery, she explains that

there’s really no time to stop and worry.

“As an entrepreneur, you don’t really have time to plan solutions when

something goes wrong—it’s about doing, finding that fix and pushing

through. As Richard Branson would say, ‘screw it just do it!’”

Robyn prides herself on providing guests with a true Jamaican experience,

and looks more and more to her surrounding community to further that

mission. Local farmers supply her with produce, and she supplies them with

something else—business sense. She understands that while her community

members know how to farm, they lack knowledge when it comes to the

business of farming. She wants to be an example in her community, and use

her success to further that of others.

“When I help the community, they help me. We’ve recently applied for a

tourism enhancement fund from the government. That’ll give us funding to

build and beautify the community. I’d love to work with other established

entrepreneurs, but for now, this is my focus—community tourism.”

5

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randy mclarenthe business of Kreativity

While it’s not uncommon for those in

the creative sector to use their talents to

champion various causes and social issues,

it’s certainly rare to find someone who

merges artistic talent and social justice

campaigning into a viable business. Randy

McLaren, owner and founder of Articulet,

can count himself as one among those

rare individuals—just call him the “Kreativ

Activis.”

Spoken word poet, actor, writer, activist…entrepreneur?

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w “What you have,

what you’re doing is a

product—you need to

have confidence in what

you do and

put a cost

to it. . .”

When asked about the definition of creative activism, Randy explains

that it’s just what it sounds like: using creative avenues and platforms to

address social, cultural and development issues in a way that is edgy, fresh

and engaging. Performing since his high school days, Randy recalls being

approached by his peers and audience members who were moved and

inspired by his words. His involvement in student leadership activities also

gave him material to tie into his various projects and performances. His

work as one of Jamaica’s Youth Ambassadors for Culture instilled in him a

desire to be a progressive activist—a desire that has manifested itself into

Articulet.

“’Entertain change’ is Articulet’s tagline - its mantra. It’s about creating

something that generates a positive impact. The audience should be

entertained, but at the heart of it, it’s about sending them away with

something that provokes them to be better human beings,” Randy

says. Articulet uses various types of performance

art, as well as new media and communications

technologies to educate young people

on various social issues worldwide, and

motivate them to take action. It’s an

undertaking that’s brought Randy much

recognition and taken him all over the

world, from performing at Jamaica House

during the 2012 London Olympics to

performing in Zambia in 2013 and his first

solo performance to a non-English speaking

audience in Venezuela in 2014. Randy also

won the Prime Minister’s Youth Award for

Excellence in Arts and Culture in March

2013.

Building a business out of artistic talent,

however, is no easy task, and combined

with the risk and struggle associated

with starting a business has made the last

few years of Randy’s life quite the rollercoaster. Like any business, you

have to think about adding on product or service extensions. By diversifying

his offerings, he is better able to capitalize on his artistic talents. He is

a performer and dub-poet at the core, but he also creates jingles for

corporate advertisements, performs at events, consults with NGOs on

youth initiatives, and executes his own events, just to name a few of his

offerings.

Through Articulet, he ran a week’s worth of workshops with the Beacon

Arts Centre and the Pan-African Arts Council in Greenock, Scotland.

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The workshops were part of a pilot project whereby participants

engaged in a three-way exchange of cultural activities between

Jamaica, Ghana, and Scotland. “The focus was to help young

people find and understand their talent, and then show them how

to use it as a means of self-expression, self-empowerment, and a

tool to empower others.”

His time in the UK really drove home for him the importance of

networking—something Randy places a very high importance

on and would encourage other entrepreneurs to do the same.

Many of his overseas engagements have come out of successful

networking and establishing strategic relationships. It contributes

to his overall brand building both locally and abroad, which further

assists him to grow his business and enhance his credibility.

“I always knew that I had the talent, but not necessarily the business

skills,” he says. He looks to his acceptance into the Branson Centre

as a real transitional point in creating a sustainable business. “I

went into the Branson Centre thinking that I knew what I was

doing. But they helped me to put a structure in place and

create a real business model.”

Randy reflects on the many hardships he encountered,

and continues to encounter as he transitions from artist

to business owner. As creativity isn’t a tangible product,

it can be harder to get start-up capital since banks

and other investors hesitate to give loans to performers.

Entrepreneurship, he says, can be a lonely road—but when you

have a vision in mind and see the bigger picture—that’s what will

guide you through those low moments. Randy’s vision for Articulet

extends beyond Jamaica, which has already started to take shape

given his extensive travels in the past year.

Randy also stresses proactivity as a key to success in business. He

dedicates time to researching work opportunities all around the

world, often with the help of social media, and putting himself

in the right places at the right times. He understands that as an

artist, it can be difficult to tap into an entrepreneurial mindset—

and admits that not everyone has that capacity and capability. The

key then, becomes surrounding yourself with people who do have

those skills—and learning from them as much as possible. Most

importantly, artists need to recognize their own value and how to

capitalize on it.

“What you have, what you’re doing is a product—you need to

have confidence in what you do and put a cost to it. You cannot say

yes to everything. Be selective. You are offering value, and value

comes with a price.”

Randy has many goals for his business, including creating

opportunities for others. His productions require actors, musicians,

directors, videographers, designers and graphic artists. While he

loves being an artist and creating, he also wants to build sustainable

operations, saying that “art for arts sake won’t pay the bills or

secure a future for you and your family. This is a creative industry.

It’s a business. Those who understand that are the ones who will

do well.”

Though global impact is his focus, Randy McLaren will never

forget where he came from. He recently created a docu-poem

called “Armadale: Children on Fire”, raising awareness about

the survivors of the 2009 fire at the Armadale state facility in

St. Ann. The docu-poem was 4th on the shortlist (out of 2,000

submissions) for the United Nations World Summit Youth Award.

He is passionate about children in poverty and those in conflict with

the law, believing that lack of education and access to funds creates

a brutal cycle.

As a product of a rural Jamaican community, Randy also hopes

to use his brand to generate funds for rural development. He is

currently working on an album and book, which will tie into the

social campaigns he has been a part of. He aims to execute a crowd-

funding campaign to get those projects off the ground in the next

few months. Randy McLaren: “Kreativ Activis” and entrepreneur, is

changing the world one performance piece at a time.

Ambassador

Activist

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M

Coming Home:the rise of DeJaFrut

“If the product is made here and the consumers are here, then the

money stays here... .”Marie and her sister Maria are the entrepreneurial duo behind

DeJaFrut, a company which produces all-natural sorbets made

from locally sourced ingredients. The offspring of Jamaican

parents, the twin sisters were born and raised in New York City

but returned to the land of their heritage with the goal of starting a

business that would manufacture one of their favourite treats from

the States. Marie recalls how her sister, inspired by the opportunity

to introduce sorbet on the island, helped her to step out of her

comfort zone.

“We always had sorbet in New York in the summer, but it was

only available during the summer. My sister missed the season one

year while she was studying here in Jamaica, and that was when

she approached me with the idea. I thought she was crazy but here

we are.”

Like many who go into business for themselves, Marie never

saw herself as an entrepreneur. In New York, she worked as an

accountant and acknowledges that the challenges of small business

ownership are many-leveled. One of DeJaFrut’s key selling points

is the fact that it is all-natural and does not contain any artificial

preservatives or additives. The cost of consistently obtaining high

quality ingredients has been one of the main challenges, especially

since the company’s other mandate is to keep the ingredients

locally sourced.

“We want to jolt the economy,” Marie explains, “and maintain the

grassroots effort. If the product is made here and the consumers

are here, then the money stays here. We wanted to come here and

contribute to the full economic cycle.”

The other main challenge of starting out as an entrepreneur here

in Jamaica was unexpected: culture shock. Given their Jamaican

heritage, Marie was surprised at how much they had to adjust and

the many differences in the business climate. This was especially

evident given their upbringing in one of the fastest-paced cities in

the world. She describes having to make the transition from doing

business largely via email correspondence and written contracts,

to the more face-to-face and paperless interactions common here

in Jamaica. On the other hand, their product is now available in

supermarkets, beach bars and resorts all over the island—a fact

Marie attributes largely to the same, more personal business

approach required.

“It was all about pounding the pavement. We would just walk in,

introduce ourselves, and provide samples. We made sure to speak

to the right people and then let the product speak for itself. We

definitely wouldn’t have been able to do that in the States.”

DeJaFrut continues to grow and expand. The company is currently

in the midst of adding to its flavour offerings and looking forward

to a soft launch with a major distributor in the upcoming months.

They are even considering bringing on an investor who could help

move the needle in their growth trajectory. Marie is adamant in

maintaining her focus on Jamaica and the Caribbean as their primary

expansion target: “We’re trying to give back to the country that

our family is from. Staying local doesn’t just benefit the company.

There’s a trickle-down effect. We want to come into this country

and make a significant difference.”

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I

A-LivewireACT and kicking…Brian Brown

of my company’s website and fine-tuning my new t-shirt

line and debut music videos. Just another day in the life of

an entrepreneur…

Despite being unable to simply get up and walk, I

cherished my daily routine of being thankful, working

out and being at my desk (only 20 feet away) by 8am

for work. We set-up new systems for meeting clients’

objectives and submitting progress reports while I tried

to manage my energy and the pain, as well as accepting

my physical limitations. In all of this, we added two new

clients via skype, telephone meetings and emails. Granted,

we generated more much needed revenue, but that also

meant more pressure to deliver.

As we work on a plan to launch our entertainment registry

website in Kingston during Global Entrepreneurship

Week this November. I always come back to one thing;

how blessed I am to be doing something I love for a living.

Above all, I’ve learned that an indomitable spirit is the

most important attribute for every entrepreneur.

By developing a winning attitude, keeping things in

perspective and reinforcing positive best practices, I’m

looking forward to being on my feet again to ensure I

achieve my New Year’s resolution - a year of massive

growth.

In early August, several hours after leaving the International Dancehall

Queen show where I had performed as an emcee, I landed on my feet

(literally), and broke both ankles. After burning the midnight oil, I was

about to get ready to attend a morning event where another Branson

alumni was presenting. I climbed two-stories to do a quick check on my

watertank when the ladder moved suddenly. I made a split decision to land

forward instead of backwords, where I could have suffered a terrible back

injury. Yes, I was accustomed to landing on my feet, but I certainly didn’t

expect this.

Naturally, there were already plans for the months ahead, including a travel

schedule. Those plans were shattered; and wheelchair shopping, months

of pain and uncertainty about my future mobility loomed. I bought what

I needed, but found that my greatest challenge was not only retaining two

new clients and engaging my new employee, but maintaining my spirit

and positivity. I soon accepted a few realities. Firstly, I’d be confined to

a wheelchair for at least three months; secondly, I quickly had to get the

tools and support I needed to function; and thirdly, self-pity was not an

option, especially with a young daughter feeling my pain with every move

I made.

Two days later, I was back at work; virtually anyway. I had to assure my

clients that it was only my ankles that were broken, and not my marketing

expertise. Support poured in from friends, family and colleagues, and as

someone who is used to helping others, I had to sit still and allow others

to help me. It wasn’t easy.

Luckily, I had hired an assistant six weeks before the accident. It was clear

that I could not have done it without her, especially as all of this was

happening while completing a 2-D Animation course, planning the launch

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What sets White Lotus apart from other bridal

boutiques?

We rent and sell bridal gowns from a wide range of international

designers, but what sets us apart are our handmade bridal

accessories. We make feather fascinators, birdcage veils, cathedral

veils and much more. We also make custom accessories for our

brides. We get to know their personal styles and their “vision” for

the big day, and create pieces made especially to suit them.

How does your academic background in clinical

psychology help your business? How have you bridged

the gap?

Being a clinical psychologist, the ability to interact with people is

key. You have to know how to read people, put them at ease and

empathize—it’s critical. In business, we call that customer service.

Besides style, your brand’s main focus is on female

empowerment. What strategies do you use at store

level to help spread this message?

In my work as a psychologist, I see girls and women with a

plethora of social and emotional problems. Reaching out to

women to help them build self-esteem is a passion of mine. I’ve

had several impromptu premarital counseling sessions with clients

during fittings and such. A few have even been motivated to seek

out formal premarital counseling after our talks. I would like to

formalize this and have it become an actual service offered by

White Lotus.

KamalaMcWhinneyMotivation Behind...Empowerment

What motivated you to be an entrepreneur? How do

you empower yourself and others?

I never saw myself as the entrepreneurial type. I thought that to

be an entrepreneur, it took a certain magic that I just didn’t think

I had. What I did have was a passion to make pretty items. When

people started offering to buy them, I was sort of thrust into it.

I’m very grateful to the Branson Centre for accepting me into the

entrepreneur program and giving me the tools and skills I needed

to succeed. As an entrepreneur, I find it even more empowering

to help others through my brand. Having a store space alone just

won’t do it for me. I want to have an impact on women—if I can

do that, it will be the most empowering part of my business.

“I see girls and women

with a plethora of social and emotional

problems. Reaching out to women to

help them build self-esteem is a

passion of mine. “

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You recently shared details of your struggle with breast

cancer publicly through Facebook and other channels.

Why did you decide to be so open, and where did you

find the courage?

I found so much motivation and support in tapping into other

women’s stories that I always knew I wanted to use mine to help others, especially younger women, become more aware and vigilant; as

well as let those who are diagnosed know that they were not alone. It was mostly a matter of timing. Before I actually went public, I knew

the timing wasn’t right. I needed that time to achieve my own level of acceptance and resolution of the pros vs cons of going public. It’s

a constant battle but the timing was right.

Do you feel that entrepreneurship is a field in which women could use more empowerment? What would you say to

other women thinking of going into business for themselves?

I feel that while women are underrepresented in the field of small business ownership, we’re definitely increasing those numbers. I met so

many inspiring and helpful female entrepreneurs through the Branson Centre. I think women who are looking at going into small business

ownership need to know that there are others like them out there. With representation, we can empower women socially and financially

and change the nation and the world. There’s a lot of fear and apprehension in being an entrepreneur and those feelings are justified. It’s

difficult but we can do it.

What inspires you, as far as the pieces you create? What’s your “creative process?”

I have a lot of attraction to retro glamour- I love the vintage, “way back when” look. I take inspiration from that era and style and so a

lot of pieces incorporate that. I also like to work with the customer. I look at their personality and individual style and design something

around that.

You recently showcased at the Jamaican Bridal Expo. What was that like? What are your plans for the future of White

Lotus?

The Jamaican Bridal Expo was our first showing in Montego Bay and it was tremendously successful. We’ve had about 4-5 showings in

Kingston, but it was the first time that our team really worked seamlessly. We’ll be at Kingston Bridal Week at the end of October. White

Lotus will also be launching a photography service. We’ll do weddings, maternity photos, newborn photos and such. We’re working on

pop-up boutiques in the Montego Bay area as well. “Lotus Blooms,” which is the social media arm of our company, will also launch in this

month. A year ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, so I want the launch to tie in with that anniversary, especially with October being

breast cancer awareness month. Lotus Blooms will produce short videos and use social media to tackle women’s issues.

What are some of your long-term goals for the business?

I would like to open another storefront. I’d also like to make

connections with resorts, to be able to offer our services to

destination brides. Being able to offer a wider selection of locally

made gowns is also a primary goal. Most importantly, I want the

message of White Lotus to go beyond Jamaica. Social media has

unlimited reach, so I hope to make a global impact through “Lotus

Blooms.”

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I had never exactly ‘mentored’ an entrepreneur before, until an old

friend who I had met in Jamaica many years ago, introduced me to

the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean (BCoEC). I

believe that a strong economy is key to the success of any modern

society, and such an economy requires successful businesses, most

of which start small. In the early years of my career, I consulted

with small businesses, even some in Jamaica, so I saw mentoring as

an opportunity to give back to a country that I learned to love in

my first 30 years of life.

We started to establish trust from early on in the relationship.

Before contacting her, I read Angelica’s business plan. When we

did later speak via Skype and email it was obvious that she knew

her own business plan well and was following through with it. Her

marketing skills were evident, and superior to my own. She has

a true entrepreneurial spirit and I was quickly convinced that she

was someone who could succeed, given the resources that she

needed.

As I learned more about Angelica and her business, it was clear

that she needed capital to really expand her business. At my

prompting, she sought local financing from Jamaican local financial

institutions. However, no one was willing to provide the necessary

seed financing at reasonable terms and all wanted collateral that

Angelica was unable to provide. As far as I could see, the only thing

in the way of Angelica and success was the lack of working capital.

I had developed real faith in Angelica, and felt that the best thing

I could do as a mentor was to provide those funds at reasonable

terms. I offered her a modest, medium term interest-only loan

with low interest and a balloon payment at termination.

I have real faith in Angelica and can see that she is dedicated to the

success of her business. The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship -

Caribbean (BCoEC) has been very supportive of our relationship,

and they were thrilled to see it deepen in such a practical and

real way. I was able to offer BCoEC some of my own insights

and contribute to their efforts in building out an access to finance

stream, which will be launched in the next few months. In the

meantime, the 6-month mentorship term facilitated by BCoEC has

ended, but Angelica and I continue to maintain our relationship.

It was a natural transition, and as long as Angelica finds the

relationship useful, then I am available to her. My hope is that she

will become very successful, and that she lets me know as much.

At the end of the day, that will bring me immense satisfaction.

I

From Mentor to Investor: Trust is the Greatest Return

“I have real faith in Angelica and can see that she is dedicated to the success of her

business.”

by: Paul Sagar, Founder: Albion Devices, Inc.

Solana Beach, California

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Cyreca McGaw has always been an entrepreneur. She

just didn’t know it.

The founder of McGaw and Company says she’s known that

she wanted to be an accountant since high school. She decided

to dream big, even at that young age, by also having a vision to

own her own company. “I knew nothing about entrepreneurship,”

she admits. However, for many successful business owners, it isn’t

about the knowledge—it’s about the spirit. Cyreca’s drive to start

her own company demonstrates just that: entrepreneurial spirit.

Cyreca spent years working at top accounting firm KPMG—years

well spent, as it gave her the knowledge and experience needed to

strike out on her own. It also reaffirmed her passion for accounting

as a means to helping others—a passion that has led her to take on

her company’s biggest project to date.

McGaw & Company was sub-contracted by a client who was

hired by the Ministry of Finance to undertake the audit of the

Teachers’ Reclassification arrears. It is a huge undertaking and

a major opportunity - one that requires auditing over 23,000

teachers salaries. It has already resulted in the government

making a series of payouts to teachers, which is expected to total

approximately $1.9 billion by the end of the project.* McGaw and

Company doesn’t currently offer financial auditing services, so the

significance of the case is twofold: the chance to be a part of major

reform in the Jamaican education system, while expanding her own

business. At present, Cyreca is just proud to be part of a team that

is making it possible for teachers in Jamaica to get their retroactive

salaries. Her company became involved through a partnership—a

departure from the idea that being an entrepreneur means always

going it alone. Cyreca encourages others like her to rise above

that perception. “Seek out collaborative experiences,” she says,

“They are vital.”

Having such a high-profile case under her belt has not shifted

Cyreca’s focus and passion away from her small business clients.

McGaw and Company provides a wide range of services, but

Cyreca takes special interest in offering advice to those who are just

starting out and registering their companies. Her main mission is to

prepare clients for success in the long term—helping them with the

kind of planning that, in her experience, is often overlooked.

“I have clients who come to me ten years into doing business with

no accounting system in place. At the beginning they only thought

about earning money—not about recording the money.”

Cyreca sees the move towards entrepreneurship as the solution

to unemployment. She wants to use her business and her own

experience to help others just beginning their journey—a journey

that she herself wouldn’t change for anything in the world.

T

(AC)Counting your

Blessings …and Your Business:mcgaw & company

Cyreca McGaw

“I knew nothing about entrepreneurship,”

*At the time that this issue was published, the project was expected

to be completed at the end of November, at which time the final

figure would be confirmed.

At Virgin Unite, we believe entrepreneurs have the keys to

unlocking solutions to some of the biggest challenges our world

faces today. Long gone are the days when businesses can stop at

simply minimising the risk that they have on communities and the

environment. To be really successful now, you need to put making

the world a better place right at the heart of your business model.

For those of us working across the Virgin Group, Global

Entrepreneurship Week isn’t just about celebrating entrepreneurs

for creating jobs and improving our economies. It’s also about

thinking about how we can best support the entrepreneurs that

are leading the way in finding new methods to turn challenges into

opportunities.

Like any other region of the world, the Caribbean is faced

with a unique set of challenges that can be addressed through

entrepreneurial solutions.

The relatively small size of the islands can make them vulnerable

to changes in the economic climate – even more so during global

recessions like the one we’ve just experienced. Climate change is

also a big issue for the region, with the flooding and storms that

struck the Eastern Caribbean being a tragic reminder of this. And

like so much of the world, many Caribbean nations are experiencing

the double-edged sword of youth unemployment and ‘brain drain’

– with around 90% of all those educated above high school level

emigrating, according to the IMF. Entrepreneurs in the Caribbean

are rising to these challenges. Many are doing this by becoming

job creators. The 2013 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Special

Report on the Caribbean found that almost half (46.5%) of new

businesses created new jobs between 2011 and 2013.

Caribbean entrepreneurs are also using their energy and creativity

to tackle some big issues. From fiber-optic solar indoor lighting to

vertical farming systems , Caribbean nations are ripe for disruption

in energy and agriculture. They’re also tackling social issues as

diverse as improving education and providing access to low cost

housing options. .

We at Unite are proud to partner with the Branson Centre of

Entrepreneurship – Caribbean (BCoEC); their holistic model of

support for entrepreneurs helps to ensure that entrepreneurs are

supported to use business as a force for good. And with plans to

extend their reach across much of the Caribbean over the coming

months, we will see the impact of their work reach many hundreds

more.

Global Entrepreneurship and the Caribbean: By: Lindsey Crouch, Virgin Unite

“you need to put making the world

a better place right at the heart of your

business model.”

16

So what can we do to help entrepreneurship in the Caribbean to thrive?

Connecting a community. Being an entrepreneur can be a tough, lonely

path, so access to entrepreneurial ecosystems and communities are a critical

success factor. That’s why Virgin Unite and the BCoEC are working hard

together to create both on and offline communities of entrepreneurs. The

Centre organises regular events and socials to help people connect; and

provides mentors, professional service providers, and a host of other support

services.. Our online programme, currently in beta and being user tested, will

provide another network to help like-minded entrepreneurs reach out and

connect.

Building bridges. The conversion rate between someone wanting to be

an entrepreneur and actually becoming one is fairly low in the Caribbean

compared to the rest of the world. Training, education and support is critical

to helping people take the leap. The BCoEC offers a mix of training and

services that provide just that.

Entrepreneurship is for everyone. We need to make entrepreneurship

an appealing choice for people of all ages, and dispel the myth that it’s just

for the young.

A new generation of ‘good’ businesses. Setting up and getting your

business to fly is difficult enough; thinking through how to do that in a way

that adds to society and the planet can be even more daunting. Through

the tools we’re trialling through our new online platform, we’re hoping to

provide entrepreneurs with practical support to build the next generation of

businesses that are a force for good.

What else can Virgin Unite and the Branson Centres for Entrepreneurship do to

help entrepreneurs to survive and thrive? We’d love to hear your thoughts. You can

connect with us on Twitter and Facebook: @virginunite.

A New Cohort…

A New Approach

On August 29th the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship-

Caribbean (BCoEC) welcomed Cohort 7.

“As our first ever virtual cohort, it was an

exciting moment in BCoEC and Virgin history...”

18

As our first ever virtual cohort, it is an exciting moment in Virgin

history, as our plans for expansion begin to take shape. We relish

in the opportunity to beta test the virtual platform we have been

developing over the past year with our Virgin Unite partners, not

to mention introducing an exciting series of webinars and coaching

sessions. Orientation day saw 48 vibrant and eager entrepreneurs

(more than double the amount of entrepreneurs we brought in

for previous cohorts) engaging with each other and absorbing the

information on how the following twelve weeks would undoubtedly

change their lives. The anticipation and excitement was palpable –

a day filled with new beginnings, not just for Cohort 7, but also the

BCoEC.

19

ITanya Batson-Savage is bringing back the bedtime story.

In a world of tablets, television, and of course, the world wide

web, it’s easy to forget the simple joy of reading a book. This is

especially true for young people growing up in the digital age. Yet,

it is during the formative years when literature can truly make the

most impact. Tanya recalls becoming a godmother for the first time,

and wanting nothing more than to give her godchild a Caribbean

children’s book—only to find that there were none available.

“I got into publishing without intending to. I just thought it was

important for children to have books and stories that reflect them

and their culture. Since I couldn’t find one, I made one.” This is

when the spirit of the entrepreneur took over. By the time Tanya

started thinking about her third book, Blue Moon Publishing was

born. An independent publishing house, Blue Moon specializes in

books about Caribbean children, written for a global audience. The

company also operates under the imprint Blouse and Skirt Books,

whose catalogue consists of poetry and fiction aimed at an older

youth and adult audience. When asked when she knew she wanted

to become an independent publisher, Tanya says, “after I started

doing it.”

“I think it’s wonderful that books open you up to the whole world.

I went to a panel on diversity where I was told that books should

be windows and mirrors. They should reflect people, but also give

a window for other people to look in.”

Showcasing diversity through Blue Moon books is one of the

company’s main mandates. Tanya believes that it is important for

children all over the world to have books about Caribbean people

and vice versa. While Jamaica is known and celebrated worldwide

for its musical exports, its country’s writers have largely flown

under the global radar.

read all about it:

blue moon books

“We in the Caribbean have produced two Nobel Laureates, and

Linton Kwesi Johnson was one of only two living poets to be

published in the Penguin Modern Classics. Writing just isn’t very

‘sexy’ business compared to music, so we don’t get that same level

of international attention.”

Despite this, Tanya is determined to use her business to combat

what she calls the “self-fulfilling lie” that Caribbean people do not

read. She acknowledges that getting books and creating a culture

of reading is hard work and cites a lack of local publishing as one of

the major obstacles. Still, she is determined to use her independent

business venture to overcome these challenges.

Running a small press gives me the latitude and room to pursue

what I believe is critical. Larger houses have the money, but I want

to showcase the full potential of Caribbean literature. With the

kind of impact I want to make in the long run, running my own

press is better.”

Eventually, Tanya wants to give Blue Moon writers, and Caribbean

writers on a whole, the global recognition they deserve. She wants

to see Blue Moon Books on a bestseller list outside of Jamaica, and

have her writers recognized by cultural institutions. Ultimately, it

all comes back to the children: building their confidence and self

worth through diversity; giving them books that say “I’m important

too.”

20

The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean ignites businesses to operate in a sustainable and socially responsible way to

improve livelihoods and transform the world.

105 86ENTREPRENEURS PARTICIPATING IN LAUNCH PAD

Local Community Ecosystem:

Local partners, events & work-

shops, peer-to-peer connections,

pitch competitions

Virtual Platform: Interactive training

centre & toolkit, mentorship

matching hub, marketplace,

social network

ENTREPRENEURS INVITED TO TAKE OFF

AS OF MAY 2014...

88.9%

FUTURE MODEL REGIONAL EXPANSION

Help support and expand the Branson Centre’s impact in the Caribbean. Contact info@bransoncentre.co

400+

Entrepreneurs per year

Exponential Impact

AVERAGE REVENUE GROWTH

195 111ESTIMATED NUMBER OF

JOBS SUPPORTED BY BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING

IN TAKE OFF

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF NEW JOBS CREATED BY BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING IN TAKE OFF

+

www.bransoncentre.coinfo@bransoncentre.co

Lisa Lake Chief Entrepreneurship Officer

Sharon JarrettCentre Manager

Andrea NobleOperations Manager

Melissa von FrankenbergPartnerships & Communications Manager

Kerrie-ann Richards Entrepreneur Development Manager

Lisandra Rickards Entrepreneur Programme Manager

Donnelle Christian Relationship Manager

Chelan Smith Communications Assistant

Team

Follow us:

23

Unit 19Bogue City Centre

Montego Bay, Jamaica1.876.632.5134

info@bransoncentre.cowww.bransoncentre.co

published by

eMedia Interactive Limited

(876) 970-5657info@joinemedia.com

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