OECS Youth Entrepreneurs Navigating Turbulent Times with Professional Online Coaching

OECS-Caribbean Export Development Agency Media Release

Despite the challenges facing entrepreneurs in 2020, 14 OECS youth entrepreneurs were able to benefit from professional online business coaching and technical assistance coordinated by the OECS Competitive Business Unit and Caribbean Export Development Agency. 

The four (4) month virtual programme ended on September 30 2020 and provided opportunities for youth startups in sectors such as; Agribusiness, Agro Processing, Creative Industries, Green Technology and ICT. While most of the entrepreneurs registered for the programme before the COVID-19 pandemic started, the programme became timely in assisting the entrepreneurs to adapt to the changing environment.

The programme featured a comprehensive business diagnostics assessment along with individual coaching and technical assistance to address some of the issues identified in the diagnostic assessment. Many of the young entrepreneurs expressed their satisfaction with the programme indicating that it gave them an opportunity to clarify their vision, to develop achievable goals, to develop transformative business models and strategies.

"It has helped me to formulate a clearer business model and it helped me identify new & innovative business opportunities. The programme also helped me strategize and set smart goals so that I can have  a clearer path to follow and create an action plan to achieve these goals."
Tonnie Pierre from Adroit (Grenada) said.  

 

"It gave me the capacity to separate myself from an operator to a strategist in my business. Ensuring you take the time to work on and not just in your business. "
Ackim Sidonie from Two Aces (Saint Lucia) said.  

 

The OECS was extremely happy to partner with Caribbean Export on this initiative, we are very focused on entrepreneurship and particularly youth entrepreneurship in the OECS. We are heartened by the innovation, maturity, passion and drive of the participants and we will continue to implement similar programes to benefit entrepreneurs across the OECS”. Technical Specialist for Entrepreneurship Development at the OECS Competitive Business Unit, Kwesi Roberts said. 


Beneficiaries of the programme
      

Company Entrepreneur's name Country Sector
Shop D Caribbean Darrion Louis Saint Lucia Information Communication Technology (ICT)
LinkUp Kenna Questelles George

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Information Communication Technology (ICT)
The Two Aces Ackim Sidonie Saint Lucia Information Communication Technology (ICT)
Zénaïde Aromatherapy Zanda Desir Saint Lucia Manufacturing
Mec Designs Maurisa Carbon Antigua and Barbuda Manufacturing
T & A Household Decor Amy Antoine Saint Lucia Manufacturing
Adroit Tonnie Pierre Grenada Agribusiness
Cronneit's Forest Bows Denny Cronneit Grenada Manufacturing
Flirt Cocktails Hyacinth Richardson Saint Kitts and Nevis Agribusiness & Manufacturing
Mangal Trading Incorporation Nila Mangal Saint Lucia Agribusiness
Akata Farms Bevon Chadel Charles Grenada Agribusiness
My Crown Of Curls Ranique John Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Agribusiness & Manufacturing
Emerald Solar and Wind Ltd Nicholas Sander Montserrat Renewable Energy
Caribi Dreams Mr. Maurice  John Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Renewable Energy

 

Coaches of the programme

Pablo A. Arroyo Casañas (Tampa, Florida-USA)

Pablo Arroyo has over 18 years of experience in business development as an owner, business consultant and coach in the public and private sectors. He is a NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP), a Certified Marketing Executive (CME) from SMEI International and a Certified Transformational Coach from the Blue Mesa Group. During his career, Arroyo was involved in strategic market expansion for companies from diverse sectors with an emphasis on manufacturing, technology, agribusiness, food, tourism, hospitality, entrepreneurship and value-added enterprise development.

Ladi Franklin (Trinidad and Tobago)  

Ladi Franklin is a Certified Value Builder™ who offers group and one-on-one coaching to value-growth entrepreneur-owned businesses. She is an Entrepreneurial Thought & Action (ET&A®) Educator and Business Strategy Coach with two decades of experience providing guidance to entrepreneur-owned small and medium scale businesses. Ladi has worked with MSMEs in diverse industry sectors including manufacturing, tourism, agro-processing, creativity, retail, healthcare, personal, and professional services sectors.

Michele Kalloo (Trinidad and Tobago)   

Michele Kalloo has been involved in export sales and marketing throughout the Caribbean and Latin America for over twenty years. She has been guiding and advising business executives from large companies to SME’s looking to take their products to the world. 

About Caribbean Export

Caribbean Export is a regional export development and trade and investment promotion organisation of the Forum of Caribbean States (CARIFORUM) currently executing the Regional Private Sector Programme (RPSDP) funded by the European Union under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF)  Caribbean Export’s mission is to increase the competitiveness of Caribbean countries by providing quality export development and trade and investment promotion services through effective programme execution and strategic alliances.

More information about Caribbean Export can be found at www.carib-export.com.  Contact: JoEllen Laryea, PR and Communications, Caribbean Export Development Agency, Tel: +1(246) 436-0578, Fax: +1(246) 436-9999, Email: jlaryea@carib-export.com 

 

Communications Unit

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

Ricardo James

Technical Specialist - Export Development, Competitive Business Unit, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

Kwesi Roberts

Technical Specialist - Entrepreneurship Development, Competitive Business Unit, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

JoEllen Laryea

Senior Advisor - PR and Marketing, Caribbean Export

Markson Gill

Advisor – Competitiveness and Export Promotion, Caribbean Export

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About The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

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The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is an International Organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration, protection of human and legal rights, and the encouragement of good governance among independent and non-independent countries in the Eastern Caribbean. The OECS came into being on June 18th 1981, when seven Eastern Caribbean countries signed a treaty agreeing to cooperate with each other while promoting unity and solidarity among its Members. The Treaty became known as the Treaty of Basseterre, so named in honour of the capital city of St. Kitts and Nevis where it was signed. The OECS today, currently has eleven members, spread across the Eastern Caribbean comprising Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Martinique and Guadeloupe. 

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