By: Elaine Bryan, Gail Abrahams Contributed
ATLANTA – We welcome these positive signs suggesting that better economic times are ahead.
Tips for Coping
1. Establish yourself and offspring first so that you will be equipped to assist others. Those who have achieved some financial freedom tend to be the best volunteers.
2. While empowering others, you may actually be helping your own development.
3. Others may have some power to delay you but they cannot stop your progress.
I must share some information about my recent experience during my visit to Jamaica. It was awesome to see all the young women at the First Global Bank’s (FGB) vision breakfast held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel. This mentorship of young women is a great initiative by the bank. It was an impressive event, and this kind of empowerment will benefit these high-school students as they aspire to accomplish their dreams.
The participants came from corporate area schools, including Alpha Academy, Meadowbrook High, Quality Academics, St Hugh’s, Immaculate Conception, Merl Grove and Holy Childhood high schools, as well as the University of Technology and the University of the West Indies.
Meaningful Collaboration
FGB and First Global Financial Services (FGFS), must be commended in their initiative to host a vision forum for young women. The gathering also included influential Jamaican women like Eleanor Jones – director of Environmental Solutions; Senator Sandrea Falconer; Naomi Francis and Janice Budd, journalists; Director of the UTech Centre for the Arts, Pat Ramsay; Chief Executive Officer of United Way, Winsome Wilkins; businesswoman Marcia Forbes; Lorna Bell, executive director of Special Olympics Jamaica; R. Christine King, editor of Pure Class Magazine and Maia Chung Smith, news manager at HOT 102 and FGB’S woman of vision winner for 2009.
Representing the First Global group were Paula Barclay, vice-president for corporate banking; Janice Robinson Longmore, vice-president for funds administration and Chorvelle Johnson, vice-president for Business Development Limited.
Commendations to FGB’s marketing team of Kerry-Ann Betton Stimpson, Gail Abrahams, Camille Jarrett and Petronecia McBean, whose hard work and determination resulted in a rather successful forum which the participants thoroughly enjoyed.
This is such a perfect example, as I conclude my three-part series on investing in your country. It reflects a true meaning of the What What What approach – what you do with what you have determines what you become.
I thank the team, in particular Gail, who displayed commitment and hard work and ensured that my stay in Jamaica was fruitful, in addition to making sure that all arrangements for the conference were in place. Kudos to FGB and FGFS for their foresight and vision in staging such a meaningful event.
Elaine Grant Bryan is an empowerment speaker, Georgia Leadership Sandy Springs Graduate 2009, recipient of Mayor Shirley Franklin Phoenix and Judge Glenda Hatchett awards, and real estate expert featured on HGTV and Fine Living channels. Send Feedback/questions to:[email protected].
