Tamar’s story is one of profound resilience and transformation, beginning with a challenging childhood marked by adversity and pain. Despite the hardships she faced, Tamar never lost sight of her dreams, ultimately finding her calling as the principal the Heinz Simonitsch School, where she is dedicated to nurturing and empowering young minds.

During conversation, Tamar opens up about her past, sharing a story she has never before revealed publicly. Her words are filled with raw emotion and vulnerability, offering a glimpse into the depths of her soul and the courage it takes to confront and overcome one’s past.

Below you can watch the full episode “The Power of Healing: A Journey of Transformation and Resilience” on YouTube.

“I am broken and flawed, but I am healing,” Tamar declares, embodying a spirit of resilience and self-acceptance that is truly inspiring. Tamar reflects on her childhood and the impact it has had on her life. “Growing up, I felt invisible,” she recalls. “I felt like no one saw me or understood me. But now, as a principal, I make it a point to see each and every one of my students, to let them know that they are seen and valued.”

This commitment to seeing and validating others is at the core of Tamar’s work as an educator, where she strives to create a safe and nurturing environment for her students to thrive. Her journey from feeling invisible to empowering others to be seen is a powerful testament to the transformative power of healing.

Throughout the interview, Tamar emphasizes the importance of self-love and acceptance in the healing process. “I had to learn to love myself, scars and all,” she shares. “It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary for my healing to begin.”

Her words resonate deeply, serving as a reminder that healing is not a linear process but a journey of self-discovery and growth. Tamar’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, showing us that no matter how broken we may feel, we have the strength within us to heal and transform our lives.

A Priceless Moment

I had to ask about a moment that when she closes her eyes and think about it, she considers it to be one of the most priceless moments that she has experienced.

“It’s in my mothering. It’s seeing my kids at four and six speak their mind. I’m tickled. I am so tickled that the me that is not so confident, the me that tries to bury so much, have these girls who are so strong, who have these, I’ve been able to create something so much better than me because they are. And that’s the biggest win.

That is the part of my story that comforts me that there is something good in me because when I look at my kids, I’m proud that someone who started in a negative. They’re going to be whole people.They’re going to be strong people. The female in me that is so broken, I’m helping with these two girls. That’s something that is crippling, it’s therapeutic, it’s forgiving. It’s this grace that I wake up in and I cherish it.”

Definition of Redirection

As is customary, I ask each guest that comes into the Redirection seat “What is your definition of redirection and why is it important?” and Tamar shared her definition which I think was just so profound.

“Redirection for me is courage because for you to even redirect, you have to find that inner strength and nobody can find that. I would have had to pick myself up out of this hurt and shift and allow the people helping. Cause that’s great humility.”

Throughout the interview, Tamar’s deep love for her sister shines through, as she reflects on their relationship and the impact her sister had on her life. Tamar recalls with fondness the moments and the bond they shared. Even as her sister lay on her deathbed, Tamar remained by her side, offering comfort and love until the very end.

Tamar was also incredibly candid about her past, admitting that her brokenness in her younger years made her far from the best version of herself. She struggled academically and socially, finding it difficult to connect with others and often feeling misunderstood. This candidness extends to her reflections on how others perceive her transformation. Despite her growth and positive changes, some people still struggle to accept her for who she is today, unable to see past the person she once was. This struggle is a poignant reminder of the complexity of human relationships and the power of personal transformation to challenge and reshape those dynamics.

As the interview came to a close, Tamar reflects on the lessons she has learned along her journey and offers words of wisdom to those who may be struggling. “Healing is not about erasing the past but embracing it,” she says. “It’s about finding beauty in the brokenness and using it to create something new and beautiful.”

Tamar McKenzie’s story is a testament to the power of healing and the resilience of the human spirit. Her journey from a broken childhood to a place of healing and empowerment is a source of inspiration to all who hear it. As we navigate our own journeys of healing, may we be inspired by Tamar’s courage and resilience, and may we find the strength within ourselves to embrace our own brokenness and transform it into something beautiful.

As we conclude another captivating story “The Power of Healing: A Journey of Transformation and Resilience“, we invite you to explore another episode from season 2 of the ‘Redirection with Terri-Karelle‘ podcast. Also check out ‘Redirection: A Masterclass in Podcasting!’ where we delve into the successes and highlights of this transformative season, offering valuable insights and inspiration for podcasters and listeners alike. The ‘Redirection with Terri-Karelle’ podcast is streamed across Apple and Google podcasts, Audible and Spotify.

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Dr. Terri-Karelle Reid is a walking masterclass on how to build your brand, how to build a thriving global community online and how to include all walks of life to participate in that community. 

At least once per quarter, I remind Terri-Karelle that even though she drops gems daily on her social media channels, I learn more from her just watching how she operates and her implementation of the finer details.

She recently completed Season 2 of the Redirection podcast and as a Digital Strategist, I can say that if you were paying attention, she just served up a Masterclass in brand development and marketing. 

It may or not be shocking that Terri has the most successful podcast that is coming out of the Caribbean region but allow me to break it all down for you in hopes that not only will you give her all the flowers but that you also take notes to implement in your capacity.

Key Stats:

• There are 37 Episodes in total
• 4.9 Rating with over 300 reviews (Chartable stats)
• Over 107 countries have tuned in via podcast platforms
• Over 104k Downloads
• 128k views on YouTube for Season 2

Just so you have an understanding of the reach of this podcast, there were avid listeners from countries like Kenya, Japan, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Colombia, UAE, Hong Kong, Romania, Russia, Brazil, Portugal, Oman and the list goes on. 

The Redirection podcast is currently ranking on 26 charts across the world on Apple Podcast. In all of the countries that the podcast is ranked on, there are no other Caribbean podcasts even close to her on the charts.

In Jamaica alone, Redirection is #86 on Apple Podcasts for ALL Podcasts being consumed in Jamaica. There are no podcasts from the Caribbean ranking ahead of her and the next podcast from the region that is ranking on the Apple Podcasts charts in Jamaica is DJ Puffy at #141. 

Redirection is currently #2 for the Personal Journals category and #15 for Society and Culture podcasts in Jamaica. But it’s when you see her ranking in Namibia for All Podcasts (95), Society and Culture (15), and the Personal Journals category (4) do you realize just how powerful her platform has become to reach so many corners of the world.

How did she do it? Well here are my 5 observations that lead to her success of Redirection.

1. Community – Terri has been building her community, fondly known as the TK Tribe for years. She has built and protected this community, sharing her stories, showcasing snippets of her life, giving you gems that she has learned over the years and inviting them along for the ride. The community was built not to go out and get followers or sell them products but as a safe space to share, connect, educate and have fun.  Over the years, the Tribe has grown into loyal supporters from countries around the world. 

• Inclusion – Season 1 of the podcast was a success by all accounts but Terri and her team went to work on how they could make this even more successful. Being an advocate for inclusion, she decided to shoot a video podcast that would allow her to include the deaf community. So for those who wanted audio only, that option was there but when you went over to YouTube, she shot videos for every episode and brought on Intermediary Interpreter, Antoinette “Toni” Aiken to sign for every episode. 

• Short Form Content – The Redirection Moments were short clips that were aimed to take key points from each episode and turn them into content for TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. This allowed people to get bite-size digestible content, to drum up interest to go check out the longer-form episodes. 

• Adding The Video Format – Whilst Audio Podcasts are amazing, they have the highest completion rate of all content types, since people can passively consume podcasts whilst doing other things. The video format allowed Terri to introduce a captivating set that added another dimension to the visuals. It also paved the way for you to see the real and raw emotions of all the guests, making for heart-wrenching content. 

• The Angle – Great content is all about having a unique angle or perspective that makes you different from the market. Terri-Karelle could have easily had the Jamaican Prime Minister Mr. Andrew Holness on the podcast if she wanted but her angle was to find real people, that you may not have heard about but are doing amazing things. All of her guests are from a wide cross-section of society. Young, Old, In-between, male and female, students and professionals, those between jobs, careers and traversing other unexpected circumstances. 

The next factor that I believe that was going to make this Season a success was that it was mission-driven. Terri-Karelle had pledged to support “Eve For Life Jamaica” before she even got a sponsor for the season. She set out to donate JMD 150k but Heineken 0.0 came on board as a sponsor and agreed to match her pledge, to donate a total of JMD 300k. 

Terri-Karelle Reid (host of the ‘Redirection with Terri-Karelle’ podcast) and Amoye Philpotts-Brown (Brand Manager, Heineken 0.0) presents a cheque to Joy Crawford (Co-founder, Development and Training Director at Eve for Life), and Shana-Lee Smith (Executive Director, Eve for Life)

Sign language was a non-negotiable for Terri this season and Toyota Jamaica sponsored the sign language for all episodes, which fell in line with their mandate of “Mobility for all”.

We know that the success of these ventures will come down to your team and the close people in your corner. Terri-Karelle was successful in attracting the right partners who aligned perfectly with her visions and she aligned with theirs, so all sponsors and professionals involved were on the same page to turn this podcast into a mission, which has now led to become the most successful podcast in the Caribbean. 

The Redirection Podcast focuses on diversity, inclusion, Corporate Social Responsibility, authenticity, good content and collaboration. A winning formula for a successful podcast. 

Terri-Karelle in 2020 during the covid-19 pandemic, when she started the ‘Redirection with Terri-Karelle’ podcast from the comfort of her living room.

I remember telling Terri way back in 2020, that she should do a podcast. She did her infamous cross-eye and wrote that off. Little did I know, she had started planning in the background to start it and months later, we got Season 1.

I think if you had told her that she would be creating the biggest podcast in the Caribbean, she may have just said “doh bodda with it.” But for all you readers in the Tk Tribe, I will tell you as I tell Terri, start paying attention to the moves she makes and how she goes about implanting all that she does. 

There is more to learn from Dr. Terri-Karelle Reid by watching her and making notes. 

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“Redirection with Terri-Karelle” is a platform where the My Brand Compass author passionately explores the transformative power of redirection in one’s life. Each episode features engaging conversations with individuals who have successfully overcome challenges and redirected their lives towards success, happiness, and fulfillment. With her unique blend of warmth, wisdom, relatability and charisma, Terri-Karelle skillfully guides her guests and listeners alike towards discovering their own paths to personal growth and redirection.

The second season promises to be even more captivating and insightful than the first, with a remarkable lineup of guests from various walks of life, including entrepreneurs, creatives, thought leaders and community builders.  Through their stories and experiences, listeners will gain valuable insights, practical tips, and actionable strategies to navigate life’s hurdles and find purposeful redirection.

Terri-Karelle is excited to delve into a wide range of topics in the upcoming season, including resilience, self-discovery, career transitions, relationships, abuse and mental wellness among others. According to her, “I had never set out to be in the media space much less on stages and in rooms around the world with global movers and shakers. It was due to rejections that ultimately led to redirections on this path. It wasn’t something I had set out to do but seemingly something that I was divinely ordained to do,” the former TEDx speaker declared.

Through her story telling, Terri-Karelle aims to provide her captive audience with a rich tapestry of inspiring stories and practical tools to help them embrace change, overcome obstacles, and create meaningful and purpose-filled lives.

For this new season, Terri-Karelle has raised the bar and has elevated the season 2’s staging to add a visual set as well as a sign language interpreter to ensure that persons living with disabilities can always watch and learn from the different stories of rejection and redirection.

Listeners can tune in to ‘Redirection with Terri-Karelle’ on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. New episodes will be released weekly, allowing listeners to embark on a journey of personal growth and transformation at their own pace.

For more information about Dr. Terri-Karelle Reid and the ‘Redirection with Terri-Karelle’ podcast, please visit terrikarelle.com.

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This distinguished honour acknowledges Terri-Karelle’s exceptional achievements, inspiring leadership, and significant contributions to society in the field of media and communications.

MIPAD, as an organization is committed to promoting diversity and celebrating individuals of African descent globally and throughout the years have highlighted outstanding figures who have made a significant impact in their respective fields. With her remarkable accomplishments, unwavering determination, impeccable work ethic, and dedication to her community it come as no surprise that Terri-Karelle has landed this prestigious recognition.

Born with an innate passion for “connecting the dots,” Terri-Karelle has revolutionized the Media and Communications landscape through her visionary approach and innovative thinking. Her exceptional communications skills, coupled with her relentless pursuit of excellence, has propelled her to the forefront of audiences around the globe including global leaders and industry professionals. However, according to her, “media wasn’t written in the stars” for her when she thought about a career.

“All my life I wanted to be a veterinarian. However, after studying in Cuba for on a government scholarship for 7 years and then being told that I wasn’t accredited to practice in Jamaica, it was a huge rejection for me. However, I took that rejection and redirected my life on a route that many persons often encouraged me to take…in media,” she shared.

Terri-Karelle’s influential presence extends beyond her professional achievements. She has consistently used her platform to amplify marginalized voices, raise awareness on critical issues, and effect positive change in society, especially when it comes to issues about women, girls and persons living with disabilities. Her philanthropic efforts and community engagement initiatives have made a tangible difference, uplifting communities and empowering individuals.

To learn more about Terri-Karelle’s remarkable journey and her ongoing contributions, please visit www.terrikarelle.com.

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The IDB is a multilateral development bank that has been working to promote development in Latin America and the Caribbean for over 60 years. The summit, which focused on promoting outsourcing and offshoring opportunities in the region’s digital services industry, provided an excellent platform for the IDB to showcase its commitment to supporting economic growth and development in the region.

During the interview, Reid quizzed the IDB President about the bank’s priorities, strategies, and initiatives aimed at promoting economic growth and development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The President highlighted the importance of digital transformation in the region and the IDB’s commitment to supporting the growth of the digital services industry. He also spoke of the importance of data and evidence to add context and conversation to the global issues that we are facing such as food security.

“The digital services industry has the potential to drive economic growth and job creation in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said the IDB President. “We do have talented people. Here in Jamaica and the rest of the region.  But, if we don’t have enough, we are going to train them, we are going to skill them so that’s why I think this conference enters into what we truly need. Productivity, jobs, inclusion, gender, diversification of exports and integration. They are all aligned to what we need in the Caribbean and the Latin American region.”

He continued, “People are not born trained. They are born with innate potential, but we need to give them skills. So, a development bank like the IDB is to be in the business of having projects to provide skills to the ones that don’t have the training,” he shared.

Reid also touched on the topic of gender equality and women’s empowerment in the region. The President highlighted the IDB’s commitment to promoting gender equality and its efforts to support the breakdown of gender biases all around. “We need to make it very clear that the growth engine includes people.” In order for digitalization to thrive we need everybody included. If everybody isn’t included, then how can you benefit from the digital transformation?”

He continued. “At the IDB every project has to have a gender and diversity component. Are we getting more women involved in that? In the MSME’s that we promote, are those the ones that have more women leading to reduce the gender bias? In addition to connecting everybody we need to have an active policy of including more people,” GoldFajn stated.

The interview with the IDB President was well-received by attendees of the summit, who noted the bank’s commitment to supporting economic growth and development in Latin America and the Caribbean region.

“Terri-Karelle Reid did an excellent job in conducting the interview with the IDB President,” said one attendee. “It was great to hear about the bank’s commitment to supporting the digital services industry, the impact that it has made so far in the region and what the entity is doing to promote gender equality in the region.”

In his closing remarks GoldFajn praised Dr.Terri-Karelle Reid and her spirit of resilience in the wake of per past career setbacks and how she triumphed on the world stage. “Thank you for all your effort and for your resilience too. Your career, your success is a show of resilience and that is something we need in our career…resilience, resilience in our families, resilience in our countries and resilience in our region,” he ended.

The Outsource2lac Global Digital Services Summit was attended by over 650 participants from around the world, including business leaders, policymakers, and investors. The event provided an opportunity for attendees to learn about the latest trends and opportunities in the digital services industry in Latin America and the Caribbean. The full event can be viewed here.

Overall, the interview with the IDB President was a key highlight of the summit, providing attendees bother virtually and in person with valuable insights not only to what he bank has been doing in the region to date but also into the bank’s priorities, strategies, and initiatives aimed at promoting economic growth and development in the region.

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The A-Team

It is important as well for your team to be competent and experienced. As prepared as you are, you need a support system. Execution is like a chain; every link is required to keep it intact. It’s the same way that the team has that symbiotic relationship. Even if we are not employed to the same company, once we have the common aim of executing the event, we are a team. I am on the same team as the production personnel, the décor personnel, marketers and any other person who shares the goal with me at any given event. 

Real Work

Nothing you do should be treated like a side hustle. It is work and it should be treated as such. I like to characterize this concept with the 4 Ps: Be Punctual, Be Presentable, Be Professional and … like I said, Be Prepared. An honourable mention to be great at what you do is Be Passionate about it. It is serious business and it is absolutely necessary to apply yourself. In that, I suggest you find your flow. This is essentially your working identity. Build that confidence that is supremely and purely yours – created and harnessed because you took the time to understand the frequency in which you operate. When you find your flow, everything you touch will be incomparable. Only then will you be able to leave your legacy through your work. 

Don’t Assume

Never assume that your client or employer knows or immediately understands all that you’re experiencing. For this reason, it is extremely important to communicate. If you need to renegotiate the terms, make it known. The relationship cannot be mutually beneficial if each person does not understand the true status and the challenges or blockers. Nothing gets done, efficiently at least, if you ghost the client and try to navigate the challenges independently. Be honest about where you are and find a common working ground or way forward. 

Trust

Confidentiality is a fundamental principle of any successful business relationship. Clients should have that confidence in your integrity. People are often of the view that once a Non-Disclosure Agreement is not involved then it should be all ears for everyone they meet. While there may not be any legally binding agreement, lack of confidentiality can make or break the legacy of your work. Be discreet and respectful of people’s privacy – whether it be your clients or colleagues. Confidence in the legacy of your work begins with their confidence in you.

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When it comes to culture, and food, and music, and sports, Jamaicans are possibly the proudest people to exist. We constantly joke about our people in the Diaspora not being able to hide their nationality because of the pride they illustrate in the very way they dress and speak and the verbal defense they spew on behalf of their country. How far does this defense go though? In the event of actual war against our country, how many of us would stand with undaunting courage and resilience in the fight for our country? 

This is a very controversial ask, if I do say so myself. There are many ways to rationalize civilians playing their part in advancing the welfare of Jamaica through war. One could argue that the fight is for the innocent lives that dwell within Jamaica. The fight may be because you believe that this is the least you can do for your homeland – this is how you contribute to nation building. However, there are many who would scoff at the mere thought because on the flip side of things, would your country fight for you?

Jamaica, especially, has never given citizens the confidence or trust that they are valued and will be defended by their motherland. A paragon of this is the recent situation with our Jamaican students being unable to leave due to financial constraints and the government not rendering immediate and comprehensive assistance. Jamaican students, in the midst of a war onset, were offered a loan to return home. These are students who journeyed thousands of miles to an unfamiliar territory with differences in cultural processes and no family simply because they could not afford their course of study in Jamaica. I am inclined to believe that these Jamaican students would not hastily opt to fight for their country given the circumstances. Allegedly, many of them did not accept the government’s offer of loan to return home. Despite the fact that if I were in the position, I would have accepted the loan regardless of my financial circumstances, I empathize with all those students who did not.

I use this experience, however, as a learning curve. In the event of war against my country, I will be able to make informed decisions based on the vicarious lived experiences of these students. I cannot explicitly say whether or not I would armor myself and be ready to fight for my country at a moment’s call because everything is easier said than done from a hypothetical perspective. It leaves me to wonder though: would we fight for a country that would not fight for us? It is indeed a mental battle.

Check out my other blogs here and check out other comments from my instagram post.

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Endometriosis is a disease that affects at least 1 out of every 10 Jamaican women during their reproductive years. It causes debilitating pain before and during menstrual cycles, painful orgasms during sex, and severe mental anguish – yet very few of us are talking about it.

It’s a condition where tissue meant to grow only in the uterus are found elsewhere in the body, typically the pelvic cavity. In rare cases they can be found in the bladder, bowel, on the skin, lungs, spine and even the brain. This results in chronic pelvic pain, during menstruation and intercourse. In some 30-40% of cases, infertility or loss of pregnancy.

To make things even worse, endometriosis can take up to 10 years to diagnose, and is often misdiagnosed. Just imagine going through all of this and not being able to explain it or know what’s wrong with your body.

March has been designated Endometriosis Awareness Month. I hosted an Endo Talk aptly themed “Unmasking Endometriosis.” Women were invited to a safe space, to talk freely about the disease and its impact on their lives.

It was a day of heartbreaking, gut-wrenching stories that convinced me that the only way to get women the treatment and care they deserve, is to talk about it loudly.

The Untold Stories

Imagine you are a young girl in Jamaica with painful menstrual cramps. Female family members tell you that your cramps are “normal.” They convince you that all women go through it. You visit your aunt in America years later, who tells you that your period pains are everything but normal.

Picture having increasingly painful orgasms, making sex extremely difficult. Imagine telling your fiancé that you don’t want to have sex and that you may be infertile.

Consider beating the odds of infertility and you get pregnant, only to have a miscarriage three months later.

These are the stories of women with endometriosis.

The Impact of Endometriosis

The kind of pain these women go through doesn’t just go away when their periods or intercourse are over. Pelvic pain often continues even outside of activities.

It impacts their work lives, social lives and personal lives. Some women take time off from work frequently and are considered slackers by their bosses and sometimes even lose their jobs as a result. Their friends consider them party poopers who rarely go out or cut the party short whenever they do. They have difficulty finding partners who are willing to understand and accommodate their adjusted lifestyles.

To make matters worse, they struggle to find the money to afford the frequent doctor visits, medication and therapy necessary to treat this illness.

It’s physically, psychologically and financially draining.

Why the Silence about Endometriosis?

It all goes back to the story of the “strong black woman”. We’ve been taught from a very young age that pain is just something women must endure.

Society has normalised painful menstrual cramps. For the most part, ignored in professional settings. Our music tells us that sex should be painful, and if it’s not, you’re not doing it right. If any of these things make us tired or depressed, that’s just a sign of weakness. We are convinced to suck it up, deal with it, or risk being treated like pariahs.

So it’s no wonder women suffer silently with endometriosis. Many of those who have it don’t even realise it’s not normal. Others that do, are afraid to speak up.

This needs to change.

What Do We Do Now?

While there is no known cure for endometriosis, it can be managed through effective treatment. Those with the disease can improve the severity of their symptoms and have a better quality of life.

Education and awareness is key. We need more women, sensible women, at the table, bringing attention to diseases like these and making better decisions.

Our country needs to support women with endometriosis by offsetting the costs of treatment and therapy. Companies need guidance on how to effectively manage employees with the disease. The general population, as well as doctors, need to be educated on identifying symptoms and promoting early diagnosis.

If you think you may have, or know someone who has, endometriosis, see a gynae to start the process of identification and treatment. It may also be helpful to have a conversation with a trusted HR representative at your company to facilitate a more flexible work schedule.

Endometriosis may be a silent struggle, but with a few important changes, women can start to live full, healthy lives. Let’s not stop talking about it until they do.

For more information on endometriosis in Jamaica visit https://basejamaica.com/

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