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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“My excellence is unconditional. My excellence isn’t an option or choice, it’s my DNA. My excellence isn’t a goal or destination, it’s a habitual lifestyle.”- Terri-Karelle

If you ask different people what excellence looks and feels like, they might all give you a different definition. I prefer not to talk about it, I tend to show it …consistently. You really can’t be excellent as a one-off, to be excellent, you have to be aware, thoughtful, sensitive, competent…consistently.

My dream was never to become an event host and when I really think about it, I didn’t know it was an actual profession until I literally stumbled into it. With no formal training or qualifications in media, public speaking etc. it’s natural to question your place in unfamiliar territories and spaces; and yet, here I am, 500 + events later. I have managed to carve out my own space, find the perfect niche for me and I have challenged and applied myself to every aspect and area of the job. My goal isn’t to look at anyone else or compare myself to anyone else in the profession. Why? Because I am ME and there are things about my personality and attitude combined with my work ethics and self-accountability that make me different. It’s this combo that has afforded me the privilege of being booked locally and internationally and presenting in spaces that I might only have read about.

I was scheduled to host the 2020 INMA Global Media Awards, a prestigious event that highlights the amazing work of the best news media brands in the world and awards the “best of the best” in respective categories. It’s a black-tie event that attracts 500+ attendees from over 44 countries. The calendar was chock full of exclusive receptions at Paris’ most iconic buildings and to say, I was excited, would have been the understatement of the century. I started brushing up on my french and gearing up for the most epic 90th-anniversary celebration on that side of the world. Unfortunately, coronavirus had other plans and instead of presenting from the Opera Ballroom of the InterContinental Paris, I ended up hosting remotely from my living room in Kingston, Jamaica.

On May 27, 2020, I recorded the ceremony in front of my computer accompanied by my Samsung 10 in a ring light, dressed in my locally made Uzuri International gown with matching mask. I approached this event, albeit online, the way I would have in person. I showed up!!

It wasn’t before long that the photos spread like wildfire:

On Instagram: Reach-314,382; Likes- 47,899; Comments- 1195; Shares-573; Saves- 415; Reposts-9

On Twitter: Favourites- 3,955; Retweets-320; Comments- 125

On LinkedIn: Reactions-6,477; Comments- 390; Shares- 58

These metrics, I believe, are what most people would consider successful by social media standards. Viewers admire the look and they congratulate me on SHOWING UP and being on-brand regardless of the new “work from home” regime. I am grateful for each and every kind word and compliment, but showing up runs so much deeper. Often times we want the glory, fame, viral photos and perks. We look at successful people and we say “that’s cool, I want to be like…I want to look like… I want a job like that…I want to dress like….” But there is a side that no one sees, it has less glamour, fewer eyeballs, and certainly no fan-fare. The real question is are you willing to put in the work required to create and maintain enviable success? Most will say yes until they get a glimpse behind the scenes. This is my toughest job mentally and I will try to give you an idea why:

Excellence Always Shows Up!

I always observe protocol. I always observe dress code and if a client books me without giving me one, I will research past events or google images to familiarise myself with the dress code if it’s an event that has taken place before. If it is a new event, I will use my discretion based on time of day, location, occasion, and audience. With the INMA Global Media Awards being done remotely, with no Opera ballroom, beautiful decor, elegantly dressed attendees, 5-course meal, or presentation of awards in-person, it begs the question “Do I still have to dress up?” Absolutely! Excellence doesn’t show up every now and then. Excellence is the default and doesn’t change regardless of where I am or not. How attendees choose to show up, remotely or in-person has nothing to do with me. I show up and show out because I take my craft, brand and talent seriously.

Excellence Requires Preparation

Always expect the unexpected. After our zoom conference calls and numerous emails, we decided on the perfect place in the living room but I asked one simple question “Am I delivering sitting or standing?” We hadn’t thought about it and the overseas team was unaware of how it would look on camera. So what did I do? I prepared. I rented a bistro table and stool from ‘New Levels Decor’. There was a possibility, I wouldn’t even use them, but who wants to take that risk? It’s better to be overprepared than. underprepared. Yes, I have furniture in my house, so why be that extra? Because I want uniformity and if I have to use them, I want the look to be that of a gala event and not a family discussion around a dining table. What you settle for, is an extension of your brand and reflects how you show up!

Learn, Unlearn, Relearn

The production team shipped a video kit with all the necessary items I would need to integrate with their system. As Murphy would have it, the items reached the island and were held by customs. Grateful to Phase 3 Productions for providing the items the day before the event. They were contacted by the team abroad. It obviously pays to have a great website that clearly defines what you do. I had to then learn how to test the specs of my laptop, do a wifi strength test report, connect the audio interface, set up ring light, arrange the apple box to get the right line of sight, and test audio feed. It doesn’t matter how important you may think you are, it’s important to learn to do things for yourself. Knowledge is infinite and that which is learnt is never wasted. I walked away from this job much more educated.

Respect Your Team

You could be the most phenomenally talented person in the room, but you better recognise that you are a piece of a bigger system. Your excellence isn’t just limited to who you are and how well you perform, but how you treat your team. Hard jobs feel easier when you are a joy to work with. “Joy” doesn’t mean a pushover, it means that you bring an energy that the team welcomes and loves. You are respectful, offer input, and try to play a part in creating a great work atmosphere for yourself and those who come into contact with you. This took place at minutes to midnight – hours before the event.

Excellence is Resourceful

Things won’t always go according to plan no matter how much you plan or how many times you practice. The idea is to be able to think quickly and come up with solutions on the spot. The retractable banner that was shipped for branding purposes was also held by customs. I waited until 6:00 p.m. hoping for a miracle, but alas, it wasn’t happening. I was just hours away from the event and was fresh out of options. Or was I? I borrowed a family friend’s backdrop stand and then used a white curtain from the living room. Subsequently, I used clothespins to stabilize the curtain. How’s this for behind the scenes? Don’t panic, think! Don’t panic, adjust and adapt.

Excellence is Unconditional

I was able to nail the perfect look for the event but what most wouldn’t know is that I even curate the space that you don’t see on camera. “What are you talking about Terri-Karelle?” The applebox that is a wooden box used to add height was exactly that….brown and wooden. It was used to raise my laptop to eye level. However, I had it wrapped in white, which gave a clean look that complemented the white bistro and stool (even if the attendees weren’t seeing it). Be excellent in not just what you do, and how you dress but everything else that is an offshoot. Your brand and everything that it is associated with is an extension of your image.

Practice, Practice then Practice Some More

This is the pièce de resistance. The comments I get after hosting an event are “You make it look so easy. How do you manage to pack all of that information? How do you manage to grasp and breakdown all of this for such different audiences?” Admittedly, it does get easier over a period of time and yes I can do most events without any speaking notes or briefings, however, I take extreme pride in research, understanding the client’s objectives, knowing the audience, connecting dots and surpassing expectations. INMA is the Oscars of international news media. This year, there were 173 finalists from a list of 844 entries. These finalists represent the best media brands from all over the world who enter their journalistic pieces across 16 categories. 173 finalists from 44 countries mean that I will have to deliver the names of the company brands, as well as their respective pieces in various languages-Hindi, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Thai, Chinese etc. As an English speaker, I could very well get away with mispronunciations, but that wouldn’t be MY brand excellence.

To deliver 173 entries, I broke down my preparation:

Prep #1 Ask For Help

Persons who consider themselves the best in the business can often drink their own Kool-Aid and stop asking for help out of sheer pride. To continue being the best at what you do, you have to put ego aside and get the expertise that will help take you to a higher place to meet your personal goals. I had a zoom meeting with Raquel Meikle who is an INMA committee member who is a Spanish native, living in Germany. She was the best person to a dry run with. Viewers see a polished delivery but my first run through is…well…watch the video and try not to laugh.

Prep #2 Research

After making notes of all the “tricky” names. I head to google and youtube to do my independent research. I want to understand their place of origin, as well as the pronunciations of said brands. I even take it a step further and research each entry to understand the project/ subject material. A primary example was 24.com in the ‘Best Use Of Video’ category that entered “#IamNene: How Uyinene Mrwetyana’s Murder Ignited a Movement.” I not only learnt the correct pronunciation of the subject’s name but also the story that made this young South African teen a beacon of change against gender-based violence. I commit to doing more than just delivering words.

Now you might ask, “Terri-Karelle, do you do this just for the tricky names?” My answer is …

Prep #3

At midnight I am finalizing between the two scripts (the penultimate and final). It’s what I call dotting my I’s and crossing my T’s. I will be using my laptop as a prompter therefore legible writing vs scribbles will be of paramount importance. I also like to catch anything I might have missed as an oversight.

Prep #4

Now after 2:00 a.m., my energy is running low and my brain is jam-packed. I have sent my reluctant daughter to bed and I insist on doing one final check with and without my mask to ensure that the framing is good and that my audio isn’t compromised. It seems like something simple but with the event approaching 7 hours later, these are things I would rather fix ahead of time rather than minutes before broadcast.

Lights, Camera…Action!

Would everyone challenge themselves as much as I do for each job? Possibly but not probably and that is my unique proposition. You have to redefine the job description, you must add value in a way that differentiates you from others. I will research 173 finalists, what will you do to rise above the noise and competition? It doesn’t have to be far-reaching or overthought. You just need to figure out how to deliver your brand excellence in a way that makes you indispensable to your clients. Most importantly, you will realise that when you adopt excellence as a lifestyle, it won’t be restricted to just how you perform your job.

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“Everything you go through will not be wasted. It will all profit your soul.”– Myrtis Boothe

Myrtis Boothe, have you ever heard the name? If you’ve ever thought about starting a business or jumping into a new career but decided against it simply because you’re too old to do it – this is the story that will make you rethink it all!

I recently had the pleasure of hosting the inaugural MPowered Continuing Education Seminar for pharmacists, hosted by Medical Disposables and Supplies Limited (MDS), a 20-year-old company that distributes healthcare and consumer products to medical facilities and pharmacies across the country.

The event went beautifully – an ideal balance of informative sessions and a bit of entertainment in between. Attendees walked away with a wealth of knowledge which will no doubt help them advance in their medical careers. However, even more impactful than the information imparted at the seminar, was the amazing story of the woman who founded MDS and made this entire event possible, Mrs. Myrtis Boothe.

Myrtis Boothe had a difficult upbringing. After losing her father at age 5, she had to help her mother – a fish vendor – take care of her younger brother. Because of this, she didn’t go to school until 8 years old. Despite the difficult start, she eventually became a nurse and later transitioned into a Medical Representative. For 11 years, she worked her way up in one of the most prominent medical distribution companies in the country, before severing ties with her employer at 52-years-old.

Now, at 52-years-old, almost anyone in her position would be considering slowing down or retiring from work entirely. But not Myrtis Boothe. She was just getting started!

With all the knowledge she had gained in her previous roles in the field, and little else in terms of resources, she decided to start her own medical supplies distribution company. Using her car trunk as her office, she begged for rubber bands, paper and pens in order to have office stationary. There was no obstacle too big for her to overcome, because she saw her dream clearly and was willing to do whatever it took to achieve it.

20 years later, MDS now operates from a state-of-the-art building in Kingston and is listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. This seminar, which was offered free to pharmacists, is her way of expressing her gratitude to the medical community and helping others to feel MPowered to take the next leap in their own journeys.

Board house to boardroom, may Myrtis Boothe’s story inspire us all to keep pushing boundaries and never give up on our dreams, no matter how old we are or how impossible they may seem.

Here are some photo highlights from the event.

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That is why I was excited to hear about the 1st 1000 Days smartphone app, developed by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) in partnership with UNICEF, and graciously accepted the invitation to host its launch.

The 1st 1000 Days app is geared at helping parents and caregivers track their child’s development from pregnancy to 2 years old, and keep informed about the nature of the development that is taking place. The first 1,000 days are regarded as the most sensitive period in a child’s life, as it is marked by rapid brain development and accompanying vulnerability to deficiency in care. There are plans to expand the app’s scope to the first 3000 days, up to when the child is 8 years old.

There are so many things to love about this app. Not only does it leverage modern-day technology to deliver support in an innovative way – which allows for a wider reach, minimized cost and the opportunity for personalization – but much of the content also comes from local professionals who understand the lifestyle and challenges of a Jamaican parent, unlike books and online resources often geared at a US market.

What makes it even better is that the app was developed in Jamaica by Jamaicans! It makes me so proud to know that we have the talent and capabilities to built this technology and we are utilizing the skills within our country towards our nation’s growth.

I met some kids at the launch who really warmed my heart. They performed a piece for us as part of the event, and took the kitchen after to prepare us all a lovely meal. Talk about hardworking! Take a look at the photos below and you’ll see what I mean.

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The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), in keeping with the Ministry of Education’s thrust to provide quality education for all children, has been committed to ensuring that children in state care reach their highest potential through access to education. To facilitate this, they spend in excess of 40 million dollars annually to cover tuition and examination fees for wards enrolled in primary and tertiary institutions.

If I said “ward of the state”, what comes to mind? Sadly, most persons have unconscious biases. Most will visualize teenage pregnancy, behavioural issues or expect nothing great to come from children who are in state care. I am here to paint a different picture.

Despite unspeakable trauma ranging from domestic and sexual abuse, to gross negligence and abandonment or the death of parents resulting in orphans amongst other cases, our wards of the state islandwide continuously kick ass at the CSEC and CAPE examinations, and for the past seven (7) years, the CPFSA has been staging its annual Educational Achievement Awards Ceremony to recognize the outstanding academic achievements of these youngsters in state care.

78 children who sat secondary exams in 2019 (CSEC, CAPE and other vocational exams) were recognized at the event, receiving awards and gifts for their achievements courtesy of corporate and individual sponsors.

The success of these students as they face adverse conditions should serve as a reminder to us all that we are not our circumstances, and our circumstances do not define our worth. I was honoured to be in the same room as them and inspired by their positive outlook on not just their individual futures but life on a whole.

To the house moms, foster moms and other guardians who help to restore the self -esteem of wards of State and who give encourage them to not become mere statistics, I salute you. o

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STYLE JAMAICA, an event powered by the Tourism Linkages Network (TLN) and the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), was conceptualized to bridge the gap between visitors to our country and the creative industry, allowing the latter to showcase their talent and products, and visitors the opportunity to shop and bring a piece of Jamaica home.

We came together in Island Village, Ocho Rios, where locals and tourists (including passengers from several cruises docked that day), had a full day of immersion into Jamaica’s culture, including fashion, art, cuisine, music and dance. Entrepreneurs, designers and creatives displayed clothes, bags, jewelry, hats, chocolate, coffee …all handcrafted with amazing skill and love! I encourage you to check out the catalog featuring the brands that were on display and support them. Buy Jamaica, build Jamaica!

Along with the shopping showcase displaying products and brands made in Jamaica, by Jamaicans, there was also a full programme of activities including musical performances, dancing and of course, a runway fashion show.

Here’s a look at some of the photos from the day.

Photo credit: Tourism Enhancement Fund on Instagram

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For 90 years, Jamaica Producers Group (JP) has been synonymous with quality and excellence, expanding to territories outside of Jamaica. It has created jobs and opportunities for many and they also launched a feeding programme in schools last year (which I hosted).

To celebrate this amazing homegrown brand that continues to reinvent itself and help build Jamaica AND to observe the dress code that was FARM CHIC, I opted for a locally made dress (the colour of JP’s logo and ) and boots!

Due to the torrential downpour that day, the planning team had to scramble last minute to rearrange everything to ensure that all the equipment stayed and guests were as comfortable as possible. Luckily, they had a great team that got everything done just in time. Problem solving, critical thinking, agility, creativity, adaptability and team work MUST NEVER be underestimated when it comes to execution.

Despite the terrible rain, I committed to bringing the sunshine. The party went on and we had a great time. Besides, we were on a farm and rain is always welcomed there.

Here are a few photos from the event.

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One such opportunity on LinkedIn came recently when Judy McCutcheon, the Managing Partner of management consulting and training company, Go Blue Inc, invited me to host her upcoming event, the inaugural staging of the Go Blue Leadership Conference…in Grenada!

Here’s the kicker. Judy and I had never met! We had interacted briefly on LinkedIn, where she saw the posts I made about my life and work. She reached out because of how I showed up everyday. She reached out because of how I value my clients and because of how I go out of my way to ensure the success of a client’s event. That was enough to convince her that I was the right person for the role.

I was only happy to accept the invitation, as it was not only an opportunity to meet and work with some of the best minds in leadership in the Caribbean, but to explore the beautiful “Spice Island” of Grenada.

It was such a wonderful experience to host this event. The audience was filled with CEOs, directors, management teams, entrepreneurs and executives – all eager to soak up all the knowledge that the speakers shared on disruptive leadership.

It was also a true pleasure to work with Judy throughout the planning and staging of the event. It was such an awe-inspiring moment to see your dream fully manifested. I was honoured to play a small role.

Before leaving, I also got the chance to explore the entire island of Grenada all in one fun-filled day, and I have nothing but good things to say about the experience. The warmth and hospitality of the people, the beauty of the island, the orderliness and civility exhibited towards locals and visitors alike, it was truly something to behold. I thought of Jamaica’s vision 2030 and said Grenada is a country that I would actually choose to live, work, raise family and do business NOW.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights from the welcome reception and conference.

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When I show up to host an event, what I’m wearing is often just as important as what I say. Attendees at the event will be looking at me multiple times as I guide them through the programme, so it is imperative that I look appropriate and presentable.

If you pay attention to the looks I’ve worn to events this year, you know that I don’t just stop at presentable. I go out of my way to ensure that what I’m wearing is not just representative of the brand colours, but their values as well – like when I blended in with the bananas for JP Foods 90th Anniversary, or channeled the Jamaican Doctor Bird while hosting the IAGR Gala Dinner, which was being held in the Caribbean for the first time in 9 years.

Yet, even with the usual flair and extravagance, I still didn’t think it was enough to match the JSE’s brilliance. Since one Uzuri International dress wasn’t going to cut it, I wore two!

After showing up to the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s Best Practices Awards and hosting the first part of the night in one dress, I went backstage during dinner and changed into another! If there was a Best Practices Award that night for rapid transformation, I think I would have copped it.

The companies that did win awards that night, however, were truly deserving. Both Sagicor Investments Jamaica Limited & NCB Capital Markets Limited tied for the big prize of the night – the Chairman’s Award for the Top Member Dealer (broker). Meanwhile, the Governor General’s Award for Excellence, presented to the top listed companies, was awarded to Lasco Manufacturing Jamaica Limited, listed on the Junior Market, and GraceKennedy Limited & NCB Financial Group Limited, listed on JSE’s Main Market.

Needless to say, our market players are poised for even more greatness, so I’m looking forward to more economic growth in 2020 – and when they do, I’ll just have to come up with a way to top this year’s performance myself!

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Once again, I was invited to host their annual NCB Pinnacle Awards, this one under the theme, “Celebrating Excellence, 2019 and Beyond”. This was the perfect theme for the event, considering their recently reported profits of $30.7 billion.

The Pinnacle Awards is NCB’s way of showing appreciation to their staff, and awarding the top performers of the past financial year. The NCB family represented well in the brand colours and altogether made this one epic night.

My personal winner of the night was Uzuri International. They may not have gotten an award (or even be eligible for one haha), but after meeting my challenge of creating a dress that would blow away last year’s stunner, they won in my book! After posting just one photo on Instagram, folks were in my comments and DMs requesting to see it from all angles. Can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

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