Chante-lee Barrett lives her dream
C&E: When something as simple as accessing devices and steady Internet is a challenge for many Jamaican households, how do you see the country bridging that digital gap?
NMB: Like any other challenge, you solve it through determination, resolve, perseverance and creativity. I firmly believe in the saying “where there is a will there is a way.” Limited resources are not a constraint if your mindset is sufficiently expansive about possibilities and if your determination is fixed. Limited resources, knowledge or snow didn’t stop Jamaica from having a bobsled team. Limited resources didn’t stop Estonia from becoming a tech powerhouse. I am not naive about the magnitude of the challenge, but challenges of this size are masking opportunities of equivalent or greater value and this is why I am excited about the work happening across Jamaica in the public and private sector to expand Internet access to all Jamaican households.
C&E: The term “digital transformation” by itself is anxiety-inducing for many people, and new technologies and business models are upending entire sectors. While we all understand the need to go digital, what would you say to those who are struggling with how to do it?
NMB: I would send them a
Whatsapp message and say “Congratulations! If you are reading this Whatsapp, you have already gone digital.” The beauty of the digital age is that you don’t need a lot of infrastructure or expensive enterprise applications to get started. There is a lot you can do with Google Workspace, Whatsapp, and social media to start your journey. If you’re thinking of selling online locally or globally, NCB’S e-commerce solutions integrate with
Whatsapp. You don’t necessarily even need a website. Doing one thing is better than doing nothing or starting many things and not doing any of them well. Follow your customers and start by making one thing digital and build from there.
C&E: How can we convince administrators/those in charge that more needs to be invested in digital learning?
NMB: I believe that a sufficient number of key stakeholders, including the Government of Jamaica, are convinced and we need to continue the work that has started.