Creating Innovative Thinkers in Business Launched

Pinelands Creative Workshop continued their Multi-Dimensional Approach to Resilience and Adaptability (M.A.R.A) Project with the launch of Creating Innovative Thinkers in Business which was held in conjunction with The Small Business Association of Barbados.

The Maria Holder Memorial Trust-funded program which trained approximately 35 young persons focused on creativity, adaptability, innovation, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit was conducted by the former Chief Executive Officer of Pinelands Creative Workshop Rodney Grant.

At the opening ceremony which was held on Monday, September 12th, 2022 at the Centre of Hybrid Studies, Spirit Bond, Wharf Road, St Michael Chief Executive Officer of Pinelands Creative Workshop Sophia Greaves-Broome explained to the participants some of whom are business owners to understand the various threats that could affect their business and be able to pivot and adapt to meet the changing demand.

“Over the next four days, we intend to take those joining us, through a re-thinking experience. We have entrepreneurs representing various areas such as; clothing, aesthetics, renewable energy, cosmetology, jewellry, cosmetics, body care products, fish farming, swimwear, fabric design and more. Understanding the current economic frailty as well as the varied social challenges and threats on the horizon, we need every business to be a success and can contribute to economic growth. For that to happen requires a change in how businesses function by having alternative thinking. Therefore, the examination of new models, systems and approaches has to be prioritized especially when we plan to engage and challenge young minds. We can no longer just say, the youth is the hope of tomorrow, but we have to include and engage those who have the expertise, willingness and passion- those bright minds that are under-utilized and slipping right through our fingers into innovation planning and development teams, to help us fix those issues to secure a livable future,” she said.

Chief Executive Officer of Pinelands Creative Workshop delivered her brief remarks at the opening ceremony of Creating Innovative Thinkers in Business.

Greaves-Broome went on to say Pinelands Creative Workshop is happy to offer The Creating Innovative Thinkers in Business as a starting point to building out a well-orchestrated systems that fuel the generation and transmission of innovative ideas that could lead to the creation of a National Innovation System that allows for the tapping into the minds and raw talent. This initiative provides the foundation for the acquisition, absorption, and dissemination through information sharing, leading to cumulative knowledge and collective learning which inherently allows for opportunities and new ideas to be exchanged and business transformation to occur.

Her sentiments were echoed by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Business, The Hon. Sandra Husbands said that Government is seeking to ensure that there are relevant measures in place to assist persons in doing business.

Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Association Dr.Lynette Holder and Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Business, The Hon. Sandra Husbands pose for a photo opportunity.

“One of the bugbears for small business people are the number of hoops they have to jump through just to get anything done, they do not have the time, they do not have the resources and so many small business persons have been discouraged from continuing the journey in entrepreneurship because the landscape has become too complicated. We want to curb this thus we have pursued a course of digitization to take the ordinary things that you have to do when you have to interact with government agencies, to try to take the time, difficulty, complexity and confusion out of it to create a simple easy process for you to engage,” she told the participants present in the opening ceremony.

Moreover, she encouraged them not to give up on their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur.

“Many other young people are hiding in the shadows with ideas who do not know where to turn with that idea, some of whom are afraid that someone would steal their idea from them, that they would get laughed at, or afraid that they would fail before they make it to market. We [Government] want to change that and I look forward to further partnership with both the Small Business Association of Barbados, Pinelands Creative Workshop and some other players who have labored for years to bring relief to small business people in our community to allow them to participate in our economy and to have the hope of benefiting just as well as other as benefited,” Husbands said.

Also sharing similar sentiments was the Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Association of Barbados Dr. Lynette Holder who told the participants that they have a critical role to play in the economic development of Barbados.

“It is because we must appreciate that our communities and our country by extension need us to be innovative, need us to take those skills, ideas and talents and turn them into income generating profits not only for communities. This whole project and the objective of it is to be able to help us all who have those dreams and aspirations to be able to turn them into successful business projects that we can realize our dreams,” she said.

Eighteen-year-old Danae Greaves delivered welcome remarks at the launch of Creating Innovative Thinkers in Business which was held at the Centre of Hybrid Studies, Spirt Bond, Wharf Road, St Michael on September 12th, 2022.

Eighteen-year-old Danae Greaves who is the owner of Teen Joy and Coordinator of New Minds New Business encouraged the students to take full advantage of the training opportunity that was being provided as it would open their minds to innovative ways of developing their businesses. (Write Right PR Services)