“You cannot be everything to everyone,” motivational speaker Dr Terri-Karelle Reid advised the audience at the Personal Branding session during Career Week, April 15 - 20, 2023, at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in Mandeville. The week was observed under the theme Gifted for a Purpose.
Dr Reid, who is the author of the book My Brand Compass, pointed to the value of identifying and developing one’s niche. She advised that one’s objective should not be to satisfy everyone but to offer the best of one’s strengths and niche.
“One thing my God has shown me is that when you stick to your niche, and you stick to your value, and you stick to your principles, and you stick to your platform, you don’t lose you any piece of the pie,” she affirmed. “Anything you choose to do will affect your brand,” she added.
Dr Reid, a former Jamaican beauty queen and the current host of Digicel Rising Star competition, also pointed out the importance of a good reputation and having good associates over the priority of high earnings, even at the expense of values and character. She explained the concept and attitudes of Personal Branding in a motivational and practical way. Patrons had the pleasure of purchasing copies of Dr Reid’s book which she gladly autographed.
The week incorporated a church service, mock interviews, a job fair, career advice and financial advice from a number of career experts, prospective employers and motivational speakers.
The Personal Branding event also had a panel of speakers who reinforced much of what Dr Reid said. The panellists were Simone Spence-Johnson, President of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce; Brian Cuff, Lecturer in the NCU Department of Communication Studies; and Chevaughn Walker, Image Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of By Their Suits. Students from Central High School and Church Teachers’ College were among the audience at the event held on the main campus of NCU in Mandeville.
Career Week was launched on Sabbath, April 15, 2023 with a service at the NCU Church Complex. Guest speaker was Pastor Jermaine Johnson of the Moneague District of Churches in St. Ann. Speaking under the theme Gifted for a Purpose, Pastor Johnson cautioned that people were not to mistake human-appointed positions and self-determined careers for God’s anointed purpose. He also affirmed those who found themselves at NCU that they were there to prepare for the execution of God’s purpose in their lives.
Financial Literacy Day was on April 17, 2023. In an online programme hosted by the United Student Movement’s Vice-President for Finance, Ashley Onfroy, financial experts spoke on debt management, budgeting, savings, investments, personal finance, insurance, work and travel financing and retirement planning. Presenters were Michael Gottshack, Marketing Manager at the Manchester Co-operative Credit Union; Abigale Scott, Sales Associate at CUNA Caribbean Insurance Jamaica Limited; Davene Ricketts, Branch Sales Representative at First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union; and Mark Johnson, Relationship Executive for Small Businesses at the Development Bank of Jamaica. A lucky listener to NCU FM also won a 30-minute consultation with the Faith-Based Money Coach – Charlene Tilbane.
Resume and Mock Interview Day was held April 19, 2023 and the Job Fair and Beacon Corporate Lyme followed on April 20, 2023. There were a few virtual job preparation and interview sessions. At the physical job fair, 14 organisations were represented. After the job fair, current students and alumni had networking opportunities.
If you missed some of the online events, please visit these links:
Gifted for Purpose || Pastor Jermaine Johnson | NCU CHURCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAVG5Mzm084
CAREER WEEK 2023 | Financial Literacy Day | Northern Caribbean University
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIhrZq2kj-4&t=246s
CAREER WEEK 2023 | Personal Branding Day | Northern Caribbean University
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyPUeOeF720&t=85s