75.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsLocal newsSt. Croix Rotary Club and UVI Hold 13th Annual Entrepreneurship Seminar

St. Croix Rotary Club and UVI Hold 13th Annual Entrepreneurship Seminar

Participants in the 13th annual Entrepreneurship Seminar (Zoom screenshot)

The Rotary Club of St. Croix Mid-Isle, along with its partner the University of the Virgin Islands School of Business, held its 13th annual Entrepreneurship Seminar on Tuesday. The seminar introduces junior high and high school students to young entrepreneurs, and this year 50 participants were present virtually via Zoom.

“Eight to 10 years ago we began partnering with the University of the Virgin Islands School of Business for this program,” said Stanford Joines, the club’s Vocational Service chair.

The Rotary Club is a global network of business, professional and community leaders. Through volunteer service, they build friendships and enlarge their circle of business and professional acquaintances.

Speaker Ibraheem Alinur, CEO and co-founder of City Health Tech, a company that focuses on preventing the spread of global disease with the invention of a wireless-connected handwashing device, highlighted the importance of networking. The company has been featured in Forbes, on national television and other news outlets. “We knew that nobody else was going to build our network for us; we didn’t have people to make the introductions for us,” said Alinur.

CTO and co-founder of City Health Tech Irewole Akande also touched on how the founders were able to network using LinkedIn. “Right now, I have a reach of 30,000 people. We have been able to create a community of people that want to support us,” Akande said.

For over nine years, the business owners were able to create a network of people who have seen their business evolve. “They have known us as young kids starting out in college, and over time we have been able to share our successes,” Akande said.

Other keynote speakers at the seminar included Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., who also spoke about his journey as an entrepreneur. Bryan described a time after he left his position as the commissioner of the Department of Labor. “A good friend of mine dared me to take this challenge. He said that he forbid me to work for anybody for six months and if I did not like it, then I can go back to working for people,” Bryan said. He accepted the dare and described how he launched his business and the challenges and perks that came with being an entrepreneur. “You have to have that bravery to take that chance,” he said.

“The ability to work for yourself is the ability to dictate what your value is, and that is every single day.”

Bryan also touched on the amount of opportunity that exists within the territory. “There are so many gaps that are not being filled. Our population is about to explode because workers are about to come here. There is so much opportunity in terms of what is needed and required right now,” Bryan said.

“You have an incredible opportunity as a Virgin Islander, not only to work, but to own businesses and employ Virgin Islanders and contribute to our community.”

Lisle Brathwaite, owner and lead technician of COMPNET Services, encouraged the young group of entrepreneurs to find something they love to do and make money off it. “Do what you love because then it is not really work,” he said. “I am here in my office and I don’t think I am working.”

Owner and operator of Sweeny’s Tours, Andre Toussaint, agreed with Brathwaite. “Entrepreneurship is about freedom of self,” he said.

UVI’s School of Business Dean Kendra Harris encouraged students to keep focus. “You may engage in subjects in school that do not feed your interest, but they build your intellect and building intellect is what lays the foundation.” Other speakers from the School of Business included Tim Faley and Eric Sonnier.

Representatives of UVI also gave a presentation on the process of enrollment to UVI, applying for financial aid, the process of applying to live on campus, and taking part in student activities.

Closing remarks were then provided by Joines and Harris.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.