Unearthing Entrepreneurial Talent

Our second BEF participant featured today is Ricjuan Blackman-Jessamy. He is a Give Back Volunteer at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and business owner of Ricochet Designs.

Ricjuan was first introduced to the BEF through another education and talent pillar initiative called C2B – Classroom to Boardroom Challenge. C2B,  facilitated by Derek Browne of Entrepreneurs in Action, was a group initiative challenging students to solve a business problem and present their solutions to a panel at the end of the five-day program.

Ricjuan hails the experience as an eye-opener: “The challenge was to find a solution for FinTech in Barbados. We had five days to accomplish the task. Meeting the deadline, being part of a team, creating a presentation and doing necessary research was stressful, but it hardens you into a diamond.”

He readily grasped the opportunity to volunteer in July 2022 to satisfy his annual requirement of volunteer hours. As a member of the Graphic Design team, Ricjuan created the logo for the Community Challenge. As the digital artist behind the $20 Challenge marketing materials, he simply loves the engagement.

“I think what Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation does for the community is absolutely fantastic. It nurtures young entrepreneurs by making them aware of the intricacies of business, whilst giving them the encouragement needed by teaching practical business skills. It is a fantastic organisation to be a part of if you want to become an entrepreneur.

“If you are not sure where to go, the BEF is the place for you,” he recommended.