Natalie Abrahams, the CEO of Digicel, where she discusses her leadership philosophy and the dynamic nature of her role, highlighting the importance of authenticity, resilience, and prioritizing well-being. She also shares personal insights on work-life balance, embracing opportunities, and her passion for music, revealing a vibrant personality beyond her corporate image. The conversation further explores her views on customer experience, innovation, and the impact of technology like AI in the workplace, emphasizing the human element in all aspects of business and leadership.

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This season is made possible in part by the Cultural Industries Development Fund of the National Cultural Foundation of Barbados

Gratitude 🙏🏽

Shanice Taylor, a Barbadian entrepreneur and designer, who shares her personal journey of overcoming adversity. She recounts her challenging upbringing, including time in foster care and poverty, and how these experiences shaped her resilience and determination. Taylor discusses her career as a crochet and apparel designer and makeup artist, highlighting a significant moment when Rihanna wore one of her designs. The interview emphasizes her message to young people about self-sufficiency and perseverance, advocating for hard work over crime and encouraging them to embrace their struggles as motivators.Sign up for our newsletter: https://bio.fewwture.com/ - scroll to Join The TribeFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gemsfromfriends/ #GemsFromFriendsThis season is made possible in part by the Cultural Industries Development Fund of the National Cultural Foundation of BarbadosGratitude 🙏🏽

The "Season 4 Gem Drops Compilation" from the "Gems From Friends" showcasing a unique concept where each guest offers a piece of wisdom or advice, a "gem," for the next, unknown guest**. Throughout the compilation, various individuals share personal insights and experiences, ranging from trusting the process and believing in oneself to honoring those who have provided support and embracing mistakes as opportunities for growth. The discussions emphasize the importance of community, communication, and self-awareness, with guests also sharing perspectives on managing time, taking personal ownership, and the value of collecting and storing information. Ultimately, the video presents a collection of inspirational messages designed to encourage and uplift listeners.Trusting the process and believing in oneself [01:35].Listening to your inner voice and embracing your greatness [02:50].The idea that everything you need is within you and the power of helping others [05:09].The importance of patience, understanding, and contentment [08:35].Honoring those who helped you along your journey [12:26].Embracing and learning from mistakes, and the importance of consistency [14:54].Balancing your 24 hours effectively [19:15].Taking ownership of your life and working hard to achieve your goals [20:57].An encouraging message that all your efforts are not in vain [25:06].The advice to collect data and store information in your mind, as it can be valuable later [26:58].Here is a list of the full episodes: 1: https://youtu.be/QPxvNl1ZMqI2: https://youtu.be/uSJeSxiP-FU3: https://youtu.be/WheYV_pFqNQ4: https://youtu.be/ojtJc7Jn_qU5: https://youtu.be/wAWIQ0z96-s6: https://youtu.be/uxYMfMZf-q47: https://youtu.be/c8OT3imyoXw8: https://youtu.be/e_sMj_q2gY89: https://youtu.be/HMpClxX8Lgo10 : https://youtu.be/Cq8g7kbEMLkChapters 00:00 – Intro00:38 – Ep 1 | HAYLEE02:12 – Ep 2 | SHANTEL03:35 – Ep 3 | SIMONE07:41 – Ep 4 | ELISE11:07 – Ep 5 | JAICKO14:40 – Ep 6 | SCRATCH MASTER16:21 – Ep 7 | BUGGIE20:10 – Ep 8 | Gov. DANNY22:47 – Ep 9 | AKHNEIL26:13 – Ep 10 | JUS JAY28:19 – Conclusion 🎬

Kaddesh shares his personal journey, business ventures, and reflections on life. He discusses the challenges of parenting, the importance of respect over love, and the struggles men face in expressing emotions. The conversation also touches upon societal perceptions, racial classism in Barbados, and the impact of his upbringing on his identity and choices, highlighting his dedication to personal growth and generational well-being.

Chapters:

00:00 - Teaser

01:53 - Intro

02:20 - Welcome

15:16 - Growing Up in a Black Household

25:57 - Cultural Effects

48:02 - Staying True

1:27:57 - Gem Pull

1:30:47 - Final Piece of Advice

Nikita | Taking Back My Power | S5E6

Nikita, a Barbadian singer and radio host, where she reflects on her musical journey and personal growth. She discusses her upbringing in a musical family and the pressures of the industry, including experiences with rejection based on appearance. Nikita shares her decision to step away from radio and emphasizing the importance of self-care and overcoming internal struggles. The interview also touches on her advocacy for female empowerment in the music industry, highlighting the Fem initiative she leads to support other women artists.

Chapters:

00:00 - Teaser

02:56 - Intro

03:23 - Welcome

04:13 - How We Met

07:02 - Singing from the Soul

07:35 - Musical Family

11:30 - How Are U?

12:57 - Running

14:07 - Nikita Sings

16:31 - Mixture of Sounds

19:23 - Music Is Not Enough

24:13 - Rejection

25:50 - Trip to Trinidad

30:33 - I Am Not Enough

34:07 - Take Back Your Power

37:43 - Job on Slam

44:19 - Walked Away

48:49 - Praying Through Pain

50:06 - Motherhood

52:28 - Who Pours Into You?

59:25 - Forgiveness

1:01:09 - Sons

1:03:21 - Healing

1:05:25 - Le Fem

1:09:02 - On the Lighter Side

1:12:32 - Gem Pull

Russell Grant, a prominent figure in Barbados's marketing, event production, and cultural scene. The conversation covers Grant's diverse background, including his brief career as an aircraft mechanic before pursuing his passion for events. Grant discusses the origins and evolution of his company, Event Hub, which began by building event infrastructure to reduce rental costs and has expanded into providing various event necessities like tents. He emphasizes the satisfaction he gains from creating enjoyable experiences for others and shares insights into the challenges of event promotion, such as managing high costs, securing human resources, and the importance of listening to feedback. The discussion also touches on the differences between Barbadian and international event scenes, the challenges of the pandemic on the industry, and Grant's motivation, primarily his daughters, for continuing in his demanding career.

Chapters:

00:00 - Teaser

01:24 - Intro

01:51 - Welcome

02:43 - Aircraft Mechanic

04:18 - The Beginning of a New Journey

08:25 - Starting the Event Company

11:10 - Pain But Passion

15:53 - Event Production

21:56 - Event Expenses

25:29 - The Experience

29:43 - Hennessy Artistry

31:45 - Marketing

35:03 - Source of Inspiration

39:17 - Proud Moment

40:42 - Crossfit

42:53 - State of Mind

49:06 - Advice for Young Promoters

50:20 - Being a Girl Dad

51:52 - Gem Pull

52:36 - What's Next

57:14 - Listening to Feedback

59:39 - First Impression

1:03:30 - Last Words

Kim Angoy is the embodiment of working hard for the life you want. Her lifelong love of art has led to a creative professional path from working as an interior designer to founding one of Barbados’ most recognisable swimwear brands, Suga Apple Swim. Having grown up working various jobs within her family's businesses, Kim developed a deep work ethic and a clear understanding of what it takes to run an enterprise. She credits her family's unwavering support as part of her success, acknowledging the village that helped raise and guide her throughout her journey. Kim applies the village mentality to her business, emphasising collaboration and trusting other Bajan creatives’ input in bringing her visions to life.

Her family’s influence also shaped her personal life. Kim loves being a mom to her two boys and a wife to her husband of 14 years. She ensures her family comes first, regardless of the professional ventures she undertakes. This is a major life lesson she learned from her late father, a remarkable man who continues to be her hero and role model.

Tune in for an episode chock-full of gems where we discuss the importance of preparation in managing a work-life balance, not living in fear of what you want in life, and how her brand has become synonymous with empowering women.

Follow Kim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimangoy/

Follow Suga Apple Swim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugaappleswim/

💎

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#GemsFromFriends

This season is made possible in part by the Cultural Industries Development Fund of the National Cultural Foundation of Barbados

Gratitude 🙏🏽

💎

Damian has earned an impressive list of accolades throughout his career, including:

•

Caribbean Chef of the Year 2016

•

Barbados Chef of the Year 2016 and 2018

•

Seafood Chef of the Year 2017

•

BHTA Pastry Chef 2019

•

NIFA Chef of the Year 2016

A pioneer in Caribbean cuisine, Damian's journey began as a troubled student at St. Michael's school, where a Food and Nutrition class unexpectedly sparked his culinary passion. His supportive teacher's belief in him proved transformative.

After studying abroad, he started at The Cliff restaurant handling basic prep work, learning the value of earning respect from the ground up. His career flourished with the opening of Cocktail Kitchen, where he prioritizes hiring local culinary students.

As a feature chef at the Food and Rum Festival since 2017, he promotes Barbados alongside renowned chefs who inspired him. Despite his success, he stays grounded - admitting to loving chicken nuggets and being candid about kitchen pressures and holiday sacrifices.

Known for his shy nature and authentic Barbadian accent, Damian remains true to himself. He's now expanding his horizons with a new Mediterranean-Caribbean fusion restaurant, while advocating for aspiring chefs to understand both the passion and sacrifices required in the culinary world.

His story exemplifies how determination, humility, and staying authentic can transform a challenging start into culinary excellence.

💎

Sign up for our newsletter: https://bio.fewwture.com/ - scroll to Join The Tribe

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gemsfromfriends/

This season is made possible in part by the Cultural Industries Development Fund of the National Cultural Foundation of Barbados

Gratitude 🙏🏽