In recognition of Girls of ICT Day 2018, here is our interview with powerhouse and mogul-in-the-making, Telojo Valerie Onu, a well-respected ICT and management consultant and business owner, who was recently quoted in Forbes magazine. She talks about, among other things, her entrepreneurial journey, her experience as a woman in business and in tech, and what she thinks the future holds for blockchain technology, fintech and cryptocurrencies.
Episode is also available in Apple iTunes!
For as long as I have known Telojo “Telly” Valerie Onu, she has always had a lot of irons in the fire. Like I said at the start of our interview, I don’t know where she gets the energy! These days, she runs at least three businesses, juggles a number of clients as an ICT and management consultant, and has been an active champion for innovation and entrepreneurship in the Caribbean region.
With Girls in ICT Day being observed on 26 April, Telly does not disappoint with the insights she shares, and she is generous with the advice she offers. To that end, our conversation with her touched on areas including:
Her journey to being a tech entrepreneur, and her appetite for risk- As an entrepreneur and business owner, whether there was a pivotal moment when she seriously thought about abandoning that path
- Her experience as female business owner and a woman in technology in the Caribbean
- The extent to which tech entrepreneurship and innovation is supported in Saint Kitts and Nevis, where Telly is based
- Telly’s thoughts on what the future holds for fintech, blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies
- The two or three things the Caribbean should be doing to better position itself for the future of tech, such as with respect to fintech, blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
On a technical note, the Internet connection during the interview was not the best, so we apologise for the quality of audio.
Select links
Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that were mentioned:
- Quintessence Consulting Inc.
- Prohaus Group
- Beyond Capital Markets
- Women Innovators Network Caribbean
- Forbes article featuring Telly, Challenges Also Abound Slowing Crypto For Good
- Forbes article featuring Telly, Opportunities Abound To Change The World With Crypto For Good
- Recent article featuring Telly, 20 African Women To Watch In Blockchain And Crypto
- FARMSAI (the Saint Lucia-based venture that is focussing on Artificial Intelligence)
- Sugartown Organics (the Saint Kitts farm-to-table food and farm-to-body skincare venture)
- Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
- Bitt
- Eastern Caribbean Central Bank
- Press release, ECCB to Embark on Blockchain Pilot Initiative With Bitt Inc.
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Image credit: florantevaldez (Pixabay); T V Onu
Music credit: Ray Holman
Well, well…. isn’t this just great! Great discussions too.
I particularly pick up the point Telojo makes about the ‘risk averse’ nature of potential technology adopters in the region. The challenge this poses to businesses in the sector within a fast-moving technological environment and era, cannot be over-emphasised. And very well presented, Telojo.