For the 100th episode of the ICT Pulse Podcast, the tables are turned on the host, Michele Marius! Michele is interviewed by Nerissa Golden, of Goldenmedia, on her journey to create ICT Pulse , and eventually, the Podcast, along with some of her observations of the Caribbean ICT/tech space over the past decade, and her experiences in leading the Podcast to this milestone.
This episode is also available in Apple iTunes, Google Play Music and on Stitcher!
When one decides to start a podcast, the greatest achievement is just to get the first few episodes out, knowing that eventually, those initial outputs might seem cringeworthy as one’s skills and experience improve. Thereafter, the aim tends to be consistent – adhering to the episode release schedule you had promised – and so, the slog begins.
Having launched the ICT Pulse Podcast in April 2018, and releasing one episode nearly every week, we are now at 100 episodes! Who would have thought that the Caribbean Tech Community would have had so much to talk about!
Over the course of these 100 episodes, we have had over 20 Community Chats, and over 75 interviews, covering a broad range of ICT and technology-related topics relevant to the Caribbean region. We have discussed topical issues, such as financial technology, cybersecurity, Internet Governance and even COVID-19, along with tackling themes, such as innovation, which we did almost monthly during 2019. For 2020, the focus is on the future of work. We have also been trying to bring us all closer, through our ‘Know Your Neighbour’ series, in which and for each episode, we explore the ICT and telecoms landscape in a different Caribbean country.
After 100 episodes it feels as if we have just scratched the surface. There are dozens of conversations that we still need to have.
To commemorate this milestone, it is opportune to look back. As much as we might be focussed on moving forward: on tackling the work to be done, and the challenges that lie ahead, it is also important, occasionally, consider how far we’ve come, and what has been achieved.. However, I am not (yet) comfortable doing extensive monologues. Besides, I really would not know where to start, and so thought it best to get some help.
The guest interviewer
Nerissa Golden
Nerissa Golden is the CEO of Goldenmedia, the Managing Editor of Discover Montserrat and the Founder of Maverick Endeavours, and she is based in Montserrat. She is a former journalist, and an international speaker, who is the author of seven books, including The Making of a Caribbeanpreneur: Strategies for Overcoming Fear and Building Wealth and Like. Follow. Lead. – Mastering Social Media for Small Business. Nerissa has more than 25 years in traditional and new media. Currently, she develops communication strategies to help her clients leverage media and tell stories which influence change.
Nerissa was most recently a guest panelist for our January 2020 Community Chat (episode ICTP 090), where she led us in a discussion on the importance of telling our story in preparation for growing a business and attracting investors. She was also part of the panel of our October 2018 Community Chat (ICTP 026), where she argued that content creation is the key to unlocking the Caribbean digital economy.
The interview
So in this our 100th podcast episode, the tables are turned. Nerissa interviews me! Listed below are the main questions/topics discussed over the course of our conversation:
- What was life before ICT Pulse, and how did I get started on this path?
- What was the tech landscape like in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean when ICT Pulse launched, and how did it influence how ICT Pulse was conceptualised?
- What was the state of the tech scene at that time, for example, in Jamaica, versus Trinidad, versus the wider Caribbean at the time?
- How might Caribbean countries be able to harness the brilliant minds in the Diaspora?
- Is the region any closer to resolving the online payment challenges that have existed?
- What have been some of the more gratifying interviews that I have done?
- What was an interview that I found intimidated?
- Another interview that stood out among the 99 episodes released?
- What is my podcasting strategy?
- What are five pieces of advice I would give up-and-coming tech entrepreneurs in the Caribbean region?
We would love to hear from you!
Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.
Select links
Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:
- Nerissa Golden | website
- Michele Marius
- National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (Saint Lucia)
- ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 033: Emerging opportunities in cryptocurrencies, digital currencies and blockchain technology in the Caribbean, with Gabriel Abed of Bitt
- ICT Pulse article, A case of mixed signals? Blocking VoIP in the Caribbean
- ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 037: Driving fintech development from the government/policy side, with Michelle Doyle-Lowe of the Central Bank of Barbados
- ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 052: Integrating innovation into organisations until it truly becomes part of the culture, with Lorenzo Hodges of Plain White Table
- ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 066: Tech innovation and disruption at the National Commercial Bank Jamaica, with Nadeen Matthews-Blair
- ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 016: Pioneering the use of country-level domain names in the Caribbean, with Professor Patrick Hosein of TTNIC
- ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICT 039: Creating a more enabling environment for innovation in the Caribbean, with Professor Patrick Hosein
- ICT Pulse Podcast episode, ICTP 069: Fusing academic research, innovation and developing practical solutions for industry, with Professor Patrick Hosein
Image credits: MatissDzelve (Pixabay); N Golden
Music credit: Ray Holman
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100th Episode! Congratulations are perfectly in order both in terms of the occasion but also steadfastness the host/publisher has held over this period of the podcasts including over the even longer period of the publications.
We have seen clear consistency in the publications; with a very choice blend of topics and tech/business information. A key component, at least for me, has been the easy-to-follow structure that consistently characterises both forms of the publication.
With regard to topics that stand out, I would cite “resolving the online payment challenges in the region”. This choice is not necessarily because of any extra-speciality in presentation, but rather because of its significance. At this point in time, and especially in this dark period of pandemics, online transaction — the entire assembly of collaboration, payment, content consumption …. — has become so critical.
Not only that, going forward this is likely to be the “new normal”. The region, therefore, can only ill-afford to stay behind in this critical component of technology, in spite of the challenges. ICT-Pulse has articulated this, I think, with a very clear voice of reason.
Congrats on the 100th episode!