{"id":158675,"date":"2021-06-02T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-02T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=158675"},"modified":"2021-06-02T06:11:56","modified_gmt":"2021-06-02T11:11:56","slug":"ictp-157-the-tough-decisions-and-not-seen-challenges-of-entrepreneurship-with-larren-peart-of-bluedot-insights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2021\/06\/ictp-157-the-tough-decisions-and-not-seen-challenges-of-entrepreneurship-with-larren-peart-of-bluedot-insights\/","title":{"rendered":"ICTP 157:  The tough decisions and not seen challenges of entrepreneurship, with Larren Peart of Bluedot Insights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>2020 was supposed to be an outstanding year for research and data intelligence firm, Bluedot Insights. However, by March 2020, all of the growth and performance projections came crashing down. Company CEO, Larren Peart, gives us: an update on Bluedot Insights since our first conversation in 2018; some of the challenges that were experienced, and the tough decisions that had to be made; and what might be in store for the company moving forward.<\/em><em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" height=\"166\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" allow=\"autoplay\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/1060317223&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true\"><\/iframe><div style=\"font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-673719274\" title=\"ICT Pulse Podcast\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;\" rel=\"noopener\">ICT Pulse Podcast<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-673719274\/ictp-157-the-tough-decisions\" title=\"ICTP 157:  The tough decisions and not seen challenges of entrepreneurship, with Larren Peart of Bluedot Insights\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;\" rel=\"noopener\">ICTP 157:  The tough decisions and not seen challenges of entrepreneurship, with Larren Peart of Bluedot Insights<\/a><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>This episode is also available in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/ict-pulse-podcast\/id1373550291\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apple iTunes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&amp;isi=691797987&amp;ius=googleplaymusic&amp;apn=com.google.android.music&amp;link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Icau5acn2xiyl5yjuh7orl2mt54?t%3DICT_Pulse_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Play Music<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/3d0U4ZYX80e5lenYLdzyX4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spotify<\/a> (NEW!!) and on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/ict-pulse-podcast?refid=stpr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stitcher<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Typically, when we think of tech entrepreneurs role models, the global leaders come to mind: the success, the accolades, the money, the lifestyle. If biographies or memoirs have been written, there might be some insight into the struggle to build the brands for which they are known. But invariably, the struggle those entrepreneurs experienced back in the day, living in developed countries, such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, tends to be far removed from what tech entrepreneurs are experiencing here in the Caribbean region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is with that in mind that we are keen to have opportunities to get a peak into the life of the Caribbean tech entrepreneur. However, sometimes, as can be our nature, we can downplay the challenges and put on a positive front. However, when that is done, the \u2018teachable moment\u2019 and the opportunity to learn, by those who are about to embark on that adventure, and the shared camaraderie, with those who are also in the trenches, can be lost. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this episode, we are following up with tech entrepreneur, Larren Peart, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bluedot Insights, a research and data intelligence company, based in Jamaica. We first interviewed Larren in July 2018, and at the time, the company was called Blue Dot Data Intelligence, and was poised for great things. Looking forward, Larren was planning to expand the company\u2019s footprint to other Caribbean countries, particularly Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although some plans had to be abandoned, as Larren says in our conversation, by all projections, 2020 should have been a stellar year for Bluedot Insights. However, at the end of 2019, none of us could have predicted 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Introducing our guest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"136732\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2018\/08\/ict-017-importance-grit-building-business-larren-peart-blue-dot-data-intelligence\/larren-peart-linkedin\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Larren-Peart-LinkedIn.jpeg?fit=667%2C600&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"667,600\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Larren Peart (LinkedIn)\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/blue-dot-data-intelligence\/&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Larren-Peart-LinkedIn.jpeg?fit=300%2C270&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Larren-Peart-LinkedIn.jpeg?fit=667%2C600&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Larren-Peart-LinkedIn.jpeg?resize=350%2C315&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-136732\" width=\"350\" height=\"315\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Larren-Peart-LinkedIn.jpeg?w=667&amp;ssl=1 667w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Larren-Peart-LinkedIn.jpeg?resize=300%2C270&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><figcaption>Larren Peart<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/larren-peart-40820599\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Larren Peart<\/a><\/strong> is a seasoned entrepreneur and information technologist with a depth of experience research and the area data intelligence. As founder of <a href=\"http:\/\/bluedotinsights.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Bluedot Insights<\/strong><\/a> and the brainchild behind the company\u2019s data intelligence methodologies, Larren is credited with bringing a unique service offering to the regional marketing industry. His depth of experience in research techniques, consumer neuroscience, retail intelligence and data mining, have made him instrumental in delivering effective stewardship to the talented Bluedot team of researchers and data scientists.<br><br>Larren spent the first part of his career working within the software engineering industry with Advanced Integrated Systems in Jamaica. His role there as Tech Support Manager allowed him to develop not only his technology skills but his effective client service management systems with having the responsibility of over 5,000 merchants in Jamaica, the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands. This is where he began to develop his knowledge and insights on the power of data intelligence. Honing his skills and expertise led to a number of freelance consultancies with major regional brands.<br><br>As the CEO of Bluedot, Larren manages a team of highly skilled marketing strategists, data researchers and analysts and has led the execution of research assignments for a number of major regional and international brands such as Grace Kennedy, Campari\/J Wray &amp; Nephew, National Commercial Bank (NCB), IGT, Digicel and Diageo to name a few. Larren continues to lead product innovation at Bluedot with the implementation of cutting-edge research technologies and systems. He is also working diligently to position Bluedot as a major player in the global data intelligence industry and has already embarked on the roll out of an aggressive regional expansion programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Insights into our conversation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Larren seems quiet and unassuming, he is a man with a lot of responsibilities. Thanks to the pandemic, he has had to make a number of tough decisions, to at the very least, try to ensure that the Bluedot Insights survive 2020. As CEO, he is responsible for the lives and livelihoods of his employees and their families, and so knows the stress of not being able to meet payroll, and the consequences therein. Now, the focus seems to be on trying to regain the some of the ground that was lost, whilst also considering the emerging opportunities, that potentially, could change the trajectory of the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout our conversation, Larren is candid with his experience since we spoke in 2018. Below are a few of the questions posed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"1\"><li>Take us back, why did you start Blue Dot Insights?<\/li><li>Since we last spoke in July 2018, what has happened at Bluedot Insights?<\/li><li>In 2020, it was reported that you bought back the 50% shareholding that had been sold prior to SSL Venture Capital Limited. What led you to decide to buy back the shares?<\/li><li>What were some of the adjustments that you had to make personally, and to your business over the past year?<\/li><li>How have you evolved as a manager, as the leader of your organisation?&nbsp;<\/li><li>Is data analytics are growth area in the Caribbean region?<\/li><li>What are lessons you have learned since we last spoke in 2018?<\/li><li>Where would you like to see Blue Dot in the next 3 to 5 years?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>We would love to hear from you!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ICTPulse\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/ict-pulse-consulting-limited\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>LinkedIn<\/strong><\/a> pages, or via Twitter, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ICTPulse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>@ICTPulse<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Select links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/larren-peart-40820599\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Larren Peart<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/bluedotinsights.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bluedot Insights<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sslinvest.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) Venture Capital<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/communa.bluedotinsights.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bluedot Comuna<\/a><\/li><li>Pulse Podcast episode, <em><a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2M5sYyJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ICT 017: The importance of grit when building a business, with Larren Peart, of BlueDot Data Intelligence<\/a><\/em>&nbsp;<\/li><li>Jamaica Gleaner article, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/jamaica-gleaner.com\/article\/business\/20200426\/bluedot-founder-buys-back-ssl-stake\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bluedot founder buys back SSL stake<\/a><\/em> &nbsp;<\/li><li>ICT Pulse article, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3fPYCwW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Data analytics generalist or specialist: Which one is better?<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Image credits:  L Peart;  L Peart;  <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Business-Intelligence-Analytics-Services-1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wikimedia Commons<\/a>;  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctrl.blog\/entry\/ctrl-analytics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ctrl blog<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Music credit:  Ray Holman<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2020 was supposed to be an outstanding year for research and data intelligence firm, Bluedot Insights. However, by March 2020, all of the growth and performance projections came crashing down. Company CEO, Larren Peart, gives us: an update on Bluedot Insights since our first conversation in 2018; some of the challenges that were experienced, and the tough decisions that had to be made; and what might be in store for the company moving forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":158678,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[355],"tags":[268,71,274,205,204,357],"class_list":["post-158675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-podcast","tag-analytics","tag-businesses","tag-data-analytics","tag-entrepreneurship-2","tag-innovation-2","tag-interviews","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Featured-Image-Larren-Peart-2021.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2iE1G-Fhh","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=158675"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158675\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":158692,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158675\/revisions\/158692"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=158675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=158675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=158675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}