I am travellng a bit between Kingston and New York these days for the purposes of personal and business expansion. And As I move in many and varied circles in tech and business in New York, I get asked this question a lot… So Ingrid, What Do you Do?
The question came to mind again, while I was listening to an episode of the podcast Jesus and Jollof with Luvvie Ajayi and Yvonne Orji.. At the start of the show, she mentioned being asked that very question…what do you do? And she responded by laughing and saying I am multi-hyphenate. I am many things. Then proceeded to list the things she is doing. It made me smile, widely.
And as I prepare to be interviewed by Kadia Francis the podcaster behind The Digital Jamaica podcast, the very first question on the list she sent, was …yep…What do I do?
I say all of this because, it hasn’t been until recently that I answered that question in an unapologetic and fulsome manner…you know how that imposter syndrome works. It makes you “small up” yourself as we’d say in Jamaica..it makes you downplay who you are, to let others feel better about themselves, to not appear like a show off or as competition. You are almost apologetic for our passions and accomplishments. Well having a come to Jesus moment with yourself , changing your circle of influence and your perspective will do wonders for you.
Fastforward to now. When I am asked, so Ingrid, what do you do? this is how I respond…
I am technology blogger. My business of technology blog is Siliconcaribe.com and I have had that for 13years and have readers from 45 countries around the world. And it’s now DowJones syndicated.
I am an events producer and have produced and coproduced over 100 Caribbean technology focused events across 10 Caribbean countries and the Diaspora USA and UK for entrepreneurs and executives of all stripes.
I am a speaker/moderator for technology panel and events on topics covering Caribbean tech, digital trends, women in tech, entrepreneurship and innovation and have spoken at events in the Caribbean, USA, Europe and Africa.
I am digital strategist, where I help individuals with their personal brands and businesses to tell better stories on social media and I have worked with over 50 Caribbean brands.
I am a tech startup ecosystem pioneer and have been credited with and won multiple awards for kick starting the tech startup scene and community in Jamaica and doing pioneering work in the Caribbean plus working with startup community groups, governments, Dev agencies and NGOs.
And I have wrapped all of that under my brand SiliconCaribe.
So, How will you respond, when next you are asked that question…what do you do ? I hope you embrace the fact that you are multi-dimensional and can do whatever you want to do.