University of The Bahamas Students Embrace Diversity of Careers
25th October, 2022
Nassau, THE BAHAMAS — As part of an intentional effort to connect its students to a diversity of careers, innovative means of earning a living, and insights from successful leaders and entrepreneurs, University of The Bahamas (UB) has held its 2022 Career Symposium.
The University Centre for Counselling and Career Services hosted the event on Tuesday, 18th October at the Performing Arts Centre of UB’s Oakes Field Campus.
Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Maria Oriakhi, said the symposium was a net benefit for university students seeking to make their mark on the world.
“We should all be grateful for this unique opportunity we have to come together to discuss ways to meet the needs of our UB community in ensuring students have the necessary skills to maximize their career opportunities and successfully enter the workforce at the next stage of their professional lives,” Dr. Oriakhi said.
Under the theme, “National Education, Global Vision”, the symposium provided a platform for professionals from a range of sectors to give their perspectives and insights to university students including Mr. Patrick Ward, Group President and CEO of Bahamas First Holdings, Ltd. Mr. Ward shared about careers in the insurance industry.
“These jobs, for the most part, provide a level of financial compensation that is very attractive relative to the other options available both in The Bahamas and in the wider region,” said Mr. Ward. “Additionally, because of the international nature of the insurance business, future candidates will often get the chance to not only interact with professionals from larger, multi-national companies, but also get opportunities for collaboration on growth and development projects from both a personal and a broader company perspective.”
Ms. Bernique Pople, a 2022 UB alumna and owner of Taste Da Flava, spoke enthusiastically about her journey as an entrepreneur.
“I love to have fun, and I urge each and every person who’s aspiring to be an entrepreneur to always remember to have fun,” said Ms. Pople. “It’s a journey, but once you put God first, once you get up every morning and say ‘I can do it’, once you stay organized, the world is yours. And I can’t wait to see you all at the top.”
Sharing her nuggets of advice, Mrs. Zoe Gibson-Bowleg, an attorney and director of corporate social responsibility at FTX Digital Markets, urged the selection of a career path that one actually loves.
“You may have heard the cliché statement, ‘do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,’” but it’s true,” she said. “Obviously, every job means you have to work, but if you actually find something that makes your soul smile working becomes a joy, and it becomes very easy instead of being very taxing. And so, what I urge everybody to do is to find something—whatever it is that you enjoy doing—find a way to do that in a way that will make you money”.
In his presentation, Mr. Lincoln Deal, founder and chief executive officer of Eeden Farms Bahamas, encouraged students to pursue careers in the agriculture industry, as he noted that agriculture involves more than just manual labour and growing produce the old-fashioned way. He pointed out that technology has catapulted the profession to newer heights.
“As you continue your studies, be open to the world around you,” said Mr. Deal. “There are multiple opportunities in agriculture. As things and times continue to change, we need more young people looking at the industry, looking at the possibilities. There are people using drones in agriculture, robotics, artificial intelligence. You can be a part of this revolution.”
Both nationally and internationally, marketing has emerged as an attractive and resilient career as well as an opportunity for entrepreneurship. Mrs. D’Asante Small, deputy director of communications for the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) talked about her experiences.
“Marketing is essential to everyone,” said Mrs. Small. “If you plan on opening a practice one day, if you’re a teacher who wants to have a book one day, if you want to be an author, if you want to be a fashion designer, everyone at some point is going to need some element of promotion and advertising.”
Adding another career for consideration, Ms. Cindy Thompson, policy advisor at the Central Bank of The Bahamas, highlighted her love for mathematics and how critically important math, statistics, and data are for organizations the world over. Her presentation resonated in particular as students reflected on professions that are less likely to be vulnerable to disruptions.
“Data analytics is important, and it can be found in any industry and any company, because you need data and you need information in order to make decisions,” Ms. Thompson said.
The career symposium was an element of a two-part event that included a career fair that was held in collaboration with the Career and Job Placement Advisory Board on Thursday 20th October.
Office of University Relations
University of The Bahamas
2nd Floor, Michael H. Eldon Complex
University Drive, Oakes Field Campus
P.O. Box N-4912
Nassau, The Bahamas
Tel: (242) 302-4355/4354/4365
Chartered on 10th November 2016, University of The Bahamas (UB) is a beacon for national transformation. Approximately 5,000 students are enrolled in the University of The Bahamas system which includes campuses and centres on New Providence, Grand Bahama, and San Salvador, as well as UB online education. UB’s diverse academic programmes, research engagements, athletics and leadership development experiences equip our students to become global citizens in a dynamic world. For more information, visit www.ub.edu.bs.