Young Jamaicans in the US gain leadership, career exposure through JN Group

Eight young Jamaicans participating in the United States-based Valda Mae Care Foundation’s (VMCF) NextGen Leadership Programme recently received firsthand exposure to the corporate world during a visit to the JN Group’s offices in Jamaica.

The visit, organized through a collaboration between VMCF and the JN Foundation, gave participants an opportunity to interact with JN Group executives and professionals and learn about leadership, career development and the operations of a major Jamaican organization.

Participants met professionals working in communications, life insurance, legal affairs, corporate credit, hospitality, office administration, information technology, business strategy and human resources.

The initiative was designed to help the young Jamaicans understand how different professional roles contribute to the operation of a large organization while exposing them to the varied paths employees took to reach their current positions.

During presentations and a tour of the offices, participants heard how careers can develop through unexpected opportunities, challenges, changes in direction and continued learning.

JN Group CEO Earl Jarrett also held an informal discussion with the group, encouraging the participants to take advantage of opportunities and view leadership as a responsibility rather than simply a position.

The young leaders questioned Jarrett about his experience at the helm of the JN Group, including some of the most difficult decisions he has faced and how leadership has influenced his outlook.

“I’m just like you; I started in the same place,” Jarrett told the participants.

“Being a leader makes you question everything. You can’t simply accept what you are given as gospel. You need to be willing to challenge everything, test it against the facts and determine whether it is accurate and appropriate as you move forward,” he added.

For 12-year-old St. Andrew Technical High School student Kofi Massey, one of the youngest participants, the experience reinforced the importance of persistence and discipline.

“I learned numerous things, including the importance of consistency and discipline. I also learned that I should keep trying,” Massey said.

Massey, who is interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement, said the office tour was a highlight because one of the professionals provided additional information about his chosen career.

Cornwall College student Joeldean William, who is approaching 19 and preparing for the next stage of his education, said the visit provided a glimpse into an environment he had not previously experienced.

“It was an interesting experience because I have never been inside an institution like this before, so I learned a lot,” he said. “I learned about the importance of structuring yourself to grow to achieve the career you’re interested in.”

Kayla Buckle, 15, of St. Hugh’s High School, said exposure to professionals was particularly valuable for young people still considering their futures.

“This was important for us because we are young and still becoming, so having this kind of positive influence is necessary. A lot of us had questions and they were clarified extremely well,” she said.

Buckle said one of her biggest lessons came from JN Life Insurance Company General Manager Hugh Reid, who emphasized that “the only constant in life is change.”

“That really resonated with me because I don’t personally handle change very well. It was important for me to understand, though, that just because something is different does not mean it is inherently bad,” she said.

The initiative forms part of VMCF’s broader efforts to support youth development and leadership across the Caribbean. The U.S.-based foundation focuses on assisting older people and developing young people in economically disadvantaged Caribbean communities.

VMCF President and Founder Dejoron Campbell said the partnership with the JN Foundation was intended to expose participants to professional leadership within their own communities.

“This opportunity created a space for them to acknowledge how far they can go when they see people who look like them, who have been in these different executive or senior leadership roles right there in their hometown,” Campbell said.

“I hope to create other spaces like this for other young leaders as well and to continue the partnership.”

Sydoney Preddie, lead for youth and education programs at the JN Foundation, said the initiative also reflected the foundation’s commitment to expanding opportunities for Jamaican youth.

“We want our young people to recognise that their aspirations do not have to be limited by what they have seen or experienced,” Preddie said.

“We are proud to have supported this activity with the VMCF, exposing their NextGen leaders to different career paths and encouraging them to ask questions. We hope the experience helps them see themselves in these spaces and think more intentionally about the future they want to create,” she added.