EVENT REVIEW: JCC YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OWN YOUR FUTURE CONFERENCE

Transform Lives and Money Will Never Be a ProblemThe Courtleigh Auditorium in Kingston, Jamaica has possibly seen its largest turnout since the start of 2017. People came as far as Martinique for the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) Young Entrepreneur Own Your Future Conference on January 21.Remarkably, the JCC selected passionate, forth-right and prolific speakers to chair its panel: Founder of AIM Educational Services, Nicole McLaren-Campbell, Founder and CEO of GEOTechVision, Valerie Grant, State Minister in Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Floyd Green and social entrepreneur, community leader, author and international motivational Speaker, Thione Niang.

And the talks were well-received from a diverse audience of young, old, Jamaican, non-Jamaican entrepreneurs and entrepreneur-aspirants. Interestingly, the guest speaker, Thione Niang, is a non-Jamaican, but he was relatable because his story resembles the struggle of many audience members who applauded, awed and laughed during his presentation.At the heart of his message was a call to young entrepreneurs to imagine how their current commercial, social or non-profit enterprises can transform lives. Thione shared how, as a little boy, he used candles to see and complete his homework because electricity was an expensive commodity his village could not afford.He was so inspired by this struggle that today he along with his business partner, recording artiste, Akon, owns the leading energy enterprise in Africa. Akon Lighting Africa and Soleka International provide electricity for more than 600 million African households.And the energy company is just one way Thione is transforming lives. As the founder of an international youth empowerment network, Give One Project, he offers sound mentorship, training opportunities and exposure to similar-minded, young entrepreneurs across the world. The Give One project is established in 32 countries across the world and the Jamaican chapter was officially launched at this conference.Give One! Give Many! And the Money Will Come. Did you miss the JCC Young Entrepreneurs Own Your Future Conference? Here are photo highlights contributed by Tyrone Simms (click on the first photo to browse).