History, Sociology, Arts AdministrationWhat languages do you speak (and at what level)? English (Mother tongue) What country or area are you looking to work in and why? Preferably Guyana but anywhere within the Caribbean What countries have you worked in? England, Bermuda and Trinidad & Tobago What countries do you have a visa to work in? England and Trinidad. What field do you currently work in? Retail Management What fields have you worked in before? Healthcare Administration, Immigration, HR, Education, Publishing, Arts Administration. What qualifications do you hold? MA (Creative and Cultural Industries) BA (Hons) European Studies Secretarial Diploma (Pitmans) Which do you consider more valuable? Formal education or skills and why? Both have some validity. However in my experience, modern business practices (certainly in mature economies like the UK) rely more on skills and aptitude and experience. This is because most job seekers have degrees and not necessarily the practical skills and/or experience. Even so, it is the right 'attitude' that employers seek to find ... hence 'hire for attitude, train for skill'. Describe the benefits of working with others First there is an opportunity to learn from others. Different backgrounds and disciplines can help to enhance the learning process. Whether this is in time-management, prioritising tasks, learning to communicate better, and generally developing a focus and an agreed objective to work toward. Describe the benefits of working alone The first is being able to prioritise and manage your own workload. Self reliance and the confidence to make your own decisions. It is beneficial too in terms of cultivating independent thought and action without being influenced and/or constrained by team dynamics. What was your worst working experience? Obviously this is not easy. Being interviewed to work closely with the head of an organisation, developing a rapport and making a decision to take the position based not just on the rudiments of the job but also the 'chemistry' that is needed when providing senior level support on a 1-to-1 basis. There were interviews, informal chats between herself and I before I took up the position. Within a week, she became gravely ill with cancer, and I found myself in a position working for someone else with a completely different portfolio and approach. Thankfully she recovered and we took up where we left off. What is the most important lesson you have learnt throughout your career? That attitude is the most important thing. First and foremost. There are qualified and experienced job-seekers everywhere. What differentiates you is what attitude you project, what motivates you, what inspires you, having respect for people, generally. What unique skills do you have? I have been told that I mentor/motivate well. I try to get to the heart of the matter and muster up enthusiasm and help others to focus on what it is that is trying to be achieved. A very good communicator - articulate speaker and a natural flair for writing - whether in a business setting or creatively. The idea of working in different countries - stark contrasts for eg, working in London where the workforce is more relaxed, yet productive, as opposed to Bermuda, highly corporate in a 'colonial' setting and hierarchial and being aware of your status (and the limitations) as a 'guest worker' - was a challenging experience - one had to adapt and fit-in and understand the environment - socially and politically. These are some of the unique skills I have developed through these experiences. What would you consider as your 'dream job'? Researching and developing ideas and initiatives that help to improve and modernise our infrastructure - in the era of 'knowledge economies'. Whether this is in an educational setting - being part of a curriculum (perhaps secondary or under-graduate level) where students are taught skills for modern, dynamic societies - eg entrepreneurial literacy. Alternatively, state or business iniatives that are set up - incubation models to begin to start harnessing this type of thinking and activity in our fledgling societies. What are the most interesting aspects of your field? Being able to play a lynch pin role in pulling together the different strands of any given project/objective to make it happen. The ability to develop a bird's eye view of everything and then tailoring your skills and experience to suit the needs of the objective and working environment that you find yourself in. You have to aim to add value to the work being undertaken. What are the least interesting aspects of your field? The idea that administrative work is dumbed-down and that it is a 'low skill' area of work and therefore not 'valued' as it should be. What are some of the challenges you face in today's job market? For me, the main thing is the 'transitioning' process I am going through. Coming back to the Caribbean after living/working abroad. Trying to change my career focus from largely a senior level support administrative manager to one where I might perhaps teach. Also the post-graduate qualification I have is not fully understood or can be utilised here yet in terms of the art and culture sector. It is not yet a vibrant and developed sphere within most Caribbean societies. I have to balance my long-term career aims with showing potential employers how I can benefit their organisations - and I believe it is essentially through my experience and skills sets in a variety of different settings, in both the private and public sector. So I should mention the 'job roles' I have had over the years that include Secretariat manager, administrator, personal assistant and or editorial assistant, to name a few. How can potential employers contact you? Via email - ninaleonard@ymail.com | 
