I am a geologist by training, a certified Geographic Information Systems professional by accident, and an entrepreneur by choice. I grew up in the rural farming community of Dias in Hanover, on the northwestern tip of Jamaica. I attribute my success to good old family values and parents emphasizing education. I love the outdoors, and my first real map was a hand-drawn map prepared for my Geography School Base Assessment which looked at using technology in Yam Farming in Dias.

I believe that geography should not dictate anyone’s destiny, so I love working with students from underserved communities. In addition, I’m passionate about Technology and Entrepreneurship and relish every opportunity to mentor women entrepreneurs and young people. This dovetails with my desire to contribute to a culture of spatial thinking and entrepreneurship.

These days, despite a hectic schedule, I’m studying for my doctoral degree in Business Administration.

As a leader, what truly sets me apart is my unwavering commitment to advocating for a more inclusive geospatial industry and working tirelessly to ensure that the initiative reflects our diverse community. I am passionate about promoting equity and diversity in the geospatial industry, and I work hard to create opportunities for underrepresented groups.

In addition to my advocacy work, I have a talent for building effective teams and fostering collaboration. I believe in collaborating to innovate. I am dedicated to creating a culture of inclusivity and respect within our organizations, which helps ensure that all team members feel valued and supported. This approach leads to more effective problem-solving and better outcomes for all stakeholders.

My dedication to positively impacting the world is another defining characteristic of my leadership style. Our industry is creating positive change. I am committed to using my skills and expertise to drive further progress in sustainability, disaster response, and public health, especially in emerging territories like the Caribbean.

My ability to lead during times of crisis and my perseverance through challenges have been essential to my success as a leader. Whether facing economic downturns, natural disasters, wrongful contract termination, or a pandemic, I have consistently led with resilience and adaptability. Clear communication, empathy, and support are critical during a crisis. I also understand the value of having a supportive network and recognize that no leader is an island. As such, I have cultivated relationships with mentors, peers, and colleagues throughout my career who provide guidance, feedback, and support when needed. Leadership is a team effort, and I have some of the best players on my team.

My first advice would be to understand yourself and believe in yourself and your abilities. You must have confidence in your skills and the value that you bring to the table. Staying focused on your goals and persisting in pursuing them is crucial. You should be prepared to work hard, take risks, and learn from your failures as much as your successes.

Second, seek out mentors and allies who can support and guide you. Building relationships with individuals who provide guidance, feedback, and encouragement is essential.

Third, never be afraid to speak up and share your ideas. Your voice and perspective are valuable, and making yourself heard is essential. So, it’s important to be confident and assertive in your thoughts and contributions, whether in a meeting or a conference.

Finally, understand that breaking through barriers is not just about personal success but more about paving the way for future generations of women. I have stood on the shoulders of some strong Caribbean women like Jacqueline daCosta, Cecille Blake, and Nadine Brown, so I truly understand that you can inspire and empower by being a visible and successful woman in your field other women to pursue their dreams and reach their full potential. That is what those Caribbean women and others did for me, so I’m more determined to pay it forward.

I believe that GlobalMindED can play a critical role in advancing my goals as an inclusive leader by providing a supportive network, opportunities for mentoring, and a platform for advocacy and visibility. By working with GlobalMindED and other like-minded individuals and organizations, I am confident we can create a more diverse, inclusive, and impactful world.

For more on the conference experience, watch this brief video by The PhD Project, and check out the 2022 Program

Register here

Join Dr. Ryan Ross Assoc. V. Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion Colorado Community College System (Doc Ross) and his guests:

Tommie Pittman Founder and CEO, Global Diversified Biosystems

After gaining professional experience as a field engineer with Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Tommie is pursuing the vision of creating an environmentally sustainable water management system. In 2014, he founded Global Diversified Biosystems. His desire to support environmental change and sustainability has expanded into the development of G. Pittman Farms, an organic farm with the mission of providing healthy food to the community and encouraging the cultivation of the next generation of farmers.

Natasha has almost a decade of energy consulting experience for utility companies, after receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Dartmouth College and a Master of Science in Global Energy Management from University of Colorado, Denver’s Business School. Outside of work, Natasha’s published author and an advocate for increasing the diversity pipeline into engineering and energy careers.

Praveen is a product leader with more than twenty years of experience building, launching, and monetizing industry-leading business-to-business and businessto-consumer solutions in the unified communications, customer service, mobile security, mobile messaging, and collaboration space. He is a strategic and creative thinker with a track record of incubating new product lines and crafting go-to-market plans.

Patty Beach Chief Executive Officer, LeadershipSmarts

Patty is an inclusive leadership evangelist who combines leadership best practices and coaching to transform managers into the best boss ever and executives into inspirational role models that can scale and grow their companies. She is the author of The Art of Alignment: A Practical Guide for Inclusive Leadership and the Versatility Factor Profile, an assessment for gender intelligent and inclusive leadership. 

Dr. Trina Jefferson Systems Engineer Sr, Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space

Prior to joining Lockheed, Dr. Jefferson was a Systems Engineer at Ball Aerospace and a key member of the Roman Space Telescope team. She co-founded the BIPOC Mentorship Program to foster relationships between mentors and mentees and provide support for students of varied backgrounds and cultures. She is an active member of the National Society of Black Engineers’ Denver professional outreach program, visiting schools to build STEM kits with students.

The GlobalMindED Inclusive Success Network^TM had another banner year of growth, impact, and outcomes for First Generation, poverty-affected and minoritized students. Here are some of the highlights: 

We are grateful for the support, inclusive leadership, and financial contributions of our community and sponsors who work tirelessly to open doors for the students we serve, the institutions who support them, and the businesses and non-profits who are committed to hiring a capable, diverse talent pipeline.  We look forward to seeing all of you June 7-9 at our best event yet, GlobalMindED 2023 - Transforming Boundaries: Creating Systemic Access and Equity. The Inclusive Leaders Awards Dinner is June 7, followed by the conference June 8- 9 at the Denver Downtown Sheraton.  

GlobalMindED | 303-327-5688 | contact@globalminded.org | www.globalminded.org