Inspire Women Fall 2017

F A L L 2 017

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THRIVING WOMEN at

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WINDREACH YOUNG

celebrating flora duffy

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let go, heal & move on SPECIAL SECTION!

CONTINUIN G TO INSPIRE IN

2018

thoughts PUBLISHER’S

PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Katrina Ball ADVERTISING SALES Wanda Brown wanda@knbmediagroup.com 333-1925 Alicia Resnik alicia@knbmediagroup.com 236-9218 DESIGN & PRODUCTION Kiona Estravit Ampersand Creative & Visual Studio CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alicia Resnik, Carla Seely, Tania Kowalski, Deryn Higgins, Karolina De Costa, Lisa Lewis, Jamillah Lodge

join us!

D o y o u k no w s o m e o n e w h o i s a n i n s p i r a t i o n ? Ar e t h e w o m e n in y o ur b us i n e ss w o r t h c e l e b r a t i n g ? C o n t a c t u s t o f i n d o u t h o w t h e y c a n b e fe a t u r e d i n o u r n e x t i ssu e !

Kiona Estravit kiona@knbmediagroup.com Wanda Brown wanda@knbmediagroup.com 333-1925 Alicia Resnik alicia@knbmediagroup.com 236-9218

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Kiona Estravit, Alicia Resnik, ITU Media Janos Schmidt & Wagner Araujo MARKETING DIREC TOR Kiona Estravit kiona@knbmediagroup.com Inspire Women is published twice a year. Reader correspondence and editorial submissions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without express written consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this magazine. Distribution of this product does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services herein.

C O N TA C T U S katrina@knbmediagroup.com Tel: 504-2937

s our hot summer days begin to fade and we transition ourselves for the cooler temperatures.

Our American neighbours share a more vivid seasonal transformation - leaves of rust, red, and orange will signify autumn. Seasons of life remind me that the harder we strive the more dramatic our transformation will be.

This issue celebrates the achievement of women who have varied backgrounds and journey’s but their one common factor is that they CHOSE to strive. We have featured a variety of women who are not only established in their careers but also those who are recent graduates.

This issue we have spotlighted the very important work of long standing volunteers and given you the scoop on the unstoppable sports woman we all can get behind and cheer on!

I hope you will enjoy this Fabulous Fall/Winter issue, with so many great articles to get you inspired, and ready to strive to achieve your very best. Together, let’s celebrate the seasons of life. As we gather ‘round the table with friends and family during the holidays, let’s raise our glasses in thanksgiving and toast the good things to come.

The journey continues: faith, family, friends, fitness, and finance.

Be Inspired!

Katrina Ball Publisher & Founder Katrina@knbmediagroup.com

www.inspirewomenmag.com

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20 cover feature

25 Our special section featuring inspirational young women, advice and stories from successful women who’ve been there!

thriving women at Deloitte

ON THE COVER: THE LOVELY LADIES OF DELOITTE AT THE STUNNING LOREN HOTEL AT PINK BEACH. PHOTOGRAPHER: KIONA ESTRAVIT

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COVER FEATURE 20 thriving women at Deloitte

SPORT 4 the formidable flora duffy

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EDUCATION

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14 linda parker profile

BUSINESS

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26 Deloitte’s young guns 29 women in entrepreneurship 32 BHS graduate stars 34 girls in ICT 36 money tips for graduates inspirewomenmag.com

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16 closing the financial gap 18 stephanie sanderson profile

SPECIAL FEATURE 25 inspire young women

WELLBEING 40 let go, heal and move on 42 stop the scroll

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HOME 44 picking the perfect paint fall 2017

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Flora during the ITU World Triathalon in Stockholm looking focussed and formidable.

flora the

duffy

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SPORT/profile orn and raised in Bermuda, Ms. Duffy started competing in triathlons at the age of seven. She says the island’s climate lends itself to triathlons, and she grew up swimming, biking and running. She began focusing on racing when she was 16 years old.

Ms. Duffy left Bermuda to attend boarding school in England and pursue her triathlon career. Her first elite level race was at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne when she was 18 years old. From there she began racing on the ITU World Cup circuit. Ms. Duffy says her early days of racing were full of “ups and downs” but, she qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After the Olympics she took time off, enrolling at the University of Colorado, Boulder where she earned her BA in Sociology.

Crowned the 2016 Female Athlete of the Year, Ms. Duffy currently splits her time between Stellenbosch, South Africa and Boulder, Colorado. She spends December to May training in Stellenbosch and the rest

of the year in Boulder, Colorado where her coach, Neal Henderson is based.

Ms. Duffy was recently named a ‘Tourism Ambassador’ through a new partnership with the Bermuda Tourism Authority. This agreement puts her in the position to showcase Bermuda in the International Triathlon Union’s World Series events in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

A highly accomplished athlete, Ms. Duffy holds the record for the widest winning margin in a sprint race, winning by a margin of 31 seconds in Hamburg, Germany in July 2017, and only the second woman in history to win 6 races in a single season.

Self-described as a “creature of habits”, Flora prepared for the Grand Final with her usual routine: “I like to go back to my training routines, see my physiotherapists, sit on my couch, sleep on my bed, see my friends… It gives me balance, and I don’t have very much balance in my life.”

Ms. Duffy will marry her fiancé and fellow triathalete, Dan Hugo, in December.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Winner at the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Rotterdam Winner at the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Stockholm 2nd place at the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Montréal Winner at the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Edmonton Winner at the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Hamburg Winner at the 2017 ITU Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds Winner at the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Yokohama Winner at the 2016 Snowy Mountains ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships Winner at the 2016 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Cozumel 2nd place at 2016 ITU World Triathlon Leeds 4th place at 2016 ITU World Triathlon Edmonton 2nd place at the 2014 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships

8th place at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro 45th place at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London

Flora’s advice to young athletes: WHAT SET YOU ON YOUR PATH TO BECOMING A TRIATHLETE AS A YOUNG WOMAN? I have always loved sport- for as long as I can remember. I grew up swimming, cycling and running. I remember watching the ITU World Cup triathlon that was held in Hamilton throughout the 90s and being really inspired.

From then on it was my goal to be a professional triathlete. Of course, at the time I had no idea if I had the talent nor did I know what it would take but Ioved sport and saw there was actually a career in being a professional triathlete.

Now everything has come full circle, I am a professional triathlete and there is a ITU World Triathlon Series event in Bermuda in April 2018. I hope a lot of young people come out to watch and are inspired to follow their athletic dreams.

PHOTO BY ITU MEDIA/WAGNER ARAUJO

Inspire Women and Butterfield and Vallis are thrilled to congratulate Flora Duffy on her outstanding series of victories this year.

With her latest win at the World Triathalon Grand Final in Rotterdam, she becomes World Champion for the second year in a row.

2017 has been a watershed year for the elite athelete, and her accomplishments make us proud and are simply inspiring!

Go Flora Go!

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME AN ELITE ATHELETE? I would say it takes a lot of dedication and perseverance . It is not an easy career but it is worth the fight. To be an elite athlete you have to love the sport, the lifestyle and be ok with all the sacrifices that are required to be an elite. I sometimes think it is a labor of love!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG WOMEN WHO WANT TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS? Have trust and faith in yourself and to never to afraid of following your dream. There will be many lows, and hard times along the way but that is all part of the journey. And from my experience, the hard times have shaped me into who I am today and have made all my success completely worth it.

She believed she could, so she did.

The perfect day. The best day.”

Flora on her ITU Grand Final race in Rotterdam in Sepetember

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PHOTO BY ITU MEDIA/WAGNER ARAUJO

R.S. Grey

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Bronze medal at the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games

In celebration of all of Flora Duffy’s accomplishments!

Congratulations from your friends at Winner at 2014, 2015 and 2016 Xterra World Championships

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CHARITY/profile

about

Managing a charity that provides much needed therapeutic recreation to some of Bermuda’s most vulnerable people is challenging but equally rewarding.”

Chrissie Kempe

Inspire Women's Alicia Resnik discovers how this special charity enriches the lives of staff, volunteers and participants alike.

Ms. Kempe is the Executive Director of WindReach. She’s responsible for the day to day operations of the charity. On a weekly basis, an average of 200 participants benefit from WindReach’s programmes, ranging from pre-schoolers to older adults. These include Adaptive Sports, Life Skills, Day Activities for Older Adults and Therapeutic Riding.

Programmes are designed to suit individuals and their unique needs. Whether an invisible disability, a profound need, serving Bermuda’s growing senior population, and those living with dementia, there is something for everyone at WindReach.

WINDREACH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHRISSIE KEMPE PHOTO BY KIONA ESTRAVIT

washing machine’. Individuals of all abilities should be afforded the opportunity to be who they are and grow into what they want to become. Thriving isn’t finding what’s “normal” but celebrating the person for who they are. WindReach plays a vital role in our community. We can offer more services, especially to those living with an invisible disability. Anxiety, learning differences, depression and cognitive challenges can interfere with daily living as much as a physical disability. I look forward to expanding WindReach’s services so individuals living with an invisible disability are also supported.”

What brought you to WindReach?

Is there anything about WindReach our community doesn’t know?

“Prior to WindReach, I was the Administrator at Westmeath Residential and Nursing Care Home for 5 years. In this role I saw the importance of providing meaningful and caring services to the vulnerable population. My passion is to understand, respect and appreciate the individual. When the job opportunity presented itself, it was a natural transition, especially when I learned the organization’s philosophy “Celebrating all abilities.” WindReach has much to offer.

Working here presents an opportunity to positively impact the community – for all people.”

“When people hear WindReach many think we’re only a facility for people with visible disabilities. I’d like to dispel that.

WindReach is a place for individuals with visible and invisible disabilities. We serve those with profound needs brilliantly. When more people know the benefits of the services we offer, we’ll be able to hit our mission to celebrate all abilities. We’re an inclusive environment, promoting engagement between all abilities.

Providing access for individuals who are living with a disability isn’t enough. Inclusion drives engagement between abilities and allows everyone to flourish.”

Why WindReach?

Goals for WindReach?

“It’s a fantastic place! WindReach supports individuals to develop their sense of self so they can thrive. The environment and programmes encourage a person centred approach for therapeutic recreation to ensure the needs of the participant are met. This is important because society can often, unintentionally, put a strain on those who don’t appear “normal”. Someone I admire once said ‘normal is only a setting on the

“To ensure we reach as much of the population as we can. I’d like WindReach to serve, and benefit, as many people as possible. An immediate goal is opening a day activity centre for individuals living with dementia. Next, to continue to draw awareness to invisible disabilities and the importance of participating in therapeutic recreation to improve meaning and purpose in daily living. While working on these projects, I’d like to open our Petting Zoo on Saturday mornings for the public.”

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ANDREA GILBERT participant

“My first day at WindReach was nice. It made me feel calm and at peace,” says Andrea Gilbert as she reflects back on the day she entered the tranquil setting of WindReach.

Andrea started participating at WindReach five years ago, when she was 19. Through the Life Skills Programme, Andrea began in the Petting Zoo where her primary role was to work with the animals. Her mother, Gilda Harvey remarks how the human animal bond was transformational for Andrea who lives with an invisible disability.

Andrea had volunteered with animals before; however, having a wider scope of activities at WindReach in a non-judgmental environment was what had her looking forward to coming back time and time again.

Mrs. Harvey remarks how WindReach has been one of the services that has helped Andrea reach her potential by giving her “something meaningful to do each day.”

Mrs. Harvey continued to explain: “WindReach is where we received the help we needed. Before Andrea came to WindReach we were not aware of the services they offered to so many individuals. It’s made

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us think about how others are helped here, no matter what their diagnosis is. The programme allowed Andrea to attack her fears head on and overcome many obstacles she faces because of her diagnosis.”

Learning through experience at WindReach translated into success in her life outside of WindReach.

Andrea would encourage others to participate in WindReach’s programming, because it “has helped me develop my self-confidence, learn skills to talk with others and have a positive impact on how I manage my anxiety.”

Studies show that many young adults are learning to cope with invisible disabilities by engaging in therapeutic and recreational activities while also following the guidance of their physician. Visit our website to learn more about the therapeutic and recreational activities at WindReach www.windreach.bm or call 238-2469.

Sarah, a recipient of WindReach’s Volunteer of the Year Award 2013, explains that “I enjoy being around people and animals. WindReach is one of my favourite places and

volunteering gives me something to do with my time instead of staying home and being bored.” Sarah proudly wears her WindReach polo shirt as a part of her uniform and works diligently to complete assigned jobs. Sarah enjoys to be kept busy, is an avid reader, enjoys social media and appreciates a good cup of tea. She enjoys the company of her family and has a wonderful sense of humor.

In conversation with Sarah, she will tell you how much WindReach depends on her; and we do. Volunteers play a major role in providing services to the participants and we couldn’t open our doors each day without the dedication and effort from Sarah and others who are equally as passionate about celebrating all abilities. Thank you Sarah. We celebrate you and are inspired by you. You are truly one of the best.

SARAH OUTERBRIDGE VOLUNTEER

As the saying goes, behind every successful man is a woman. But there may be more to that theory, for behind every successful nonprofit organization, is a team of volunteers. Within WindReach’s team of volunteers is Ms. Sarah Outerbridge who has dedicated approximately 11,500 volunteer hours to the organization.

WindReach celebrates Sarah’s commitment and passion as a volunteer who has been involved at WindReach for the past 20 years. Sarah’s kindness and generosity can be seen with her devotion to providing care for the animals in WindReach’s Petting Zoo, assisting with data entry on the computer, helping with administrative tasks and lending a helping hand with some of the organization’s domestic chores. inspirewomenmag.com

EDUCATION/profile

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY BHS

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BHS Head of School, Linda Parker, discusses her journey as an educator - past, present and future. inda Parker has been a Bermudian Educator for over 30 years, with 20 years in the public school system, and since 2007, as the Head of School at BHS. With her extensive experience in the education sector in Bermuda, Mrs. Parker was recently appointed as a Member to the Bermuda’s Ambassador Design Team, a Ministry of Education initiative to provide a new vision and strategy for the Island’s Public Education system. Mrs. Parker is working with a diverse selection of fellow educators, parents, students, and community partners who have dedicated their time to creating a new strategic plan. Giving back to the Public Education system, where she started her career, was a natural fit, “During my years in the Public School system, I had relationships with many different people and learned many of the skills and attributes which shaped me as an educator, and formed the foundation of my career.”

Mrs. Parker returned to her alma mater, BHS, in 2003 as the Head of Secondary, taking up the position of Head of School 4 years later. She once again walks the halls she remembers from her own time as a student; “A lot has changed from when I was a student at BHS,” she recalls.

“For one, the school population has doubled and is much more diverse, and there are many more buildings on the campus. We certainly did not have the stateof-the-art Sports Facility that our students have now, nor the Innovation Centre (for Science and Technology) which will open in 2020.”

The past two decades have seen enormous growth at BHS – in 2000, BHS became the first IB World School in inspirewomenmag.com

Bermuda, leading the way for other schools to follow in its path, and in 2003, a state-ofthe-art gymnasium was built, named after donor, and former Head Girl, Jessie Vesey ’19. In 2005, BHS joined the worldwide network of 160 schools in 40 countries to become a Global Member of Round Square, an organisation which has enriched the lives of our students and staff immeasurably.

Annually, BHS students have opportunities to engage in international exchanges and service projects, in addition to attending international studentled conferences. Under Mrs. Parker’s leadership, BHS was recognised internationally for high academic standards by both the Council of International Schools (CIS), in 2014, and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), in 2015. These accreditations speak to over a century of diligence in the pursuit of excellence, and celebrate BHS’s remarkable commitment to a high standard of education, as well as the continued growth and self-improvement as an educational institution.

In 2016, the Early Years Programme (EYP) was introduced, and girls can now begin their BHS journey at four years old. With further proof that BHS is a leader in education, in March 2017, BHS launched its Leading the Way, Campaign for Innovation. In the most ambitious fundraising exercise the School has ever undertaken, more than $7.5 million has been raised to build the Innovation Centre, upgrade the Arts Wing and establish a Leadership Centre for girls, and benefit girls in the local community.

I want to see a world in which women are viewed as equal partners in every area of life, where it is assumed that a woman in the room will have the answer to the question and the solution to the problem.”

Mrs. Parker is a longstanding member of the International Women’s Forum of Bermuda and strongly believes in the education of girls. Invited to speak at the International Women’s Day event last year, Mrs. Parker stated her hopes that one day, “All women and girls, in Bermuda, and around the world, will have access to and take advantage of educational, leadership and economic opportunities, empowering them to reach their full potential and design their own futures. I want to see a world in which women are viewed as equal partners in every area of life, where it is assumed that a woman in the room will have the answer to the question and the solution to the problem.” The introduction of the Leadership Initiative for Girls and the completion of the Leadership Centre, which will be available to girls throughout Bermuda, will help this to become a reality. In her world at BHS, Mrs. Parker already sees the power of a girl’s education and leadership initiatives every day with students; “At BHS, I see over and over again, girls ask questions, raise their hands, keep their hands raised and expect to be heard”.

When asked who has had the most influence on her life, her answer came quickly, “My father, Norman Noble, without a doubt.

He was physically disabled, from the age of 30, and overcame immense physical challenges, including losing both of his legs. However, he always worked hard and overcame any obstacle in his way- including, defying his medical prognosis, and

learning to walk again. He didn’t see anything as insurmountable – ‘keep moving on, don’t give up, stay positive’, he would say.

These weren’t just words, he lived by them too, and his resilience and attitude in the face of so much hardship taught me a lot, and inspired me professionally and personally throughout my life. It is something I try to share with our students – ‘your attitude determines your altitude’ is one of my favourite sayings!”

A simple formula of being kind, caring, supportive and treating everyone with respect is the cornerstone of her leadership style as Head of School at BHS. Mrs. Parker, a collaborative leader, can often be seen chatting with students, staff and parents around campus. She is always present and engaged at school events, and knows many of the parents and grandparents on a first name basis. It is this community, and sense of family among students and BHS parents and grandparents, which makes BHS a special school - a school that Mrs. Parker is extremely proud of: “BHS is an outstanding school, locally and globally, where our students are immersed in a culture that inspires them to lead and think critically and creatively and rise to the challenges that will confront them along their professional and personal journeys. As an alumna, I am passionate and keenly committed to seeing BHS remain a leading school in Bermuda, and am honoured to work towards that goal on a daily basis.”

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FINANCE/advice

CLOSING THE

FINANCIAL CONFIDENCE

GAP

Lisa Lewis of BF&M tells IW why it is never too early to plan for your retirement and offers tips to make your money work harder.

f you are a professional in your 20s and 30s, retirement seems a long way off. Your private pension plan seems more of a detriment than a benefit. Here’s the thing: if you want to avoid living the last 20 years of your life with a fixed income that might not cover your fixed costs, it is crucial that you make good decisions now.

Why is it so hard to plan for retirement?

There’s a lot of behavioural finance (the study of why people make poor financial decisions) in play. Not only do we have a bias for the present – why save $1000 for retirement when I can buy the latest iPhone now – but we also have a tendency to put off things that are complicated and overwhelming (not really surprising).

Compounding these potentially damaging behaviours is that we start to become more aware of our current and future financial responsibilities (mortgage, children, saving for college and retirement). If we do not have a high level of financial literacy (skills and knowledge required to make informed and effective financial decisions), this leads us to be risk averse and ultra conservative. But this crisis of confidence could be averted. Here are some proven tactics to help you feel more in control of your finances later in life: Risk IS your friend – so take it!

The ability to take risk is the main benefit of investing when you’re young. You have the longest time horizon and so can afford to ride the ups and downs of the market. Investing in stocks and stock mutual funds could make the difference between an average annual return of 3% versus 7%. If you’re aiming to save $1,000,000 by 65, the impact of being risk averse could be either extending your retirement another 20 years or making do with $440K saved instead.

provides your family with that financial support should something happen to you before then. The earlier you buy, the cheaper the policy, so don’t delay.

So while I don’t have a crystal ball, and no one could possibly know at 25 what they want to do at age 65, there’s really only upside to planning financially now for what is inevitably in your future – retirement.

What next?

Don’t procrastinate! Sit down with a professional and start to plan to get to know the future you! Review your pension investment portfolio. Figure out what you can comfortably save per month. Talk to your HR contact to establish those voluntary automatic paycheck deductions. Finally, talk to a life insurance specialist about the benefits and costs of a Whole Life Insurance Policy, because I have never heard anyone complain that they’ve saved too much for their retirement.

Lisa Lewis, BSc, is an Advisor at BF&M with a professional focus on retirement planning, personal risk management and asset protection. With over 16 years in the re/insurance industry, she helps her clients prepare for the future. Lisa can be contacted on 2980229 or llewis@bfm.bm.

Pay yourself first You’ve heard it; I’ve said it, and I know it is easier said than done, but 10% of your salary over time is not enough to retire on. 15-17% is. To add significant value to your retirement assets, voluntarily contribute as much as you can afford, through auto-deductions from your pay-check. There are numerous benefits: • If you don’t “see it”, you won’t spend it.

• Compound interest is your best friend.

• You have access to the stock market through a low or no fee investment account.

• You can withdraw this money (in part or whole) at any time.

Invest in a way that eliminate your biases When saving for retirement, a target-date approach (rather than traditional risk profiles) will help eliminate those biases. Designed by experts, it ensures you’re in the right asset allocation at the right time in your life. Professionals then rebalance on a regular basis to ensure you’re capitalizing on a well-diversified investment mix that has a suitable risk/reward trade-off given your timeline to retirement. In other words – set it and forget it and let the investment specialists do all the hard work!

Diversify your retirement income stream One idea is to capitalize on the fact that you are young and, most likely, healthy. So take out a life insurance policy with an accumulating guaranteed cash value. This is an excellent, diversifying, no-risk tool that can not only supplement your retirement income, but

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BUSINESS/profile

From pupil to partner Stephanie Sanderson’s journey to becoming a successful Corporate Attorney is an inspiring tale.

She practices in all areas of corporate and commercial law, with an emphasis on investment funds, mergers and acquisitions, corporate re-organisations and crossborder transactions. Ms. Sanderson advises on Bermuda international tax law, compliance, corporate governance and regulatory matters in addition to general corporate matters.

She’s also the Chairman of the Bermuda Industry and Government Joint Committee on FATCA and CRS.

STEPHANIE SANDERSON graduate of Mount Saint Agnes Academy, Ms. Sanderson says she didn’t take a direct route to her law career. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Waterloo. She also taught English in China before returning to school in 2008 to achieve her post Graduate Degree in Legal Practice and her professional law degree with Distinction from BPP Law School in Leeds, England. She joined Beesmont Law Limited as a pupil in 2010 and made partner in June of this year. Ms. Sanderson is married to Peter Sanderson, also an attorney, whom she met at BPP Law School. Together they have a 4 year-old son.

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DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE A LAWYER? “As a kid my family always said ‘you’re going to be a lawyer.’ I was inquisitive – I wanted to know how things worked – and I was not afraid to ask difficult questions, challenge people or participate in debates.

At 17, I graduated from Mount Saint Agnes and made the decision to pursue psychology.

My bachelor’s degree is in psychology with a focus on child development and education, which is a field I enjoyed and was working in, but I took criminology and legal classes in university as well. I found myself loving both law and psychology. After I graduated from Waterloo, I moved to Northern China to teach English and to experience a different

to this in 2010 because I thought I could be thrown into legal work as well as get involved and ‘get my hands dirty’ with its development. When I first joined, there were only three lawyers at the firm – Marco, Sharon and myself. Because of the size of the firm we really had to run things ourselves and do much more than strictly legal work.

Since then, we’ve grown quite quickly and over the years I have enjoyed being involved with many different aspects – supporting the infrastructure as the firm developed, helping with the marketing and progression of the company.”

What’s the most challenging aspect of your job?

“The legal work is often challenging, but in a good way – it is one of the key reasons I went into law. I really enjoy being presented with a question or a problem and working to solve it. We’re lucky in Bermuda as the hours can be long but not too crazy – we certainly don’t have to work ‘city firm’ hours.

However, balancing work and family life can be difficult nonetheless, as many working parents of young children know all too well.”

Advice for law students?

“To be successful in law school make sure you’re passionate about becoming a lawyer.

It’s a demanding profession so be sure it’s something you really want and then go for it with everything you’ve got.”

Advice for women wanting to enter the legal profession?

“Many women enter law and then drop out or stall mid-career - quite often having to choose between work and family - so that you see this real decline in the numbers of women in senior positions compared to the numbers of women entering the profession.

I don’t think that the problem is exclusive to law though and it applies to a lot of other career professions as well.

Generally, things are still largely catered towards men and traditional roles. However, we are seeing more and more companies catching on to this problem and trying to retain talent through changes in their company culture, work-life and policies. On an individual level, I recommend supporting women in the industry however possible - be the backup for each other, support

and advocate for female colleagues and for supportive policies. Male allies are also incredibly important.”

Outside of work, do you have any hobbies or charities you’re involved with?

“I really enjoy spending time with my family, reading, drawing, painting and travelling. I’m involved with the Centre on Philanthropy - assisting with their probono legal program and I was recently a Board member as well. I’ve previously been involved with other charities over the years including KatKids and various pro-bono projects. It is important to me to be involved and give back to the community.”

If you “knew then what you know now" would you still choose law?

“For me, psychology was a great foundation degree and a good basis for going into law. I still love both disciplines. I don’t think I would do anything differently.

I believe we all have a journey in life - take from it what you can. Don’t live with regret.

Life is too short.”

BY: A L I CIA RESNIK PH OTO : KIONA ESTRAVIT

culture. I learned conversational Mandarin and travelled to several interesting places including Beijing, Chengdu, Tibet, Hong Kong and Macau. After that, I came home to Bermuda to teach pre-school. In 2008, I finally decided to go to law school. It feels like it took a long time to ultimately decide on, given my keen interest in psychology and education as well!”

What led you to BeesMont Law? “Sharon A. Beesley and Marco Montarsolo, co-founders of BeesMont, had set up a firm that was nimble and they were doing something different – I liked them on a personal level and the firm had an entrepreneurial feel to it. I was attracted inspirewomenmag.com

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BUSINESS/cover feature

THRIVING WOMEN

The corporate culture at

Inspire Magazine sat down for a roundtable discussion with Deloitte In Bermuda's women partners and directors to discuss what makes the company a great place to work. They unanimously agree - the people and the firm’s culture, that allows women to thrive professionally and personally.

BY: A LIC IA RE SN IK PHOTO S : K IO N A E STR AV I T

Rachelle Frisby - I like not knowing what to expect every day! With all What changes have you seen at Deloitte over the last the different service lines and different clients, you’re on the go all the 10 years? time. You don’t know if you’ll be working on a valuation report one Katherine Cupidore - Many people think of Deloitte as only an audit day and a re-structuring the next. It’s the element of surprise. services firm however, we’ve changed over the years. We’ve expanded, Anna Burns – We’ve got great people. We’re working with young, brought in new people, new skills and outlooks, focused on building vibrant people and we’re now the older ones! I enjoy mentoring the out the non-audit services which brings new focus and culture to our work environment. We’re actually number one in consulting globally. young staff, particularly the Bermudians. They may move on but they started their journey in their career here. Bermuda has great Anna Burns - Deloitte, is a significant employer around the world. opportunities.

We’re connected to our shared management values. Each office Katherine Cupidore – Definitely my team. They sit across six Caribmight have a different lens but, behind that is a shared value of what bean islands. I manage them virtually and every day we’re constantly it means to be part of the green dot. This is critical in what we call looking at how to play to our unique strengths. Research shows that ‘Global Deloitte’.

Rachelle Frisby - We perform all sorts of services from start to finish people perform best when they’re disproportionally leveraging their strengths. I’ve crafted my team using this philosophy. depending on the client’s need. When I started there were two of us in the department, the partner & myself. We’ve grown How do you create a work-life balance at to nine people, in partnership with the BVI and expandDeloitte? ing our services. I don’t have to take the ‘standard ap“Don’t stay Anna Burns - Our firm’s unique because all of our proach’. We have people with different backgrounds, within the partners are family oriented. Dad’s and mum’s go out outside of audit. to school events. This has helped shape our cullines make Anna Burns - As the first female partner at Deloitte, ture. Having a family hasn’t restricted women from new ones.” promoted in 2012, staff feedback was surprising - a rising to the top. Here I get to be 15 minutes from female partner can actually happen? There had been -Deloitte Bermuda home,I can see my daughter and come back to work if a long history of male partners. Not because Deloitte needed. If I was in Australia it would take 45 minutes to didn’t want female partners but, because women didn’t an hour on the train. stay around. My promotion is a reflection of Deloitte’s true Rachelle Frisby - We put our personal time into our calendars. culture. We welcome women through the ranks. It feels like every Staff see that, and from a leadership perspective know we allow them year we’ve had a female promoted into partnerships & directors. We’ve to go out as needed. achieved balance. Now it’s up to us to continue this success.

Katherine Cupidore – Being extremely focused on results and outWhat makes you happy to come to work? comes and less on marking time allows us to exercise flexibility with Yulia Bruskova - My team. They’re responsive, supportive, inquisitive our time. and willing to learn and work. My style is hands off. I treat people Anna Burns - The culture at Deloitte is why we can find ways to ballike adults. They take full ownership. I see them grow. I share my ance work and life. As long as you get your work done, you can leave knowledge with them and listen to their feedback, brainstorming work at 5pm, then come back on the computer once the kids are in together. bed, if you need to.

Elizabeth Cava - I like working with my staff and peers. I have a Yulia Bruskova - With my team I emphasise the need to be happy at number of people who are just out of university and people who work. Balance is important. If you exercise during lunch, I encourage have years of experience. I know myself that I wouldn’t stay in an that as long as the work is done. There’s no point in sacrificing your organization with people I didn’t like working with. It’s not worth the personal life and being unhappy in a job. stress!

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BUSINESS/cover feature Elizabeth Cava - I try to get to know the people in the teams I’m working with. To understand what commitments they have outside work.

I’m honest with my staff and hope they’re honest with me. I try to find out what they’re interested in, so they feel comfortable with me.

Is this shared with your co-workers?

Anna Burns - We have an openness with our teams. We work in high pressure environments with strict deadlines which means you work more than 9 to 5. There are months where work can be more than your personal life so we have to be honest to be effective. Our teams see us leave then get back on-line later. They respect that and are given the option to do it themselves.

Yulia Bruskova - I stress planning and open communication. We have a shared calendar. Everyone knows who is working from where and what’s going on. Deloitte’s culture is to treat everyone as adults. How you do your work is flexible. If you have to attend a school event, that’s okay. The focus is on the output of work, not the input of hours.

Katherine Cupidore – It’s not because I have kids that I’m entitled to a work-life balance. We all have different priorities. The firm supports and respects this. Balance is balance whatever your circumstances are.

Anna Burns - Have straightforward conversations. Check in with your staff, ask what they have on this week, and keep the level of communication open. You need to understand what your staff are doing and what time they need off. Check in’s areI an impactful tool that Deloitte has developed to help us run our teams effectively.

Pictured from far left to right: Yulia Bruskova, Rachelle Frisby, Anna Burns, Katherine Cupidore and Elizabeth Cava

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Why this field?

Rachelle Frisby - My dad was an engineer and my mom an architect so the expectation was that I’d enter a similar field. My parents pushed me to do well and math was something I enjoyed. It evolved over time.

Anna Burns - I did accounting & finance at university. In Australia the ‘Big 5’ had great reputations, giving insights into organizations. I did an internship. If your marks were good you were given a contract so I sort of fell into it and now here I am.

Elizabeth Cava - My father said if you want me to pay for university you can choose one – accounting, engineer, doctor. I choose accounting. He’s an engineer, my mom’s an accountant. I didn’t like it for a while. I wanted to study foreign languages, do something in international relations or the FBI. I graduated and took the Deloitte offer. I didn’t pass my CPA exam the first time. I tell students who complain when they don’t pass, that I didn’t either. So stick with it!

Yulia Bruskova - My degree was in foreign languages and psychology.

I worked for different companies in Moscow as a translator. After some time I felt it wasn’t interesting. A friend said ‘you are good at logic and math. If you do actuarial science it can open doors’. So I looked up programs and applied to Heriot-Watt University in Scotland. They offered a Master’s degree in 1 year. I finished my Masters with distinction & passed 10 actuarial exams in a year. It’s a perfect match.

Elizabeth Cava - We work inter-connectedly. You might work with teams in Switzerland, Ireland or Vancouver. Every year partners attend a seminar, hearing from top global leaders. You leave with a bigger sense of what ‘team’ means. I’ve never worked in Japan but, I feel

Yulia Bruskova is the Leader of the Actuarial practice serving the Caribbean and Bermuda Countries. Originally, from Russia, she has lived and worked in Bermuda for the last 11 years holding actuarial roles with leading reinsurance companies. She has been with Deloitte for three years. Ms. Bruskova’s focus at Deloitte is creating and delivering solutions to (re)insurance, ILS, hedge fund and captive businesses in the areas of M&A, capital and risk management, pricing, reserving, regulations and data analytics.

Rachelle Frisby is the head of Financial Advisory in Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands. She provides restructuring services to a wide range of entities. She conducts independent business reviews of debtor clients for financial institutions, performs forensic investigations of suspected employee theft and regulatory breaches. Mrs. Frisby provides due diligence and valuation services for financial services, consumer businesses, and matrimonial matters. She is a Fellow of INSOL International and a Certified Fraud Examiner. She serves on the board of Restructuring and Insolvency Specialists Association of Bermuda.

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part of the Japanese team. We have a shared purpose. Deloitte does a great job of bringing 245,000 people together.

To be a successful leader, what do you need to know about yourself?

Yulia Bruskova - Be honest about your weaknesses & strengths. Be able to respond to the ever changing market. Be flexible. Adapt your skills. Business practices are always changing. Cultural dynamics are changing - you have to look for areas to improve and grow. It’s a constant process. You have to work collaboratively, respond to challenges and move on. Each day is a chance to grow.

Elizabeth Cava - Ask for what you want. You could be very confident but waiting for someone to say ‘I think this role would be good for you’. Instead say ‘I’d like to work with this client, I’d like to get this exposure’. Say it with confidence enough times to the right people.

Anna Burns - Have the confidence to know you’re good. Make sure people are aware of your strengths. Typically women aren’t comfortable saying ‘I’m awesome, I can do this’. Be honest where you need support. Make sure you have good people working with you and work as a team. Be the one that’s leading. Too often people aren’t willing to give it a go when they’re perfectly qualified. Deloitte has a great framework to support leadership. Some people inherently have leadership strength. If you have it, embrace it.

Rachelle Frisby - One of a leader’s strengths is understanding people’s personality types - knowing the different styles people have, for learning, and in a face to face situation. Be able to adapt yourself to communicate effectively.

Anna Burns - Business chemistry is something Deloitte uses to empower staff. It’s also a product we sell to clients. Everyone has a

Anna Burns is the Audit Leader serving the Caribbean and Bermuda Countries. Originally, from Australia, she's the lead engagement and signing partner for US SEC registered, global (re)insurers managing several Deloitte teams. Mrs. Burns has been with Deloitte for 15 years and has experience in US GAAP, Internal Controls over Financial Reporting and PCAOB Audits. She works with clients to evaluate and audit valuation techniques for different insurance linked securities. She also has experience with due diligence, and mergers and acquisition services.

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different style of managing & training. We know each other and we know which client works best with which person. As a business leader being able to adapt your style is critical.

Katherine Cupidore – A good leader is able to develop teams that are diverse in their strengths, thinking and experiences but, are aligned in value. Treat people how they want to be treated.

Anna Burns - Network with everyone. The more people who know about you the better.

Rachelle Frisby - We need to get to the point where we don’t differentiate between male & female leaders. We’re all leaders.

Before taking a risk, what should you consider?

Yulia Bruskova - Consequences! Weigh everything - risk versus reward, possible scenarios of what’s going to happen, short & long term.

Katherine Cupidore – The reward. High risk, high reward!

Rachelle Frisby - There are people who think short term instead of asking if there are stumbling blocks to get where you want to be. Consider what you need to do to mitigate stumbling blocks. Think about how it’s going to help you and how it will benefit the firm.

Anna Burns - Be simplistic. What is it you want to achieve? Is the outcome worth the risk?

What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken?

Rachelle Frisby - Coming here and not knowing anyone. You have to have the mindset to make that jump. I never thought I’d be here this long.

Katherine Cupidore is a Director in Human Capital, working in Bermuda and the Caribbean. With 15 years at Deloitte, Katherine has served clients in: financial services, insurance, governmental agencies and not-for-profits. She has extensive experience in HR transformation, leadership development and succession planning, strategic recruitment, organizational design, performance management, compensation, employee engagement and culture change. Katherine led the integration of Deloitte's internal HR/Talent function across the Caribbean region, and designed a shared services model to optimize efficiency across 6 Caribbean offices.

Elizabeth Cava has worked for Deloitte for 14 years. Originally from New York, she provides assurance and advisory services in the financial services industry specializing the asset management, fund administration and reinsurance sectors. Ms. Cava's experience covers both publicly-listed and private companies, US and International accounting principles and various regulatory frameworks. She's a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst. She also has an Associate in Reinsurance.

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BUSINESS/cover feature Anna Burns - Coming here! Moving halfway around the world. I was only going to be here for 18 months.

Elizabeth Cava - I’m a city person and didn’t think I’d make it past 6 months. I was ready to go back to New York. I consider Bermuda my home now. My kids were born here, I’ve been here for 11 years.

Yulia Bruskova - I was working for a bank as an Interpreter (German and English into /from Russian) / PA. I told the general manager 'I'm bored and not going to do it anymore – can you give me a proper job?'

I was petrified. I thought he was going to chuck me out but, he put me in the Commodity Trade Finance Department. I learned trading.

He gave me this chance and I learned to ask. Don't be afraid to say I can do more, give me a chance. It's worth the risk.

Knowing what you know today, would you have done anything differently?

Katherine Cupidore – I would have figured out what I am naturally good at sooner and then done lots more of that!

Yulia Bruskova - I would probably have taken the same steps, ending up on the same path. The only advice I could have given myself is not to worry too much and not to take things so seriously. There will be another chance - believe in yourself. Keep positive.

Anna Burns - Nothing! I’m at the point I want to be but, I think it’s a matter of making people aware of what you want to achieve. Do what you can so they see you have the skills. Don’t sit back and say ‘they didn’t ask me.’ Speak up, tell us! This is advice I give our younger staff.

Rachelle Frisby - I might not have gone the traditional route. I might not have graduated with an accounting degree. I like forensics. Being able to pick out pieces of the puzzle and trying to solve them. When I was in university, they pushed audit not consulting. Those of you starting college - have an idea of where you want to go and ask questions, talk to people, reach out, sit down, have a conversation. Figure out a way you might go rather than thinking ‘I can only go this way’.

Elizabeth Cava - I’d have spent time living abroad. When you grow up with people who have a different perspective on life it helps keep you grounded. I have that with my husband. He grew up in Kenya and is completely differently from me. I’d like to have lived that first hand.

Describe your job in one word!

Elizabeth Cava – Amazing.

Yulia Bruskova – Fun. Rachelle Frisby – Progressive.

Anna Burns – As the first female partner in Deloitte – pioneering!

Katherine Cupidore – Entertaining.

SPECIAL

In honor of this Issue's special Young Women's section and the featured young women of Deloitte (see page 24) we asked the round table to share some words of wisdom and encouragement.

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WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE YOUNG WOMEN LOOKING TO ENJOY A CAREER IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR?

Anna Burns – This is a wonderful career that can take you around the world, which we fully encourage. Deloitte has an internal mobility program. Apply! We’re a tiny island, that is part of the big green dot. Young professionals need to work in a bigger office. See how Deloitte works globally. Becoming a chartered accountant can open doors. Work and travel, and then come back to Bermuda.

Rachelle Frisby - Young women, especially Bermudians, come back. There are tons of opportunities available if you have the drive. You can do well for yourself here.

Elizabeth Cava - Some practical advice – master your basics and take advantage of the opportunities your university offers. Whether that’s a study abroad program, or getting involved in an organization. It’s not enough to be book smart. You have to be able to do other things. Be able to converse with people, lead projects, manage different clients. It will be a struggle if you can’t.

women G N U O Y

Katherine Cupidore – The internet doesn’t forget.

Think carefully about your social media profile and what impression you’re giving. Work harder and smarter than your peers - that’s how you differentiate yourself.

Rachelle Frisby - We look for well-rounded people, not just a high GPA. We want someone who can interact, have a face-to-face conversation and not be awkward.

When you’re applying for jobs, do your homework know what the company is about.

Yulia Bruskova - We have a great internship program.

I love seeing young women come in. I encourage my mentees to try different roles, use different skills, and network. Develop social skills as well as practical ones.

Surround yourself with successful women. Look for mentors.

Deloitte in Bermuda is part of the Caribbean and Bermuda Countries member firm. They provide Audit, Tax, Financial Advisory, Actuarial, Risk Advisory and Consulting services.

With over 150 years in business, the Deloitte companies have grown in scale and diversity with approximately 245,000 people in 150 countries.

They aim to make an impact that matters - helping clients, making positive differences in society, and maximizing employee success.

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SPECIAL SECTION/business spotlight SARAH MAYOR

Estina Francis

Brittany Easton

PHOTO BY KIONA ESTRAVIT

I joined Deloitte in Bermuda 2010 as a Deloitte Exclusive Experience Program (DEEP) intern working with the Human Resources and Marketing teams. I had just graduated from Northeastern University and wanted to gain experience working in a business environment and with my psychology degree, HR seemed like a great fit. I joined for three months and ended up staying for six with a contract signed to return the following summer. I returned to Deloitte in 2011 working full time in the Talent team and have been there ever since!

In my current role as a Talent Senior Manager, I am responsible for the design of recruitment, mobility, learning, and employer brand strategies for the Caribbean and Bermuda region (CBC). My current focus is on the design and execution of Talent and Communications programs for the CBC, collaborating with global teams to ensure all initiatives are aligned with the vision of the firm to positively impact business results. I also support the Global Talent team to deliver the Global Internship Program DIVE (Deloitte’s International Virtual Experience) to member firms across the network.

Sarah Mayor

Deloitte invests in outstanding people of diverse talents and backgrounds and empowers them to achieve more than they could elsewhere. Their people make the difference. Deloitte Bermuda continually strives to provide a culture in which their staff can thrive and grow both professionally and personally. In return, our people commit themselves to providing outstanding service to clients, as exemplified by these three young women who are thriving at Deloitte.

BRITTANY EASTON In 2013, I was an intern with the Technology Leadership Forum (TLF).

This program helps young Bermudians learn about and have exposure to the ICT industry in Bermuda and to develop skills that will help them in future employment. It was through networking and valuable connections that led me to a career at Deloitte.

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My current position is in the Risk Advisory department as a Senior Consultant performing IT Audits. Since joining Deloitte, I have passed both my Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) exams. I am still involved with TLF as an alumni board member and now as the Treasurer.

I also present the summer training on IT Audit to the interns. This is important because the training provided as part of the program is where I was introduced to IT audit. Furthermore, I serve as Vice Programs Chair on the ISACA board where I have been involved for the last two years in assisting to host TechTalks for the community. inspirewomenmag.com

ESTINA FRANCIS In the summer of 2009, I interned with the firm through the Deloitte Exclusive Experience Program (DEEP). In June 2010, following her graduation from Oral Roberts University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration, I accepted a full-time position with Deloitte in the Alternative Investments Audit Department (the “Funds Group”).

I am currently a Senior Manager in the Funds Group with a portfolio of just over 20 clients spanning the investment management, hedge fund, and fiduciary trust industries. Additionally, I serve on Deloitte’s Professional Practice Director (PPD) Group and Learning Committee, as well as CPA Bermuda’s Student Affairs Committee and Women’s Leadership Conference Steering Committee.

To learn more about Deloitte in Bermuda visit www.deloitte.com/bm. See ad on page 30 for information on Deloitte’s Scholarship as well as Internship and Graduate programs. inspirewomenmag.com

These top tips from the deloitte recruitment team can help anyone prepare for an important interview and create the best impression. #1 Do your homework

We're impressed when candidates have taken the time to do their research and learn about us. Visit our site and look around to learn as much as you can. Being prepared will also minimize your anxiety.

#2 Prepare your responses

We are measuring more than just how you typically behave we are also interested in what motivates you and what you value. This approach gives us more information about you and how you like to approach tasks and helps us to understand how that aligns to Deloitte. With that in mind – think through some tangible examples to show how you think, how you interact with others and how you have created an impact in previous roles and projects.

#3 Make an impact

Dress for the occasion. The rule is, when in doubt, overdress. If you mean business, show us. And remember…it's not always what you say, but how you present yourself that makes an impression. Be sure to shake hands firmly and maintain eye contact. During the interview, sit up and stay focused. Remember, if your mind starts to wander, it will show!

#4 Be confident

Composure in the business world is crucial. And an interview is a good measurement of how you handle pressure. You don't want to appear too nervous. At the same time, don't be too relaxed. Maintain an appropriate level of professionalism without being unapproachable. The best advice is to be yourself. We all have strengths - identify them and share them with us. Let your strengths come through in your interview. We're looking for individuals who will thrive in our environment.

#5 Sell yourself

Your qualifications and experience got you in the door. Make sure you can speak confidently about any experiences you've had in the workplace and in the classroom. Specific examples of how you've contributed to an organization or project are of interest to us. We see potential in you, so be sure to sell yourself by promoting your skills and abilities.

#6 Ask questions

When you want to learn more about who we are and what we do, it shows us you are interested. Depending on what you ask, it may also prove you've done your homework. Before the interview, make sure you've prepared a list of questions that we may not have addressed and tailor your questions for the person you are interviewing with.

#7 Follow up

It's good etiquette to thank interviewers for their time. Make sure you have contact information for the person or people that you meet with and send an email to each one as soon as possible after the interview. This will also let us know that you liked what you heard and you want us to keep you in mind.

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As the renowned poet, Maya Angelou so eloquently explained in her poem Phenomenal Women – women are indeed phenomenal. As givers of life, mothers, wives, CEOs, and founders, just to name a few of our many accomplishments, women throughout history have helped to shape the world as we know it.

Jahnika Alves and Kidist “Pinky” Emery are two inspiring entrepreneurs that BEDC regards as phenomenal!

A Path to Becoming a Phenomenal Woman

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY BEDC

Jamillah Lodge, from the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, interviews two of their clients who began their journeys into entrepreneurship as young women and have grown from strength to strength in their respective businesses.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Pinky Emery

Kidist “Pinky” Emery Q: When did you know that you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

A: I knew I wanted to make a difference in the industry in Bermuda during my time spent in college; knowing the only way I could achieve such a goal was to own and run my own business. I finally accomplished that goal at the age of 30.

Q: What life experiences did you have that prepared you to run your own business?

A: I had travelled quite a lot during my younger years of life so experiences for me where normally made through seeing the world, being involved in others culture and exposure. I would say the biggest experience that stood out was when I lived and in the UK where I was senior stylist and had a taste of what running a salon was about.

Q: What did you wish you knew then that you have learned now?

A: When opening the salon I wish I would have known more about inspirewomenmag.com

accounting than I do now, money was not my primary goal going into business BUT I quickly realized that the understanding of your finances is IMPERATIVE. Q: What advice would you give to a young woman considering starting her own business?

A: I would say that the school of hard knocks (in the actual business) is where you will learn your hardest, more realistic lessons. Always stay tuned in with your finances, daily running’s and remain true to your culture. Reference your business plan but be okay with the fact the goal post may move vastly at times. Get up every day with a positive attitude and always remember the buck starts and stops with you. SELF EDUCATE, SELF EDUCATE, SELF EDUCATE!

big or small. I just get up every day and take on the next task at hand and always try and do better. No regrets, just adjustments.

Q: What is your favourite inspiring quote?

A: My favorite inspiring quote is “RISE & GRIND” Q: Who is your role model and why?

A: I have a few people I keep my eye on for various reasons; I don’t like to align myself with one person nowadays.

There is a big world out there and I want to get out of it what I can. I also believe people enter your life or your circle for a season, reason and a life time: once you figure out what purpose they serve, you realize you can learn something from a vast amount of people.

Q: What is one thing that you will not ever do again?

A: I am not sure to be honest; I believe that all I have been through in the last 6 years have all been lessons whether

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PHOTO SUPPLIED BY BEDC

product lines, develop my website. It was one of the most exciting times of my life.

Jahnika Alves

Jahnika Alves Q: How did you know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

A: I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur in my early 20’s.

I had returned back home from college, landed the job I thought I always wanted. A year in, I was doing really well, I was making lots of money and management was already highlighting me as a rising star. But as great as it was, something just didn’t feel right. When I looked around I didn’t see examples of who I wanted to be in 20-30 years. I wanted to create my environment in a way that worked best for me. Basically I didn’t like being told I had to be sitting at this desk, for this many hours, for this many days every week. I wanted what everyone wants; freedom to control my own destiny.

Q: How old were you when you started your business?

A: I started my first business when I was 24. I was still working full time, but once the possibility of becoming an entrepreneur was sparked in my mind, it became like a freight train. There was no stopping it. Every spare moment became about my business. It was pure motivation; the faster I could get my other work completed the more time I had to work on my logo, research

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There were no life experiences that prepared me for becoming an entrepreneur. That’s the beauty (and the beast) of it. For me, it was just a feeling, one that once I latched onto it, it would change my life forever. A belief that my successes and failures should be a result of my decisions, not whether my boss liked me or not, or whether I was good at navigating office politics. And now 13 years later, I don’t think there are many life experiences that can prepare you for it. Entrepreneurship is trench work; you can learn about marketing, sales, accounting, but you don’t really get it until you are sitting in that chair. When the failure comes, it all points back to you and when the success comes it points back to what you were able to build with the people around you.

Q: What life experiences did you have that prepared you to run your own business?

A: The biggest lesson that I’ve learned is that I can’t do it all and I’m not perfect. I was raised by a single mom who taught me to be a strong independent women and that when I wanted something done it was best to do it myself. But as an entrepreneur there is no surer path to burnout.

Many years of 12 hour days 6-7 days a week, lead to depression and severe health issues. And it’s taken just as many years to battle back from that, but today I know that my physical, mental & emotional health are my most important assets. When I’m not at my best, my business isn’t at its best, my employees aren’t at their best, and as a wife and mom, my family isn’t at its best.

Q: What advice would you give to a young woman considering starting her own business?

A: To any young women considering starting their own business, my advice is… go for it! As women most of the time, the problem isn’t that we aren’t prepared, it isn’t that we don’t have enough experience, it isn’t that it’s not a good time. The problem is that we think that to be the case so we never make a move. Believe me, if you have already been thinking about becoming an entrepreneur for awhile, you are probably over prepared, you never have enough experience if you stand on the sidelines and the right time never comes. A successful business that will sustain you and your family it built one step at a time, it’s not about having it all figured out, it’s just about taking the next step, and believing in yourself enough to trust that you’ll know what to do next.

Women in Entrepreneurship

The Bermuda Economic Development Corporation is proud to support and foster women in entrepreneurship.

Our free and confidential advice can help you start and grow your business.

Q: What is your favorite quote?

A: My favorite quote right now: “Breathe!”

Q: Who is your role model and why?

A: My role model: Bernestine Singley.

It’s inspiring to meet and become friends with a woman who is so secure in their own strengths and vulnerabilities that they allow you to be that way too. I hope that one day I can be that example for other women.

Get Financial Support Access up to a $10k Letter of Credit for importing retail goods. Through our Loan Guarantee Programme you can secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in Bank financing.

Develop a Business Plan Now you understand Just why my head’s not bowed.

I don’t shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing, It ought to make you proud.

I say, It’s in the click of my heels, The bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, The need for my care. ’Cause I’m a woman Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman, That’s me.”

—excerpt from “Phenomenal Women”

by Maya Angelou inspirewomenmag.com

Use our Business Plan Checklist and Template to create a comprehensive business plan.

SOFIA HOUSE, FIRST FLOOR 48 CHURCH STREET HAMILTON HM 12 BERMUDA

Manage Cash Flow Our Officers can help with developing a Cash Flow Statement and advise on general bookkeeping and accounting.

Government Regulations We can provide understanding and guidance on the compulsory Government benefits.

TELEPHONE: 441.292.5570 FAX: 441.295.1600 EMAIL: info@bedc.bm WWW.BEDC.BM

YOUNG

BUSINESS/cover SPECIAL SECTION/graduate feature spotlight

Q: What years did you attend BHS? A: 1995-2008 Q: What was your biggest ‘takeaway’ from your time at BHS? A: First and foremost, an army of the most incredible, supportive and inspiring friends. We’ve supported each other through some truly amazing achievements over the last 20 odd years and I think that’s really something special. A big part of that support is down to the “never give up, reach for the stars” work ethic BHS instilled in all of us. If ever any of us wavered, the rest were always there to encourage the doubts away and push each other forward.

Q: What post-BHS education have you attained?

A: I have a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences, First Class, from Queen Mary, University of London and, in July, I qualified from Guy’s King’s and St Thomas’ School of Medical Education (King’s College London) with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery with Distinction.

Q: Briefly outline your career path to date.

A: Since qualifying in July, I’ve just taken up my Foundation Programme training post in the Severn Deanery in the Bristol area. This is a 2 year programme after which I plan to return to London to specialise; likely in paediatrics or anaesthetics.

Q: What are some of the most valuable skills you need in your business/ industry?

A: Medicine is a profession that demands multitude of varied skills. Most importantly, I think, is a serious work ethic, compassion, organisational ability and a considerable amount of patience.

Every day is different, and so with each one I am called upon to do something new and it’s one of the most wonderful parts of the job!

Q: How do you feel your BHS education prepared you for your career?

A: In so many ways; the work ethic I learned at BHS has stuck with me

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throughout my post-BHS education and has been invaluable to my success.

Q: If you could share one piece of career advice with young women what would it be?

A: Admittedly, my career is only fledgling itself, but the thing that I keep trying remind myself is to remember the importance of work / life balance. You can do great things in the world, but not all of them have to be at work!

Q: What path, as a young woman, led you to your current career?

A: It was my Year 7 Biology teacher, Mr. Rodrigues, who first put a textbook of human anatomy in my hand and told me I’d be a doctor. I read it cover to cover!

CHRISTIE O’DOHERTY Q: What years did you attend BHS? A: From 1995 to 2013

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY BHS

STEPHANIE HOLLISSMITH

Q: What was your biggest ‘takeaway’ from your time at BHS? A: Hard work pays off Q: What post-BHS education have you attained?

A: Completed a Masters in Chemical Engineering (First Class Honours) including a Diploma in Industrial Studies from Loughborough University in the UK. Q: Briefly outline your career path to date.

A: I was successful in getting into the Global Manufacturing Future Leaders Programme For GlaxoSmithKline. It was a 3 year graduate scheme where I rotated across the UK and got exposure to different roles and individuals. I am currently a Production Team Leader for New Products for Oncology and HIV tablets and I manage a group of 12 individuals.

Q: What are the main challenges and rewards of your field of work?

A: Engineering is a male dominated area, so it difficult at times to break through that barrier. It is rewarding working with life-saving medicines and knowing what you do makes a difference to people and their families.

Q: What are some of the most valuable skills you need in your business/ industry?

A: You need passion and resilience.

Things do not go right the first time, but it’s really important to not give up and keep going. Resilience is key!

Q: How do you feel your BHS education prepared you for your career?

A: BHS instilled in me a really good work ethic and gave me confidence to believe in myself. These skills are invaluable in my day-to-day routine and have helped me to be organised and handle multiple situations at once.

Q: If you could share one piece of career advice with young students what would it be?

A: Make sure you focus on your ‘soft’ skills as they are just as important, if not more than your technical skills. Your degree will get your foot in the door, but your personality and how you present yourself will get you the job.

Q: What path, as a young woman, led you to your current career?

A: I was always fascinated with science and maths and wondered how I could combine the two into a career. When I was trying to decide what to do for my GCSES/IB I remember speaking to an aeronautical engineer who suggested chemical (process) engineering. At that point I had never heard of such a thing, but the more I looked into, the more I thought “this is for me”.

Process engineering simply make small processes into bigger ones, and that can be applied to any aspect of any industry, and it was explained to me that everything in a given room or place at some point required a process engineer, which meant my career opinions were endless!

At university, I then started to decide what type of process engineering I wanted to focus on, and I was drawn to Pharma based on personal experiences in my family and a desire to help people. I wanted to work in Production as this is where the action is, and I didn’t want to be tied to a desk all day.

This area of engineering has certainly been challenging as a young women, but I try not to think of my gender when I’m doing my job and just do my best every day. inspirewomenmag.com

YOUNG

EVENTS/ict SPECIAL SECTION/events awards

Celebrating girls in

International Girls in ICT Day is celebrated globally on the 4th Thursday of April every year.

The initiative is backed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and aims to empower and encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of ICT. On April 27th, Bermuda celebrated the winners of the competitions that aimed to recognise women in Information and Communications Technology on the Island.

The Department of ICT Policy and Innovation ran three events to mark the occasion: a call for nominations of “Bermuda’s Inspiring Woman in ICT” and two competitions for the Island’s students.

The Hon. Nandi Outerbridge, Minister of Social Development and Sports, awarded prizes to the winners at Connectech with standing room only.

“The main goal of International Girls in ICT Day is to remind us of the vast possibilities offered by ICT studies and careers.

“As a woman in the ICT Industry, I feel is it my duty to help others visualize not only what ICT can do for them but what they can do for and with ICT.”

—The Hon. Nandi Outerbridge, Minister of Social Development and Sports

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—Sloane Wilson

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Bermuda celebrates Girls in ICT* Everyday!

Let’s all encourage, foster, and mentor young women as PHOTO SUPPLIED BY MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPEMENT

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLGY

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The Department of ICT Policy & Innovation also organized a postercolouring competition. The staff hand-delivered posters to the public and private primary schools across the Island and every boy and girl was encouraged to participate. The image on the poster, created by caricaturist Cristina Capelo, featured 6 local women ICT leaders: Brittany Easton, Coral Wells, Katyna Rabain, Lisa Stevens, Dr. Marisa Stones & Caroline Rance.

n advance of International Girls in ICT Day, the Bermuda public was invited to nominate a woman who is based in Bermuda and who stands out in the Island’s ICT sector.

The Department of ICT Policy and Innovation received many worthy nominations, confirming that the Island’s ICT sector is replete with female leaders.

The judges selected Sloane Wilson who, both in her personal and professional capacity, consistently works to mentor young girls and boost ICT in Bermuda. Not only is she a staunch ICT advocate, Sloane is also a mother, an entrepreneur, an artist, and an author. She has taught coding to dozens of students interested in computer programming, all ranging from 5 to 16 years of age. In terms of background, Sloane worked locally as a computer technician, graphic designer and coding instructor before settling into her current post.

Ms. Wilson is also Bermuda’s first certified Start-up Weekend Facilitator. She promotes e-entrepreneurship Island-wide and sits on the board of the Technology Leadership Forum. The lead Cybertips speaker, Sloane promotes Digital Citizenship in Bermuda’s, public and private, and speaks to hundreds of them island-wide every school year. Sloane also visits parent groups, church groups and conferences, and as one the many persons who nominated her said: “is a game changer in our community for educating the youth about Internet use.

On receiving her award, Ms. Wilson addressed the attendance and said: “It’s exciting when you can see that something you are so passionate about makes a positive impact on the lives of others. Working in ICT requires creativity and forward thinking but also a certain level of caution. As a woman in the ICT Industry, I feel is it my duty to help others visualize not only what ICT can do for them but what they can do for and with ICT. As technology continues to evolve assisting Bermuda’s vulnerable persons by providing them with the tools and advice to navigate through it, we are preparing them for a brighter more productive future.”

She added: “I am both humbled and elated by the nomination for this award and hope that in the years to come The Inspiring Woman in ICT award will push other local women in ICT to give back to the community and encourage them to continue to break down barriers in this predominantly male sector.“

they enter the ICT industry and develop into tech leaders.

• Encourage girls and women into ICT studies • Recruit women into ICT-related posts • Retain & promote women in the ICT sector

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YOUNG

SPECIAL SECTION/financial advice

for Graduates Freisenbruch Meyer's Carla Seely offers golden financial advice to get young women, entering the work force, started off on the right fiscal foot.

WOW! You finally did it – you finished your university degree and you're ready to take on the world!

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niversity give you the education and confidence to dream big and believe anything is possible, and it provides you with the platform to launch yourself into a career. So where do you go from here? Head back to your island home in Bermuda or try to land that dream job in the Big Smoke?

The reality is that many graduates who find employment seem to struggle in two main areas: 1. The transition from student to employee.

2. Managing money after being a student for years.

The transition from student to employee is an evolution over time; it is not a skill that can be taught, rather it just happens over time.

Managing money is a life skill, and it is something that must be learnt quickly to ensure those early working years are as financially productive as the later ones. I am sure we have all heard someone in their fifties say, “If only I had known how to manage money better when I was younger, I would have more savings.”

Taking the time to manage your money better can really pay off in the long term. It can help you stay on top of your bills and put money into savings each year. You can use these extra savings to pay off any student loans that you might have accumulated and/or make extra contributions to your pension plan.

The first step to taking control of your finances is doing a budget. It will take a little effort, but it’s a great way to get a quick snapshot of the money you have coming in and going out. Did you know the majority of households that keep a regular budget are households of people who are in their forties?

A great way to set up a budget is by using a spreadsheet: that way you can save it and track it over time. Another great website that will help you create a budget is www. pensions123.com – learning centre.

Now, if you are a typical graduate, you probably have inspirewomenmag.com

• Less likely to end up in debt.

• Less likely to be financially strapped when unexpected costs arise.

• More likely to be approved for a mortgage.

• More likely to put extra money away for retirement.

To get started on your budget, you’ll need to work out how much you spend on the following: Housing Transportation Insurance Food

Entertainment Debt Savings

some student debt right out of the starting gate. If you have loans or owe money on credit cards, it usually makes sense to first pay off the debt that charges the highest rate of interest.

Even if you’re focusing on paying off another debt first, you must make at least the minimum payment on any credit cards as well as the required monthly payments on any other loans. If you do not meet the minimum repayment amount, it will go towards a negative mark on your credit rating, which could eventually cause problems when you need to borrow for major purchases such as a home.

Lastly, set a savings goal as soon as you get your first pay cheque and keep to it. Once you have figured out your budget and determined that you have extra funds available monthly, let your employer know you wish to make voluntary contributions to your pension plan. Even if it is only an extra 1% a month coming off your pay cheque and going into your pension, it will pay off in the long term. The great news about voluntary contributions is they are not locked-in, so in the event of an emergency, you will be able to access them (depending on your company pension plan rules).

Taking control of your finances from day one will make all the difference, and in the long term it will provide you with the financial freedom most of us strive for.

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY FREISENBRUCH-MEYER GROUP

MONEY TIPS

When you create and follow a budget you are ultimately creating a road map for financial freedom, but you are also:

Carla Seely is the Vice President of Pension and Investments at Freisenbruch Meyer.

If you would like any further information please contact cseelyfmgroup.bm or call 441 297 8686.

Take Control of your Retirement

PENSIONS

Our Personal Retirement Plan can conveniently allow you to manage and transfer all of your accumulated retirement savings into one place.

To make an appointment for more information please contact Carla Seely, Vice President, Pensions and Investments at 297-8686 or cseely@fmgroup.bm

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Health & Wellness

Tips for managing your “Middle Years” The middle years are a time to focus on yourself and to take care of your health. Here are some main areas to focus on: Up-keep Taking care of your health includes taking care of yourself inside and out. It’s not selfish to take care of your skin, nails, hair and body; it’s actually a way of saying, “I care about me and I want to make the most of what I have and can be.” The outside of your body deserves the same care as the inside.

Emotional Health Having close relationships that are based on trust, warmth and mutual care helps you stay mentally healthy.

Did you know the key for keeping your New Year’s resolutions is to share it with others? This was the finding of a yearlong UK study done by the University of Hertfordshire. They found that women benefit from the social support provided by friends and family. Make time to chat with a friend over a cup of coffee or tea – it’s not only good for your friendship, but good for your health.

Weight and Shape Change The shape changes that come with changing hormones may be inevitable but, the creep of weight gain is preventable without constant dieting. The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health showed that women who gained weight around midlife, gained their weight at 2/3 the rate of younger women. Check your weight, eating and lifestyle. Re-balance your intake if necessary, and make plans that will keep you healthy.

Activity Change your activity patterns to suit the season. Why not swap swimming for walking or cycling with a friend.

Take up Yoga or Pilates.

Vitamin D, Calcium & Osteoporosis Risk Check the health of your bones and ask your doctor if you’re at risk for developing osteoporosis. Your GP can organise tests and review your eating, physical activity and general lifestyle. A simple way to keep up your vitamin D intake is by being outdoors.

Time Find something every day that makes you happy or gives you a sense of achievement. It could be as simple as watering a favorite plant, writing in your diary, a 10 minute walk or a half hour massage. Doing something for yourself each day can help your mood and lower your stress levels.

Preventing Diabetes & Heart Disease Speak with your GP about your risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. If you are at risk, take action to prevent and/or delay these health problems. Those aged 45-49 at risk of developing a chronic disease can access a once only health check.

Handbag Health Over the last 15 years the weight women carry in their handbags and backpacks has changed. Women tend to be prepared for everything and with our increasingly busy lifestyles we tote around everything from electronics to books, water bottles, spare shoes, laptops, phones, chargers and make-up. The average handbag can weigh as much as 5 bags of sugar. Here are some recommendations to literally ‘lighten your load’: • • • • • • • • •

You should carry a purse that weighs less than 10% of your body weight.

Empty your bag and only repack what’s needed each day.

Do not carry coins or water bottles in your handbag. These add unnecessary weight.

Leave additional sets of things like makeup and shoes in your office or car.

When buying a purse make sure that it’s not heavy when it’s empty. By the time you’ve filled it, the weight will add up.

The strap should not be too long or short. Your purse needs to snuggle in your side above your hip between your armpit so your arm can move freely. This allows you to maintain a perfect gait when walking.

Change shoulders from side to side every few blocks. We get into the habit of using just one side which puts constant stress on your shoulder muscles.

Use a roller bag or backpack for heavy items. Ensure that the backpack straps are well padded and that you wear it properly using the two straps.

The best way to carry a handbag is the messenger bag way, cross-body - over one shoulder and opposite hip.

A UK study revealed that women’s handbags are contaminated with more bacteria than the average toilet.

Tests showed that 1 in 5 purse handles are home to enough bacteria to pose a risk to human health. The dirtiest item in the average handbag? Hand cream. Bottles of hand cream were found to carry more bacteria than the average toilet seat. Lipstick and mascara packets weren’t much better. Tests also revealed that leather handbags are the most bacteria-riddled because the spongy texture of leather provides the perfect condition for bacteria to grow and spread.

What to do? Researchers recommend women regularly clean their hands, and bags, with antibacterial wipes or gel to prevent cross-contamination. Handbags come into regular contact with our hands and a variety of surfaces. The risk of transferring germs is high, especially because we rarely think to clean our handbags. Once germs are on the bags, they can be transferred via hands to other surfaces. Regular hand sanitisation is essential to prevent the presence of bacteria in the first place and thorough cleaning of bags is recommended to prevent the build-up of contamination.

Keep in mind - bags travel as much as we do. They go along with us from the bedroom to the car (or bus), to the office, the grocery store, a restaurant or bar, public bathrooms, then back home to be deposited on our kitchen counter. You get the idea! Think of all the collected bacteria, such as staph and E. coli. Avoid putting your bag down in these places and remember to wipe it down daily.

WELLBEING/advice

let go, heal &move on

Deryn Higgins from My Sereni-Tea reveals why it is so important to let go of the past to be able to move forward successfully into the future.

reating balance in all areas of your life is the key to all wellbeing; physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. A lot of attention today is given to our physical wellbeing, and our mental, emotional and spiritual is sometimes neglected.

We have all heard people say “Life is not fair, Life is not easy” but really life is what you make it. Some of us have had traumas, difficult childhoods, and situations that make us say and believe those statements. When you accept what you have been through and willing to create a better life for yourself, you are embarking on a journey of personal growth and healing. It takes a lot of courage to revisit past traumas or situations that we are not proud of but we have to in order to examine how it has affected us today with the faulty beliefs and feelings that we have about ourselves and be willing to let go, release, heal and move on.

Keeping ourselves chained to the past with repressing the emotions is not healthy and will eventually cause dis-ease of energy and eventually illness. Anger and Resentment towards someone who you feel as wronged you and not willing to forgive is causing you more harm than to the other person. The energy of all these emotions are stored in your body and they are powerful.

There are many ways to release these emotions. Transpersonal Hypnotherapy is proving to me to be very effective. Transpersonal hypnotherapy is different to Clinical as it brings in a spiritual aspect and talks to the soul rather than the ego. The soul knows what has to be healed.

In my opinion Transpersonal Hypnotherapy is deeper and more profound and that is why I decided to offer it, It can help with a variety of issues, anger, sadness, fear, abandonment, loneliness, unworthiness to name a few.

We have all heard people say: ‘Life is not fair. Life is not easy.’

But really, life is what you make of it.”

Some clients may need more than one session, to uncover and release the emotions that they have been dragging around with them for years. Clients are amazed at the power of the emotion that is released, knowing that has been repressed for so long. How does the saying go “Better out than in!”

In addition to the Transpersonal Hypnotherapy, a variety of massage, Cupping, Holistic therapies and workshops are offered at My Serenti-Tea to assist with being balanced, Physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Deryn will be offering in September stress management sessions having personally been through a great deal of stress over the last few years and being told by the Doctor to make some changes in her life. Deryn decided to train in this area of Stress and Anxiety management .This consists of an evaluation of your stress and through a series of sessions learning techniques, meditation and deep breathing you come away with coping skills to assist you through day to day life.

In October, Deryn is running a Stress Less 3 week group workshop, about learning how to manage your stress. This workshop starts on Oct 4th and more information can be found on their website and Facebook page.

One of the things that gives me great joy is seeing the transformation that takes place with my clients and seeing the spark and joy back in their life and that they are free from the baggage of the past and creating a balanced life.

We are only on this earth for a short period of time so why not Let Go, Heal and Move and live a life Happy, Joyous and Free!

Deryn is a Holistic Health practitioner, Rohun Therapist and Transperonsal Hypnotherapist who has a Doctorate in Metaphysics and her team at My Sereni-Tea’s team consists of three experienced Massage Therapists, and Dr. Karen Simons who works out of My Sereni-Tea offering Acupuncture, Cupping and other therapies.

For information on their services please call 296 2114, visit their web page www.myserenitea.com, facebook page My Sereni-Tea or visit them in person on the 4th floor of The Bermudiana Arcade, 27 Queen Street.

PH OTO: K ION A EST RAV IT

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WELLBEING/lifestyle coach

comparison-itis Stop the Scroll & Start Self-love

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY TANIA KOWALSKI

this is where the good stuff comes in – the clarity, the calm, the peace.

BY: TANIA KO WA LS K I

Tania Kowalski warns about of the emotional dangers of social media and how to combat negative camparisons when they raise their ugly heads.

Scroll, scroll, scroll and stop to notice which friends were out without you last night, scroll, scroll to see who worked out and feel guilty that you didn’t. Keep scrolling again and see scantily clad girl looking amazing and notice how many ‘followers’ she has and wish that you were so ‘popular’. Oh wait… just one last check to see how many hearts that last picture you posted got. Look up and notice that no one else is looking up and look down again.

Sound familiar?

It’s like our phones are glued to our hands! If you look down the street, in the airport lounge, and even in the gym you will see pretty much everyone hunched over and entranced by tiny screens. Having constant access to everyone else’s lives can cause serious cases of comparison-itis.

Given our highly media exposed lives, how can we stay focused on loving ourselves, how can we stop comparing?

Here are 7 ways to stop comparing and start living & loving your life and your body right now.

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Limit the scroll. That endless social media scroll will never make you feel better, I promise. If you are a loyal social media engager or you do marketing for your business then schedule yourself a couple of 15 to 20-minute time slots to get on and scroll away guilt free but set a timer and be diligent about not getting on a hundred times a day. If you follow or subscribe to a certain feed that leaves you feeling empty then simply unfollow and fill your feed with things that make you feel good and want to be your very best you. Challenge yourself to be ok with just ‘being’ – not having to pick up your phone in every idle moment Get grateful. Every time that the grass looks greener somewhere else take the time to water your own grass. Write out 5 things that you are truly grateful for. Gratitude has a way of really putting things in perspective. If you’re thinking that someone else’s life or body is better than yours then take some time to appreciate the amazing gifts in your own life and what your body allows you to do.

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Move your body. When we aren’t moving, when get stagnant, we feel stuck. Movement creates momentum and positive energy. It makes us feel better about our bodies, we feel stronger and more energized.

Moving doesn’t have to always mean working out, it can mean going out for a walk and chatting with a friend.

self-love meditation

Have your ‘go to’ person or people. Have a person that you can tell anything to – someone who completely gets you! When I am feeling hormonal or sad it is so important for me to be able to vent to someone who ‘gets’ me – someone that I really trust.

Get outside and notice the details.

Going back to the phone again, we are often walking around in a kind of phone trance, barely gazing up and we are missing so much beauty! Leave the phone at home or vow to keep it away and focus on all the beautiful details in nature – so miraculous! Take mental photographs instead of breaking out the phone.

Do something for someone else. Any time that I catch myself comparing I realize that I must have extra time on my hands so I try to fill it by doing something kind for someone else. It might be a quick note to someone that I care about telling them how important they are or offering to help someone who needs a hand. Switching the focus to others always gets me out of my own head and helps to get me back to a positive mindset. When we serve others, we serve ourselves!

Love your uniqueness and own your weirdness. If we were all the same life would be oh so boring!

Own the gifts that make you unique and weird - highlight them! inspirewomenmag.com

Tania Kowalski is a proud wife, and ‘mompreneur’ - a passionate health and happiness coach.

Tania is Precision Nutrition Certified, an ACE Certified Health Coach, and ACE Certified Personal Trainer. For more information on Tania’s Bermuda based and online wellness programs, connect with her at www.taniakowalski.com, Tania Kowalski – Health Fanatic on Facebook, and Tania Kowalski on Instagram. Tania is proud to work in partnership with Lindo’s Family Foods to make a positive impact on health and wellness in Bermuda!

Thank you Lindos for caring enough to bring in incredible healthy food, non toxic cleaning and personal care products, and for offering it all with a smile!

Self-love meditation: If you like, set a timer for this or just allow yourself to take as long as you need.

Take a comfortable seated position (I like to have my back straight and that may mean that you sit with your back supported) Let your hands gently lay in your lap with your palms up and relaxed.

Relax your face…let your eyes be heavy, relax your jaw.

Slide your shoulder blades down your back, relax your neck and shoulders.

Take 10 big deep breaths, slow down, feel your ribs and belly expand, feel how amazing it is to be alive, to simply breathe.

Use the mantra I am love – continually repeat this or come up with a mantra of your own that nourishes your spirit.

One more thing that I like to do is a daily ‘I am’ statement.

Make it be something that you feel that you need that day so maybe you are feeling nervous about a presentation that you need to give so you can make your ‘I am’ statement ‘I am confident’ or whatever speaks to what is going on in your life.

Wishing you much health and happiness!

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HOME/advice

HOW TO PICK THE

perfect paint Karolina De Costa from Rowe Spurling Paint Company shares tips on how to pick the perfect paint colors for your home.

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ne of my favourite things to do at the shop is help customers pick their perfect paint colour. It’s amazing what an impact it has on our mood and wellbeing! But if you’re ever stared with frustration at a fan deck filled with thousands of choices, you know that choosing the right shade can be a challenge.

Over the years I’ve discovered our customers making the same mistakes so I’ve put together a short list of things to watch out for.

Not coming prepared.

If possible, bring in floor samples, fabrics swatches, an off cut of your flooring or counter, or a favourite piece of art. Bought a new pair of sheets or curtains for the bedroom? Bring them in for a match. Ordered something online? Wait until your purchase arrives before you make a decision.

I’ve learned the hard way that a picture or description on the website can be deceiving and often what was supposed to be beige in the photo ends up grey, green or blue in real life.

Picking a shade that is too dark. When looking at a small paint chip it can be hard to imagine what it will look like on a larger area.

Generally, paint colours look about half a shade DARKER on the wall than on the chip.

At the paint store, look at the colours against a white background for context and if you’re stuck between two shades start with the lighter one Picking a wall paint that is too glossy. In the past, painting the walls with a semigloss paint was the only way to get a washable finish.

This was great in high traffic rooms like kitchens, hallways and bathrooms.

But these days even matte inspirewomenmag.com

paints are designed to be scrubbed clean. With a very low sheen, they won’t highlight wall imperfections.

If your walls are rough, a flatter paint will minimize those bumps and give the impression of a smoother surface.

Picking a color that is too bright. Paint colours can not only look darker on the wall, some shades (like yellow or green) can also look much brighter especially if you have a lot of natural light. What you thought was going to be a cheerful shade can quickly turn into a fluorescent colour that’s impossible to live with. Instead, choose a softer version of your favourite colour and you’ll create a space that’s stylish and comfortable.

Not trying a sample.

At the end of the day, the best way to try on a new wall colour is try some paint on the walls. After all, you wouldn’t buy that pair of jeans without trying them on, right? Lighting makes a huge difference in how we see colour so paint a sample in your space (in the corner and on a wall opposite a window) and evaluate it both during the day in natural light and at night when you turn on the lights. The latter is especially important when picking paint for the bedroom since we spend most of our time there after sundown.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. At the shop, we’ve been picking paint for years so we’re pretty familiar with a fan deck. Plus, if you have a specific issue (like mold in the bathroom or peeling paint) ask us which products are best for your walls.

There are so many products on the shelf, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. That’s why we’re there!

For more design tips visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/rowespurlingpaintcompany or visit our blog at https://rowespurlingpaintcompany.wordpress.com. It’s updated weekly with decorating inspiration and DY advice.

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