After a casual reconnection over baguettes and croissants at Eleni’s, Celene Sarah Gordon, during a more in-depth convo at Spanish Court Hotel, shares deets on her job as deputy project manager, Caribbean Mobile InnCovation Project (CMIP) Entrepreneur, and sheds light on her relaxed, culturally-chic-with-a-touch-of-sophistication sense of style. The conversation is so enlightening that, before long, we are on our third lemon margarita, never mind that it is her favourite sip…

What tune were you humming this morning in the shower?

African Pride by Buju Banton.

You are part of a most enviable cabal, notably the World Bank. Is this a dream come true?

Quite a tick in the box for me! It’s great to know that I assist in a small way to determine the rate of growth of our economic landscape and the direction our country may sway through the innovations of our most creative and ingenious people.

The CMIP is designed to strengthen the Caribbean mobile innovation ecosystem and enable sustainable and competitive mobile enterprises to grow through activities that will target early-stage innovators and guide them to market-readiness.

It is a two-tiered partnership approach to support growth-oriented mobile app businesses in the Caribbean. Administered by a University of the West Indies (UWI) consortium led by UWI Consulting Inc and also comprising the Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) and the Mona Business Support Services (MBSS), the CMIP is a part of the Entrepreneurship Programme for Innovation in the Caribbean (EPIC), funded by the Government of Canada and executed by InfoDev/World Bank, spanning 14 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.

What would you say played a major role in you landing this job?

I had the opportunity, at first in 2011-2013, working as operations analyst at the World Bank Jamaica country office, headed at the time by Country Manager Giorgio Valentini. I had recently graduated with my bachelor’s in IR and thought it was a natural progression to be with a multinational organisation, and had the luck of interviewing for the post.

Landing this job was a result of having that early experience with the organisation and being able to articulate my value as beneficial to the success of this project.

I work with a most inspiring young project manager, Bianca Welds. She really has a way of gracefully pulling out the best in her team and getting the job done. Learning from her, and recently being positioned as her deputy have been blessings in so many ways. She is the real star here.

What would be the advice to your younger self?

Focus is key, patience is a virtue and consistency always yields a result. Choose wisely now the results you wish to yield.

How does one manage creativity and ego when working as a team on a project?

Ego is usually as a result of the self-confidence of individuals in what they have to offer; the danger is when that ego is not respectful of the equal opinion and thoughts of others in the confines of the project space. Inspiring respect and encouraging tolerance through healthy conversations, collaboration, brainstorming sessions and other project management tools and techniques will serve well in managing the pair. I’ve watched this demonstrated by Bianca so often. Works every time!

How does one balance marriage and ambition?

Hopefully the ambitions are also married, seeking to go in the same direction and using differing viewpoints as a polishing guide for each other. So, for me, making my husband happy is as much my ambition as being a great boss and employee. Ambition is a wonderful attribute but it can also be a dividing factor in marriage; applying selflessness here is how getting back to balance can be achieved. It is very important that both partners be each other’s biggest fans, as well. This way it’s an easy balance.

Where is your go-to spot to unwind?

Aunt May’s at Hellshire Beach, better done in the late pm when the sea breeze is a tad nippy and the water is moonlit. Oh, and this time it has to be the ice-cold Red Stripe with the fish and festival.

The words that best describe you are…

Resourceful

Problem-solver

Ambitious

Warm

Fearfully and wonderfully made

What is your personal philosophy?

Never short-change yourself. The sky is my perspective, not my limit. God is boss.