Name and Title: Vernon James, Chief Executive Officer, Lynk

How many years working in tech: New to leading a fintech (2 years), but I have been leading technology and innovation in the finance industry for several decades.

What does your role entail: Lead the fully digital start-up TFOB (2021) Limited — this is the operation that manages the first digital financial services — Lynk.

Names and ages of their children: Ashley James – 17, Ayanna James – 13

How do you create a work-life balance as a father in the demanding and ever-evolving local tech space?

The beauty about embracing tech is that it adds value in ways that sometimes aren’t readily seen. It allowed me to work from home. Having more time to spend with my girls as opposed to spending it in transit, and since pick-up time is critical, I can take a meeting on the go right up until they get into the car. This allows me to focus on work and seamlessly transition into our essential father/daughter bonding time.

What three rules do you have in your household with your kids relating to their digital devices?

We have one main rule of designated ‘no-phone zones/time’, for example, when we have dinner or play board games. It allows us to unplug from the world and embrace our time together.

Are any of your children interested in technology, and would you encourage your child to venture into the tech space for a career?

Unfortunately no, they are not interested beyond personal use. They are more interested in the traditional careers; one wants to be a lawyer. I, however, recommend that they keep an open mind to involving tech in whatever they are passionate about to help unlock its true potential.

What is your take on the pervasiveness of digital in education (at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels? Why is digital literacy important for today’s youth?

Digital literacy is critical as, in a few years, going digital will be more than just an option – it will be the option. In many cases, our children spend more time interacting with technology than us, so inevitably, they will learn about it. Therefore, it is our responsibility to ensure they know about how powerful of a tool it can be and the perils of its misuse in a safe and age-appropriate manner. We need to embrace responsibility.

How can digital tools or resources be used to nurture and improve relationships between parents and children?

Sometimes the demands of work result in parents missing out on bonding time or memorable moments. But with the rise of technology, the parent can still nurture the parent/child relationship with something as simple as playing virtual games together. Or using the technology to erase borders and create opportunities to be virtually at work until it’s time to be physically present for special moments that would be otherwise impossible.

Name and Title: John-Matthew Sinclair, Chief Product Officer at Lynk

How many years working in tech: 17 years

What does your role entail:

Bringing product and payment innovation to the hands of Jamaicans and the Caribbean. This includes strategic product direction, product vision, product innovation and product design.

Names and ages of their children: Joel Sinclair, 9; Leah Sinclair is six but acts like 16

How do you create a work-life balance as a father in the demanding and ever-evolving local tech space?

Spending time with my kids is extremely important. So I have found time to dedicate parts of the day and most of the weekend to spend time with them as a group (both simultaneously) and individually (daddy/son or daddy/daughter). We also spend a lot of time playing and watching sports. As it relates to tech, which is also a big part of my life, to keep up with the ever-evolving tech space, I have to constantly read, learn, do courses, watch videos and speak plus interact with people/users very frequently. I have learned that kids have the super ability to simplify or overcomplicate things, and therefore I value their opinions on tech because their views on things are usually unique. And mixing tech and life with the kids usually creates a very engaging environment for all of us.

What three rules do you have in your household with your kids relating to their digital devices?

Rules are discussed and determined as a joint effort; that way, they get followed – however, parent privilege usually takes place.

The BIG rule: Parents own all the electronics; only parents can install apps, and only parents can create accounts (in other words, I have all the passwords). No devices at the dinner table. You may not interact with anyone you don’t know personally, and friends must be in your age group. Random device audit (they don’t know about this one).

Are any of your children interested in technology, and would you encourage your child to venture into the tech space for a career?

Both my kids are techies, so even though they love sports and the outdoors, they appreciate how technology works and what it can do for them. I don’t want to steer them in a career direction, but what I will do is encourage an entrepreneurial mindset. My son, however, does aspire to use technology to catch bad guys.

What is your take on the pervasiveness of digital in education (at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels?

Why is digital literacy important for today’s youth? Technology should be embraced at all levels of education and utilised to provide the best experience for the student. In my days, we used to go to the library, read encyclopedias, and personally visualise how things work. Now the kids can jump on YouTube; use augmented reality, virtual reality and a whole host of tools/apps to learn and consume information tailored for them, eg: how the heart pumps blood through the body. Digital literacy is equally important, not just for the kids/student but also for the parent or guardian. Like everything in life, there is a good side and a bad side, so we must embrace and understand technology. Digital is the future; when my kids are adults, I know they will create jobs or apply for jobs that don’t exist now.

How can digital tools or resources be used to nurture and improve relationships between parents and children?

We can use it to TRACK THEM! Joke! Simple things like just being able to communicate on platforms where they are comfortable, being able to share experiences, pics and videos all in a family space are things that make digital media connect parents and kids. There are also tools to track chores and achievements, and even for kids with special needs, there is an app for that. I think digital makes building relationships easy because we can find tools and platforms to meet our needs. My kids are young, so we haven’t stepped up to the more mature apps yet, but they enjoy video editing, especially with filters and then rewatching on the TV.