The spotlight was placed on the art of networking on Thursday, November 21, the fifth day of the Jamaica Observer’s Applaud It! series hosted by the NCB Foundation at the Jamaica Food and Drink Kitchen at Progressive Plaza in Kingston.

Nine students from Mona and Camperdown high schools and their teachers convened not only to show how they could match wits with members of the C-Suite in the boardroom, but also, in a social setting as they prepare for the next phase of their lives.

NCB Jamaica Corporate Affairs & Foundation Lead Belinda Williams welcomed this cabal of Jamaica’s future leaders, noting the impact Applaud It! has had over the years. Williams shared that the NCB Foundation saw the need to challenge students this year in a way other than a boardroom setting.

“The spirit of what we are doing is to make sure that you are capable of making a transition into the next phase of your life. When you are going to college, it’s about networking and social connections,” Williams said. “Much of the conversations and big deals are closed by having a connection with individuals.”

Williams advised the students that the type of conversations they would be having with the NCB Foundation and NCB Jamaica executives would include lessons in finance. Those lessons, Williams deemed crucial to making smart decisions in the future.

“If you are financially literate and you have a sound education you make practical and very good decisions when it comes to financial management and actions,” Williams added.

NCB Jamaica Brand, Events and Sponsorship Manager Michelle Cunningham kicked off the proceedings with an icebreaker session. Each person was asked to introduce themselves and share a lesson that they learned about money. The responses ranged from developing proper budgeting and saving habits to being disciplined from an early age to meet financial goals.

The students’ networking skills were put to the test as they participated in three 10-minute speed networking sessions that allowed them to have one-on-one sessions with McDonald-Whyte as well as NCB Foundation Chair Thalia Lyn, NCB Foundation Deputy Chairman Andrew Pairman, NCB Foundation director Melissa Hendrickson McGrane, NCB Jamaica University Branch Service Quality Manager Roy Calvert and NCB Jamaica Chief Technology Officer Andre Stewart. While they conversed, they enjoyed finger foods prepared by Chef Celeste Gordon.

Part one of the two-part session over, the students moved into the kitchen for a mixology session led by Chef Gordon, who taught them how to create a pina colada mocktail. Additionally, Calvert compared each step to a key fact about financial success and planning. For instance, Calvert compared sound financial planning to the proper measurement for ingredients needed to make the mocktail. The specific amount of lime juice necessary referenced how important being meticulous is in managing money; the ice cubes represented the need for balance in budgeting; adding blue syrup referenced the creativity needed in identifying new saving and investing methods; adjusting the soda water to suit taste outlined the importance of adjusting unexpected challenges.

In summary, Calvert shared that effective financial planning requires patience and commitment to achieving long-term gains.

“Financial success, like creating a great cocktail, is a long-term process. Saving a little each month, investing wisely and making incremental improvements to your financial habits can lead to major financial success over time,” Calvert said. “Whether you are crafting a mocktail or building wealth, the journey involves careful steps, a little creativity and a focus on long-term results. Success in both areas often comes from mastering the basics and continually refining your approach.”

After creating and enjoying their mocktails and the lessons behind them, Mona High Head Boy Tyrese Nicely presented McDonald-Whyte with a token of appreciation for the Applaud It! experience and expressed gratitude for the lessons learned and the confidence gained.

That appreciation was also shared by the students. Camperdown High Deputy Head Girl Amelia Calame was pleased that she discovered peers with similar interests. She also found the mixology and financial lessons informative.

“I found it very interactive. I discovered people who want to do something in my career field. I found it interesting with the mixing of the drinks and I found it eye-opening, learning about financing,” Calame said.

Mona High Deputy Head Girl Donique Russell said she gained financial wisdom from the session. “What I enjoyed the most was socialising and meeting new people and learning more about everyday things, like how to budget money and how to save and how not to spend your money at once,” Russell said.

Camperdown High grade 13 student Machell Thomas said he was grateful for the counsel of the executives who gave him sage advice.

“What I liked about it was being able to talk with everyone who has gone through what I had gone through in terms of school and different experiences,” Thomas said. “Now they are here to give us back different kinds of knowledge, to put us on the right path and to show us how things should really be done. I really appreciated talking to everyone who had that brand of knowledge.”

Camperdown High Deputy Head Girl Amelia Calame (left) and Mona High Deputy Head Girl Donique Russell add blue syrup to their pina colada mocktails. Naphtali Junior

NCB Foundation Director Melissa Hendrickson McGrane and Mona High grade 13 student Tia Moya Powell toast after making their Pina colada mocktails. Naphtali Junior

Camperdown High Deputy Head Boy Antwan Clarke asks a question of NCB Jamaica Service Quality Manager Roy Calvert during the speed networking session. Naphtali Junior

Chef Celeste Gordon (right) stirs a mocktail for Camperdown High Head Girl Shanae Wiles’ while Camperdown High grade 13 student Marlon Shirley observes. Naphtali Junior

Jamaica Observer Senior Associate Editor, Lifestyle and Social Content Novia McDonald-Whyte speaks to the importance of having a competitive advantage. Naphtali Junior

NCB Jamaica Corporate Affairs & Foundation Lead Belinda Williams welcomes guests to Applaud It! at Jamaica Food and Drink Kitchen. (Naphtali Junior)

Mona High Head Boy Tyrese Nicely presents a token of appreciation to Jamaica Observer Senior Associate Editor, Lifestyle and Social Content Novia McDonald-Whyte. Naphtali Junior

NCB Jamaica Chief Technology Andre Stewart (right) and Camperdown High Deputy Head Boy Antwan Clarke incorporate blue syrup to their pina colada mocktails. Naphtali Junior

NCB Deputy Chairman Andrew Pairman adds soda water to NCB Foundation Chair Thalia Lyn’s Pina Colada mocktail. Naphtali Junior

NCB Jamaica Chief Technology Officer Andre Stewart and Camperdown High Deputy Head Boy Antwan Clarke listen to the perspective of Mona High Deputy Head Girl Donique Russell during their speed networking session. Naphtali Junior

NCB Foundation Chair Thalia Lyn (right) and NCB Foundation Deputy Chairman Andrew Pairman (second left) raise a toast with Camperdown High grade 13 student Machell Thomas (left) and Mona High grade 13 student Teeva Hibbert after the successful completion of the mixology session. Naphtali Junior

The array of finger foods prepared by Chef Celeste Gordon. Naphtali Junior

Panko crusted pork bites with pineapple chutney Naphtali uJnior