By Simone J Smith
“There is the old way, and the new way. You have two choices: get into it, or get left behind.”
Well now!
The stage has been set for this edition’s Woman Empowered. Over the years, the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper has been sharing the stories of African-Caribbean Women; their struggles and their triumphs, and as we move into the future, it is time to evolve into a way of life that at one point, was only thought of as a movie script…
The digital age, also known as the information age or the computer age, is a period in human history characterized by the widespread use and integration of digital technologies into everyday life.
What exactly are we talking about here? Well, this includes the use of: computers, smartphones, the internet, and other digital technologies to communicate, access information, conduct business, and more. The digital age has brought about significant changes in the way we live, work, and interact with each other, and has had a profound impact on several aspects of society: education, healthcare, and entertainment are the three that come to mind.
Here is where I bring in the importance of Bridgette Daley to the Caribbean Diaspora. She has tapped into the importance of over standing the digital age, and what it is going to bring.
In her own words, Bridgette Daley is a “Socially Savvy Mission Driven Marketer!” She creates proven digital marketing and online advertising strategies for: small businesses, non-profit organizations and B corps. With her ever-evolving experience with A.I., Bridgette demonstrates to her clients how to effectively use AI and Automation in order to: connect with their most engaged fans, efficiently monetize their brands and own their audience data.
As Chief Visionary Officer at b.Digital Consulting, Bridgette Daley has taken the time to deep dive into the digital unknown, and for good reason. Her experiences have shown her that if we as a people do not get “In the KNow,” the consequences could be displacing…
“I was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, and lived there until I was 15 years old. I am an Excelsior Graduate through and through; I attended both elementary and high school at Excelsior. I started high school when I was only 10 years old, finished high school at 16 years old, and followed it up with one year of college. This was a standard for all of us. In my family, the focus was always on education. “
This focus on education was nurtured in two ways: her dad taught her work ethic, and her mom demonstrated tenacity. Bridgette shared that her mom was heavy on education because she wasn’t able to go to school. This remained with Bridgette, and she continued to excel.
Then, Hurricane Gilbert hit.
“We lost everything, and what was most powerful about the experience was that we built it back together, as a community. It was about love, laughter and family. It was a big turning point in my life.”
It was time to leave… Bridgette left Jamaica in 1992 for Canada, Mississauga.
I was in Canada for a year living with my sister. My parents had separated, and my mom had left for America. My brothers left with her. They left before I finished high school, and this is why my sister brought me up. She gave me a way to transition until I had an opportunity to join my mom and brothers in America.
I was never exposed to other cultures, and when I came to Canada, non-Black people would comment on my features a lot. I lived on a majority minority street, so I didn’t really feel the impact of racism in Canada.
In America is when I was exposed to true racism. We were kicked out of a mall once because we were speaking patois, and the security guard thought we were swearing.”
At this point, Bridgette was around 17, 18 years old. She had always had a career ambition, and for her, it was the right time to pursue this ambition.
“I didn’t really know the system, and I wanted to go to school, but that takes money, so I had to get a job.
I got a job as a part-time teller. To me this was a BIG deal, because bankers are prestigious in Jamaica. I researched the bank’s benefits, and I found out if I went to school and got a C, they would pay for school. I couldn’t believe how low the standard was so I did that. I went on to complete my degree in Business Management and Communication.
The bank policy was if I got a degree, they would promote you. Interestingly enough, any position I applied for, I didn’t get it. I was told I walk around with a chip on my shoulder. I walked around with my head held high, and I don’t think they like that. I was not going to dim my light to make anyone feel comfortable.”
And so began Bridgette’s experience in the financial industry.
“I worked in retail for a while, but life was not happening in New York, so I moved to Florida. My goal was to become a Bank Manager. I had 1.94 in my bank account when I got my job at the Bank of America. They put me in the ghetto-banking centre, and we took that banking centre team to the top 5% of the banking industry. We called ourselves the Southwind Superstars.
During the credit crisis of 2008, I discovered that the banks were making the most money from minorities. However, we were the 2nd least deposit base, but generated the most fees.”
She started off as Banking Manager at the Bank of America, and moved on to becoming the VP; Sr. Business Continuity Specialist.
From there, she moved on to being SVP Regional Sales Leader/ Sr Branch Leader/Business Development at Bank United. She then became Director of Business Development for the Southeast Region (NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, TX) at the National Energy Improvement Fund LLC
“They took away my power to help my people, and this is one of the reasons why I had to leave Bank of America. I eventually went into another area of banking as a regional sales manager. After a couple years the same thing happened. I was making White men richer. My soul wasn’t being nourished.
In 2017, I wanted to see how money was being made online. I realized I wanted to understand the in’s and out’s. It was like opening Pandora’s box.
One piece of wisdom I would like to pass on is that it is not about knowing everything, but about being around people who know different things. This is how I met my business partner.”
Every time she heard no, she kept pushing. Now, Bridgette works with the government of Jamaica.
“I want the Caribbean community to truly understand that there is so much money to be made in the tech industry,” Bridgette tells me. “I figure, it is up to us to know better, so let me learn and share.
We as Black women need to take up space. We need to own our power. Surround yourself with the right people, and stop letting perfection be the enemy of the good. Step out, and go toe to toe with everyone else.
Faith it till you make it!”
