Ms. Akosua Dardaine Edwards speaking with entrepreneurs

The University of Trinidad and Tobago Business Accelerator/Incubator, uSTART functions as an engine of innovation and enterprise, fostering an ecosystem that supports entrepreneurial mindsets of students, staff and alumni of the University. uSTART fosters this ecosystem through the provision of a physical business space and business development services inclusive of access to hosted seminars, workshops, and other educational opportunities originating at uSTART with our partner organisations.

On Thursday 9th March 2017, uSTART hosted a Master Class with Ms. Akosua Dardaine Edwards. She is the founder and owner of the Enabling Enterprise and is a highly trained Entrepreneurship Specialist. The Enabling Enterprise Project, commenced as a pilot project to support women entrepreneurs and subsequently grew into a full-fledged programme. The Enabling Enterprise Project is progressive and interactive, and seeks to partner with Caribbean and international women’s business support agencies, policy makers and women entrepreneurs from all over the world for the enhancement, empowerment, exchange of ideas and experience and best practice of women’s enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Ms. Edwards is also a recipient of the Social Entrepreneur of the Year in Trinidad and Tobago, and the Caribbean Female Social Entrepreneur of the Year from the Global Innovation Partners. She has lived and worked in countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, India, Kenya, the United Kingdom, and her native land Trinidad and Tobago.  As a motivational speaker internationally, Ms. Edwards is well poised to share the story of her experiences with the entrepreneurs who attended the uSTART Master Class.

Ms. Edwards expressed that entrepreneurs must change to grow, and that they have the opportunity to change the world. Many examples were provided, however the one which captivated the audience, was where an entrepreneur was able to emerge from an economic downturn. This resonated with the attending entrepreneurs, as they saw where they could use their skills to weather the storm of the current economic times in Trinidad and Tobago.

Ms. Edwards was effectively able to combine her expertise of entrepreneurship, empowerment and transformation to deliver the Master Class at uSTART. After fielding questions from the participants, she ended by reinforcing that entrepreneurship is based on a vision and persistence. 

The results from the feedback survey conducted illustrated that 75% of the attendees rated the session at 10/10. The feedback results also revealed that the areas the entrepreneurs identified with from the discussion were :

• Persistence is key in entrepreneurship.
• Clearly defined vision and goals
• Alternative approaches can be adopted in the face of failure
• Understanding oneself and utilising that understanding in entrepreneurship

The uSTART Master's Class is a platform where industry experts and innovators impart their knowledge and experience to not only uSTART entrepreneurs, but also to those within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Furthermore, these sessions foster capacity building within the entrepreneurial eco-system at the uSTART Facility.

uSTART wishes to thank Ms. Akosua Edwards for her presentation with the entrepreneurs as uSTART continues to strive to achieve UTT and uSTART’s mission:

 "To be an entrepreneurial university designed to discover and develop entrepreneurs, commercialize research and development and spawn companies for wealth generation and sustainable job creation towards the equity enhancement of the quality of life of all individuals, families and communities of the republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean."