MEETING OF THE MINDS: Hosted by the Rotaract Club of East Nassau, “I am My Own Boss” will be a Q&A-style panel including insights from those at the forefront of their fields. Pictured is Chester Cooper (President and CEO of the British American Financial Group

Top Bahamian Entrepreneurs Offer Tips to Rising Young Professionals at Rotaract Event

Young professionals who have been dreaming about leaving their nine-to-five to become their own boss will get some candid advice from three of the country’s seasoned business owners during a mediated panel presentation on Thursday, October 4. The event is free to the public and takes place at The Nassau Yacht Club beginning at 6:30pm.

Sponsored by the Rotaract Club of East Nassau and hosted by NB-12 producer Juan McCartney, the panel discussion will feature Chester Cooper – President & CEO of BAF and Chairman of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, Diane Phillips – founder of the award-winning public relations firm Diane Phillips & Associates and Peter Andrews – founder of Bahamas Waste and Bahamas Hot Mix.

MEETING OF THE MINDS: Hosted by the Rotaract Club of East Nassau, “I am My Own Boss” will be a Q&A-style panel including insights from those at the forefront of their fields.Pictured is President of the Chamber of Commerce); Diane Phillips (Diane Phillips & Associates)

“Despite the appeal of being your own boss, the reality is that you will work harder than you ever imagined, put in longer hours than you ever dreamed, accept the fact that you are never 'off' and always remember that it's the people around you who enable your business to not just survive, but to grow and thrive," said Diane Phillips. “The rewards can be abundant but so is the work. People who get it right don’t just find work, they produce meaningful work, contribute to community and find true satisfaction.”

Panelists will share first-hand knowledge of growing a business with a range of perspectives.

MEETING OF THE MINDS: Hosted by the Rotaract Club of East Nassau, “I am My Own Boss” will be a Q&A-style panel including insights from those at the forefront of their fields. Pictured is Peter Andrews (Founder of Bahamas Waste and Bahamas Hot Mix)

Chester Cooper joined BAF, formerly British American Financial, as Vice President, Financial Services & Investments in 2001. Prior to that, he worked as an Investment Banker in Luxembourg, Dublin and The Bahamas for eight years.

Peter Andrews has built a variety of successful businesses including Bahamas Waste, Bahamas Hot Mix, Bahamas Mac Tuck Sales, Nassau Ready Mix and Pride Investment which purchased and began the development of the Montagu property in 1981. Andrews has been an entrepreneur since 1950, initially making $1 per week selling newspapers.

Diane Phillips has been a reporter, writer and editor in a career that has spanned 42 years. Her travel pieces, features, boating stories and columns have appeared in numerous papers and magazines around the world including The New York Times, Modern Bride, Motor Boating & Sailing, Stern, and as editor of the in-flight magazine for Silver Airways. She was a former executive director of the Bahamas Duty Free Promotion Board and the first director of the Nassau Tourism & Development Board.

“There are very few people who take their time to be mentors especially to aspiring entrepreneurs,” says Rotaract fundraising lead Taran Mackey. “The opportunity to listen to the stories of some of the country’s most successful businesspersons will give hope to those that would like to start their own venture. We hope that some of the attendees who are on the fence about starting their own business can take the knowledge gained to start or improve their own businesses.”

Rotaract Club of East Nassau is a member of district 7020 of the Rotary International family. We are a service organization of young professionals, whose efforts are aimed at helping local and international communities. The club is sponsored by the Rotary Club of East Nassau. The club meets twice monthly on Monday nights at Van Bruegel's Restaurant at 6:00 in Nassau, Bahamas. For more information, please email: rotaract.eastnassau@gmail.com.