Monique Powell: Caribbean Woman in Tech

Monique Powell

” Women who have succeeded in technology deserve recognition: They are an inspiration for everyone, demonstrating what can be achieved through creativity and hard work.” – Fast Company.

This interview is the third in SiliconCaribe’s  series of Caribbean Women in Tech where we profile and celebrate their ambitions and accomplishments. We also seek to inspire others to view technology industry as a career and entrepreneurship path. We’ll be publishing one interview every Wednesday for the next two months.

This week we interview Monique Powell the woman behind the site RoamingDonkey.com.

SC: What are you working on right now?

MP: My most recent project is Roaming Donkey, a website that provides an easy and fun way for people to find places to eat, play and stay across Jamaica. Outside of that I work as Regional Manager (English Caribbean) for Digital Marketing at a financial institution.

SC: What does your typical day look like?

MP: My “9-5” work days typically involve me coordinating the development and delivery of digital pieces designed to complement various traditional marketing campaigns (e.g. microsites, landing pages, online ad campaigns etc). Evenings at home will often see me either collating additional content for Roaming Donkey or working on a strategic plan for its continued development.

SC: What is the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?

MP: I did freelance web design and development for close to 10 years. Most of my clients were great…but I did have a few freelance jobs that turned into nightmares. Some lessons learnt: (i) Limit the number of rounds of revisions that will be allowed. It should be made clear that beyond that point there will be additional charges. You can spend an entire year just making endless, minor tweaks to the same layout without getting paid for the extra time spent on it. (ii) Speaking of getting paid, always collect at least a 50% deposit up front. Always. (iii) Go with your gut feeling. Sometimes from the very first meeting you can tell that something is off with a particular project/client. Even if you can’t quite put your finger on what it is, let that project pass.

 SC: Tech trends that excite you?

MP: The progress being made in the mobile space is amazing. From awesome, innovative apps that keep pushing the envelope to increasingly powerful smartphones that allow you to do many things you would have needed a PC for 5 years ago. It will be interesting to see how Caribbean businesses especially will make use of these advancements to connect with their customers in meaningful ways.

SC: How do you bring ideas to life?

MP: Once I have an idea for something new I spend a few hours (or days, depending on the complexity) looking into the feasibility of actually executing that idea. Once I’ve determined that its feasible, I map out, sequentially, the steps I’ll need to take to get to launch and then impose an actual date on myself by which I have to ship whatever it is; regardless of whether its complete or incomplete, perfect or imperfect.

SC: What inspires you?

MP: My creativity is fueled by everything around me. People. Trends. Mass media. Everything.

SC:  What is one mistake you’ve made, and what did you learn from it?

MP: I’ve definitely learnt that ideas on their own are worth nothing. Anyone with even half a brain will come up with good ideas from time to time. The proof of this kind of pudding is in the execution. Sitting on “the greatest idea ever” and doing nothing with it, or becoming so obsessed with perfection that you tinker with the product for years without ever launching is a waste.

SC: What do you read every day, and why?

MP: I read Techcrunch and Mashable on an almost daily basis. They keep me on top of tech and digital marketing trends.

SC:  What is the one book that you recommend our Jamaican/Caribbean community should read, and why?

MP: Linchpin by Seth Godin. It will open your eyes to what it takes to really make your work and personal brand really stand out. It also gives good insight on why and how we sometimes hinder our own progress.

SC: What is your favorite gadget, app or piece of software that helps you every day?

MP: My iPad. It’s perfect for times when lugging around or opening up a laptop would not be practical. The wide selection of top-notch apps is another reason I love it.

SC: Who would you love to see interviewed on SiliconCaribe

MP: Sandor Panton. I believe he’s one of the best Search Engine Marketers in the Caribbean and I’d love to see him openly share some lesser known methods/practices with the community.

SC: When is the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it.

MP: I can’t quite remember what it was specifically. What I know is that I do love to laugh and that laughter is what helps me to hold on to some amount of sanity. Be serious about life but don’t take life too seriously.

SC: Where can you be found online?

MP: Connect with me on Twitter @moniquepowell

Caribbean Women in Tech Facebook Group. Join and Tell some Colleagues and Friends.

This group is “for Caribbean women in the technology industry-whether you are an entrepreneur, policy consultant, web developer, web designer, professional blogger and tweeter, social media professional, animator or corporate tech professional. Whether you are in the Caribbean or Caribbean Diapsora. Join the conversation. Share your stories, interesting links and Spread the knowledge. ”