Ict Pulse Podcast

Whenever Haiti is in the news, typically, some unfortunate event has occurred. Haiti is considered the poorest country in the Americas, and has experienced considerable adversity, due to political corruption, instability and natural disasters, to name a few. However, in the midst of such difficulties, the impact ICT is having on the country should not be overlooked. Max Larson Henry, of the ICT Association of Haiti (AHTIC), discusses the ICT/tech space in Haiti, the challenges, but also the opportunities that exist for those who are prepared to look beyond the headlines.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

Over the past several months, ‘digital transformation’ has become the buzzwords of many policymakers across the Caribbean region, but it is not always clear whether the term is understood, and more importantly, whether there is a cogent and coherent strategy to achieve it. Dr Justin Ram, of the Caribbean Development Bank, discusses the states of digital transformation in the region, and key elements that must be addressed to take us where we would like to be.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

In this our August 2019 Community Chat and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Kimberly Adams, of Novelty Curve Inc., and Stephen Lee, of ArkiTechs Inc., the panel discusses the lack of opportunities for the Caribbean tech business community, and the challenges facing the Caribbean region’s telecoms and ICT networks as they continue to evolve.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

Without a doubt, one of the purposes of ICT/tech innovation is to solve real-life, practical problems. However, our problem solving capability in the Caribbean region can be greatly enhanced if we have people who possess the requisite skills and are suitably equipped. Professor Patrick Hosein, the Director of TTLAB, a research laboratory in Trinidad and Tobago, explains how TTLAB is developing practical and innovative solutions for industry, whilst also conducting internationally-recognised research.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

It was inevitable. No conversation on ICT and tech today would be complete without a discussion on social media. Experienced media strategist, Knolly Moses, who is the CEO of Panmedia in Jamaica, shares some insights on how social media has evolved over the years, current trends, plus useful tips on how organisations can leverage social media to improve consumer reach, engagement, and hopefully conversion to sales, or other desired action.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

Over the past several years, Barbados consistently ranks among the top Caribbean countries with respect to telecom and ICT. David Smith, President, of the Barbados Chapter of the Internet Society, helps us to understand the factors that made Barbados a telecoms and ICT powerhouse in the region; some of the challenges country is currently experiencing; along with trends and opportunities that are being leveraged to transform the Barbadian economy.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

By no stretch of the imagination is the banking and financial services industry considered a hotbed of ICT/tech innovation and disruption; however, the National Commercial Bank Jamaica has been recognised as one of the most innovative banks in Latin America and the Caribbean. Nadeen Matthews Blair, the Bank’s Chief Digital and Marketing Officer, discusses ways in which NCB Jamaica fosters innovation, and an innovation culture, in such a conservative and regulated space.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

To a considerable degree, and across almost every aspect of our lives, technology has been a driver of change. In this our July 2019 Community Chat and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Liselle Yorke and Shannon Clarke, the panel discusses on the uneasy tension between technology and preserving the local cultural heritage of Caribbean countries, and implementing Tech4Good projects to drive digital transformation in the region.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

Although the term “digital transformation” has become quite popular, many of us really don’t know what it truly means. To help us get a better sense of what digital transformation by organisations entails, Julio Lima and Carlyle Assue of the Caribbean Development Bank discuss the digital transformation process that is currently being implemented by the Bank, and share some important takeaways that organisations, and even countries, can consider.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

For many countries in the Americas, and particularly those in the Caribbean region, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is a crucial resource for loans, grant funding and technical assistance. Therese Turner-Jones, the General Manager of the Country Department Caribbean Group of the IDB, helps us to better understand, among other things, scope of the IDB’s work, the Bank’s posture on ICT in the Caribbean, and ICT-related opportunities that we in the region are not leveraging as we should.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

The Dutch-speaking country of Suriname is a full member of many regional organisations in the Caribbean, but generally, very little is known about it. In this the second instalment of our Know your neighbours series, Vincentius Kenswil and Anuskha Sonai, of the Digital Talents Academy In Suriname, help us to have a better understanding of Suriname generally, and of course, from an ICT perspective.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

Developing the human capital is a crucial element for countries to better leverage ICT. In this our June 2019 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Claire Craig and Clifford Browne, the panel discusses ICT for job creation and economic development in the Caribbean region, and helping girls navigate the digital landscape and fostering greater ICT participation.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

When you say the word ‘Samsung’, we tend to think of smartphones. Samsung is a global leader in the smartphone market, and is the most popular brand in the Caribbean. In speaking with Gianmarco Leri, Product Manager for Samsung Electronics, who focuses in the Caribbean region, we learn about consumer and tech trends that are influencing how Samsung smartphones are evolving, and what Samsung has in store for the Caribbean in the coming months. Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

Being able to develop software applications can be considered only half of the ICT innovation formula. Being able to design and/or properly configure the hardware to suit the requirements is equally, or even perhaps more, important. In our conversation with Dr Cathy-Ann Radix, of the University of the West Indies, we discuss the need for the Caribbean region to focus of ICT product testing, the missing half of the ICT innovation equation. Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

The French territory of Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean region, is one that many of us know very little about generally, and even more so with respect to telecommunications and ICT. In the spirit of fostering greater awareness of our Caribbean neighbours, which could lead to opportunities for collaboration and strategic partnerships, Betty Fausta, of Guadeloupetech, provides some preliminary insight into Guadeloupe and its ICT/tech space.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

As businesses and countries worldwide position themselves to leverage the Internet economy, that economy is changing. In its latest Global Internet Report, the Internet Society examines the extent to which consolidation of the Internet economy has been occurring. In our discussion with Carl Gahnberg, of the Internet Society, we discuss the key findings of the report, and possible implications for developing countries, and for entrepreneurship and innovation.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

Building software solutions that truly work is a challenge at the best of times. We talk with Dennison Daley and Manish Valechha of software development firm, Rovika, which is in Montserrat, where the population is less than 5,500. The duo seem to be punching above their weight, as they have been developing software applications that are being used by the Montserrat and British Virgin Islands Governments, but potentially could have wider take-up across the Caribbean region and in other developing countries.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

In recognition of efforts worldwide and across the Caribbean to promote Girls in ICT, and in particular, the Caribbean.Girls.Hack suite of activities, which started since April, we discuss the meaningful inclusion of girls and women in ICT with; Nicole Pitter Patterson of Caribbean.Girls.Hack; Loly Gaitán of the EQUALS Global Partnership; and Naomi Falkenburg, of the International Telecommunication Union.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

In this our May 2019 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Claire Craig and Matthew Cowan, the panel discusses the ride-sharing/ride-hailing business model, popularised by companies, such as Uber. Can it complement the public transport system in the Caribbean, and what might be its social impact?   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!

The ultimate goal of telecoms/ICT regulation is to foster the economic and social development of a country. However, focussing on competition, infrastructure and prices might not be in enough. In our interview with Apollo Knights, of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, he discusses the activities the Commission has implemented, to help foster ICT development across that territory.   Show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at  www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/ Do subscribe and leave us a review!