Ict Pulse Podcast

Across the Caribbean region, considerable attention is being paid to financial inclusion and fintech, with digital identity (ID) taking a back seat. However, it has been argued in some quarters that digital IDs are a foundation element in countries’ digital transformation and fintech efforts. Trevor Forrest, of 876 Solutions, sheds some light on digital IDs, including: Why is it becoming increasingly important to have a digital ID?  What are the benefits of having a digital ID?  What can countries do to develop trust in digital ID?  And what is the potential and what could be the implications of heightened surveillance via digital IDs?   The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found on the ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)    Enjoyed the episode? Do rate the show and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez   ---------------- Also, *Sponsorsh

Electronic sports (esports) is a growing and potentially lucrative segment of the video games industry with relatively few players in the Caribbean region. Dexton Graham, the Lead Tournament Organiser of the Jamaica eSports Initiative and the Founder of Electronic Sports Jamaica discusses: how big esports is in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean; key challenges Caribbean gamers and esports enthusiasts face; how local groups and federations are handling the concerns about health risks and disorders linked to gaming; and the efforts that are being made to grow esports in the region, in terms of the number of players and the prize money offered.   The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found on the ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)    Enjoyed the episode? Do rate the show and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez   ---------------- Also, *Spons

With the upsurge in cyber incidents and breaches, increasingly, organisations are considering whether they need cyber insurance. Max Pragnell, of Gallagher Insurance Brokers, discusses the good, the bad and everything in between on cyber insurance including:   When is cyber insurance a good idea? What kind of coverage is usually offered? What are the typical requirements to secure coverage? Which incidents are covered and which ones are usually excluded from coverage?    The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell   ---------------- Also, *Sponsorship Opportunities!* The ICT Pulse Podcast is accepting sponsors! Would you like to partner with us to produce an episode of the podcast, or highlight a product or service to our audience? Do get in touch at info@ict-pulse.com with “Podcast Sponsors

In our June 2022 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Lateefah Smellie and Dr Lyndell St, Ville, the panel discusses: Tech communities, a potent vehicle for developing tech talent in the Caribbean; and Silicon island, creating and coordinating the right environment to nurture a technology culture for the Caribbean.    The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez   Sponsors: ProjectCalls: Take advantage of the sale on its Full Access Subscription Plan, which would give you unlimited access to the Caribbean projects and tenders published on its platform. Sale ends 30 June 2022.   

In our third Expert Insights update for 2022, Cybersecurity Consultant, David Gittens shares his thoughts on, among other things: key trends in the current threat landscape; the Conti ransomware and what Caribbean countries can learn from the Costa Rican experience; what does Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) mean; and the top three things businesses should be doing in 2022 to improve their network/IT security.    The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

With Sébastien Celestine, of GuadeloupeTech, and Emmanuel Joseph, of LAKOUDIGITAL and MartiniqueTech, we discuss tech entrepreneurship in the French Caribbean. Some of the areas we examine are: the tech entrepreneurship landscape in Guadeloupe and Martinique;  the investor landscape; and what could be done to foster greater collaboration between tech entrepreneurs in the French and the English-speaking Caribbean.    The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

Continuing our Fintech in the Caribbean series, and with Dr. Jan Schröder of CaribCoin, and Rodney Taylor of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, we discuss fintech in the region, the opportunities and challenges that exist, along with on digital currencies, CBDCs and CaribCoin, a regional stablecoin that is currently being developed, which has the potential to transform trade and the wider Caribbean business landscape.    The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

Continuing with our Fintech in the Caribbean series, we are focussing on fintech in Trinidad and Tobago, with Maria Daniel, President of the FinTech Association of Trinidad and Tobago. In our conversation, Maria:  highlights the Association and discusses the state of fintech in Trinidad and Tobago, key challenges that have been hindering fintech development; and where she would like to see fintech in Trinidad and Tobago in the next 2 to 3 years.   The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

In our May 2022 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Liselle Yorke and Lianne McNaughton, the panel discusses:   *  the growing impact of ransomware attacks in the Caribbean; and   *  agile and servant leadership, and the critical role they play in creating healthy and high performing teams and cultures.   The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Starting and running a business is a test in resilience, and learning how to overcome the inevitable challenges that will emerge. Monique Powell, Founder and CEO of QuickCart, an e-commerce and logistics provider in Jamaica, shares, among other things:   *  her entrepreneurial journey;    *  how she navigated the e-commerce-related challenges that most start-ups and MSMEs in the Caribbean region face; plus   *  what’s next for both QuickCart and for Monique.   The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

We are starting a deep dive into the Caribbean tech start-up and entrepreneurship ecosystem. With Selwyn Cambridge, the Founder and Executive Director of TEN Habitat in Barbados, and Anuskha Varsha Sonai, the President of Creative Tech Hub Caribbean in Suriname, we discuss, among other things:   *  the tech entrepreneurship landscape in their respective countries;    *  the biggest challenge that tech entrepreneurs are experiencing;   *  the posture of investors and the ease with which tech entrepreneurs can secure funding.   The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

In our April 2022 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Simone Pasmore and Robert Forrester, the panel discusses:   *  The cost of web and app development, what should one expect; and   *  Access, the Holy Grail of ICT Development in the Caribbean region.   The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez  

To commemorate our 200th episode, the tables are turned, and Ingrid Riley of SiliconCaribe interviews Michele Marius, Host and Producer of the ICT Pulse Podcast. They discuss, among other things: the beginnings of the ICT Pulse Podcast; Is there really a ‘Digital Caribbean’; and How can Caribbean governments better support tech entrepreneurship and innovation in the region.   The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

The traditional commercial banks are the bedrock of countries’ financial services sector, but they seem to be lagging behind and are out of step with the new and exciting developments in financial technology (fintech). With Wendy Delmar, the Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB), and in this the latest instalment in our series on fintech in the Caribbean region, we discuss: *  how the CAB and its members view fintech; *  why securing an online merchant account is still a challenge, especially for digital businesses; and *  why commercial banks are blocking their customers from purchasing crypto.   The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez  

Even if we do not realise it, we are interacting with Artificial Intelligence, or AI, every day, and although it may be making our lives more efficient and productive, there are several ethics issues that ought to be considered. With Gratiana Fu, of DAI, we discuss many of these issues, including: Why are we delegating critical decisions to machines? Who is responsible for AI, when it makes mistakes? Is there privacy in an AI world? And, how do we stay in control of a complex intelligent system?   The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez  

We have all heard the term ‘digital economy’ and that countries worldwide are trying to find ways to foster its development. However, what does it mean if a country has a digital economy? In our conversation with Chelceé Brathwaite and Yacine Khelladi, we start to tackle that very question, along with: the anticipated impact or value of having a digital economy; the implications of digital skills, digital literacy and digital inclusion; and key challenges to Caribbean countries in more fully realising their digital economies.   The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez  

In our March 2022 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, Amit Uttamchandani and Chad Fraser, the panel discusses: Russia-Ukraine War and potential impact in the Caribbean from a cyber perspective; and thereafter, Web3 and its potential for creating new opportunities in the Caribbean.   The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

In the second instalment in our Expert insights series on cyber threats and security for 2022, and with Deon Olton, of the Caribbean Cyber Security Centre, he discusses, among other things: the changes in the threat landscape that occurred since the pandemic; what should be the primary goal of cybersecurity in organisations; and three things organisations should be doing in 2022 to improve their network/IT security.   The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

Decentralised Finance, or DeFi, is taking the world by storm, and seems to be among the fastest growing fintech segments. Kimberly Adams, of Bridge Network, helps us to better understand: what DeFi is and ways in which it can be leveraged; the impact DeFi could have on the Caribbean region; and at the same time, how ready the Caribbean region is for DeFI.   The episode, show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/)  Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez

Web 3.0 is the next iteration of the World Wide Web, which is expected to change not only the dynamics of the business of the internet, but also how we, as users, interact with and leverage that medium. Costanza Gallo, the Ecosystem Manager at Swarm, discusses Web 3.0 and among other things: how it is expected to change the current power dynamics of the internet; policy issues that still need to be addresses with regard to Web 3.0; and how far away we are from Web 3.0 being a reality.   The episode and show notes and links to some of the things mentioned during the episode can be found at ICT Pulse Podcast Page (www.ict-pulse.com/category/podcast/) Do subscribe and leave us a review!     Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell