The Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism, Satyakama Maharaj, has given his commitment to advancing the trade sector with a focus on mentorship and assisting young people to grow in the industry.
The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), through ‘The Leader in YoU.TT’ career workshop, engaged students in sessions on focusing on mentorship and leadership.
As a successful entrepreneur himself, Minister Maharaj reflected on his journey as the founder of the global cosmetic brand Sacha Cosmetics.
“I had no science background. I had no lab. I had pocket change, really, but I had something more powerful, a reason, and when your reason is strong enough, you figure out the rest. I studied ingredients, ordered samples, failed, then tried again, not build a business but to build a solution.”
Minister Maharaj’s decades-long entrepreneurship journey is one he says required a clear vision to bring his dreams to life and into what it has become today.
“Dreams are easy; execution is hard. If I wanted to change the narrative, I had to build something real, something the world could not ignore, something that our women would not be able to imagine their lives without. Take Sacha out of the market today; it might have a riot.”
The Acting President of UTT, Stephen Joseph, encouraged students to seize the vast opportunities that the advancing space has to offer. To become successful entrepreneurs, he urged them to lead with morals and values that will shape them into the entrepreneurs that they intend to be.
“We are living in a time of rapid and profound changes; technological advances, environmental challenges, and evolving workplace demands are reshaping our worlds, and yet one thing remains constant: the need for individuals with courage to lead, the humility to listen, and the ability to act.”
To become a leader in the business sector, Minister Maharaj emphasised that a focus on building a legacy, one that stands the test of time, is key.
He affirmed his commitment to ensuring that young entrepreneurs are empowered and offered the resources they need to succeed.
“Let’s build a future where bold ideas are embraced – you heard the professor – not ignored, where young entrepreneurs are empowered, not overlooked, and where the brightest minds in our nation don’t wait for approval; they take the lead, break new ground, and build the future themselves. So I challenge you, start now, start small if you must, but start with courage because the future we are all hoping for is waiting for you to create it.”
The two-day workshop on mentorship, leadership and discovery will take students through different elements of entrepreneurship. Day One tackled legal matters in entrepreneurship, financial planning, budgeting, investment and funding strategies.