There’s no other way to put it: when Dina Simon launched her firm MyHaitiTravels Global, LLC in 2013, she stepped out on faith. Simon had an impressive and long-running career as a civil servant, but always wanted to start her own travel and tours business with Haiti as a destination. But the country was still experiencing disaster vertigo from an earthquake three years before. Could her concept work? From the success that Simon has enjoyed in her first year of business, the answer to that question is a loud and firm, “Yes”. Two trips and counting with Haitians and non-Haitians discovering and rediscovering the country, MyHaitiTravels has become more than a business venture for Simon. It’s been an outlet to show others—as well as herself—a Haiti beyond Port-au-Prince, a Haiti more beautiful than a Google Image search could ever fathom.

MyHaitiTravels is a year old. What have you learned regarding Haiti through this venture?

Haiti is complex and I’m still trying to better understand her. Yet, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

What are some the hardest-hitting lessons you’ve learned regarding entrepreneurship and owning a travel and tourism business your first year of business?

Don’t rely on anyone for your success. Take a lot of risks. Last year when we planned our first annual tour we had no idea how it would turn out. We did not meet our goal, but we knew we had a good formula so we made some tweaks. We learned how to better position our message and how to engage our potential clients across all platforms.

What are your thoughts on the current state of Haiti’s tourism industry?

Haiti’s tourism industry has tremendous potential. We’re starting to hear and see more positive things about Haiti and we have a government that is highly engaged in making tourism a success. My company is doing a tremendous job in showcasing Haiti as well as securing key partnerships to enable more people to see Ayiti through our eyes. Haiti is rebuilding its tourism industry by investing in infrastructure, training, and ensuring that tourism is sustainable. I’m very excited about that. There are also a lot of individuals working on behalf of Haiti to make sure that the tourism industry becomes successful for the people of Haiti.

I think a lot of people reading your story will become really inspired. Here is this professional woman, who left Haiti when she was about nine, and who returns to create a travel tour firm built around it.

Well, I feel it’s simply my duty as a Haitian person educated in the United States to no longer be a bystander but to actually be proactive in finding a way to do something to advance Haiti and benefit Haitians, specifically the youth. During our last tour this past January, we had a “Real Talk” forum at a school with some 9th grade students on our volunteer Project Day. We were supposed to tell them about our careers and answer any questions that they had. One young lady stood up and asked “How do you keep going. How do you maintain hope?” Her question shook us, because no child should have to ask that. Hope shouldn’t be a concern at fourteen years old. So, when I think about what I’m doing, it’s not worthy of praise. Those kids sitting in the classrooms trying to learn despite their circumstances is an inspiration. The machann waking up at 5 a.m to set up her stand to sell her merchandise so she can send her kids to school is an inspiration.

Dina Simon flanked by tourists on her ImpactWeek tour in front of a hotel in Petionville.

If you were to give readers advice about establishing their own business, what would you tell them?

Make sure you are passionate about your venture. You are your biggest cheerleader. Have a good team and people who believe in you and what you are doing. Be prepared to financially invest in your business. Find a successful entrepreneur whose experience and knowledge can help you avoid mistakes; maybe that person can be your mentor. Prepare for disappointments, but never let it deter you.

Now, I know you have a Management certificate from Cornell, and a Bachelor’s and Masters degree. Out of all the things you learned in college, which have proven to be the most helpful in terms of taking you to the next level, business-wise?

I think what college prepares all of us for is the ability to discern information, being able to meet deadlines, and the ability to analyze and to be a thinker. College taught me how to function in a group. It also gave me the opportunity to interact and work together with different people which is beneficial in the business world. While I don’t think there’s anything specific in relation to my course work, I do believe that those fundamental skills have helped me on the business level.

Out of all the sites and places on the My Haiti Travels itinerary, which drew the most oohs and ahhs from your tourist-clients?

I think it’s different for everyone. I had one client who was amazed that the school we volunteered at had a wheelchair ramp. Another could not believe we were at a restaurant smoking hookah. I think others are always amazed at Arcadins Coast and the mountains behind mountains everywhere you turn.

Where do you hope to take your venture?

That’s a good question. We just finished a hugely successful 2nd Annual ImpactWeek tour during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. With that behind us, we’re launching our first annual Memorial Day Weekend tour called Jacmel Getaway on May 22 – May 26. We’re also constantly visiting and reviewing establishments in Haiti for our “mango reviews” to help people choose where to go when visiting Haiti. We’re also building our Travel Stories Blog. We remain committed to showing the authenticity of Haiti, supporting local businesses and giving back directly to the Haitian youth.

Thank you for chatting with me again. Always a pleasure

Visit the Impact Week Haiti Website | Jacmel Getaway | MyHaitiTravels | MyHaitiTravels on Twitter

A pleasure indeed.

Myabèl Cocktail Bar and Restaurant sits in a little city in Haiti called Croix-des-Bouquets. Co-owned by the attorney Regine Theodat, the eatery is concrete evidence that Haiti is open to entrepreneurship ventures brought about by the US-born seeds of the Haitian Dyaspora. Already a year in existence, Myabèl—in addition to serving fabulous food—hosts live music performances of local and visiting artists.

Theodat was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and by the time she had reached quarter-life, she had visited Haiti only twice. But, that didn’t stop the Northeastern Law School graduate from exploring the business terrain there. Myabèl is her baby, and she didn’t want for it to be just another restaurant. For one thing, she wanted the facility to have a menu that highlighted local foods. It was also important for her that everything from the drinks served to the wall decor be authentically Haitian.

K. St. Fort: Tell us your Haitian connection and all.

I can’t pinpoint where, how, or why my connection to Haiti became so strong and defining for me. My family wasn’t heavily connected to a Haitian community but we celebrated the typical Haitian traditions. I’ve always been very proud of having roots from Haiti and spent a great deal of time learning about Haitian history particularly about our legal/government turmoil, which led me to become a lawyer.

A Myabèl waitress is all smiles as she carries a tray full of signature Myabèl dishes towards the table of a customer.

K. St. Fort: Initially, you came to Haiti to work as a human rights attorney. At which point, did you feel that going into the restaurant business would be a great venture to undertake?

While working as a Human Rights attorney in Cite Soleil, I would hold “Know Your Rights” seminars. During these seminars, despite its irrelevance, I would get the same question—“How can I get a visa to move to the States?” After about eleven months of this, I started to think about what else I could do that would be helpful to Haiti. Through my human rights experience, I noted that one of the biggest impediments to realizing a just society and an appropriate democracy was the lack of a robust economy. This realization made me move from human rights to development. While working in development, I saw a need for entrepreneurship that is formal and responsible. I figured while I’m helping other people become socially responsible entrepreneurs, I should set the example.

K. St. Fort: Was Myabèl your first ever business venture?

Yes, Myabèl is my first business venture; my next one will be a consulting firm.

K. St. Fort: While you were a law degree-seeking student at Northeastern University you were involved in a project designed to decrease barriers for minority-owned small businesses. Has some of the things you learned while being involved with that project helped you at all in running your business?

Yes, the issues that I experienced in Haiti are similar to the issues I researched as a law fellow. The two most prominent barriers in the project I led were: one, lack of information availability and sharing; and two, informality.

In my own business experience, it has been shocking to see how difficult it is to obtain information. Even basic information about how to register and where to buy stock is difficult to obtain.

Secondly, businesses in Haiti often operate in the informal sector. Therefore, these businesses have a hard time succeeding at a larger more professional scale. In my own business we spent a great deal of time training our employees about standards and how a formal business functions because after years of informality they often have difficulty adapting.

K. St. Fort: What can customers visiting Myabèl expect?

Customers visiting Myabèl can expect: excellent service. All staff are required one week of training that includes customer service, hygiene, wine/alcohol training and safe serve. All staff are knowledgeable about all we have to offer at Myabèl and can guide customers through the various items we have on our menu. Creative menu celebrating local ingredients. All menu items have local ingredients that are new spins on Haitian comfort food. Our cocktails are unique to Myabèl made with local ingredients like kleren, Barbancourt, ti bonm etc. Third, a celebration of Haitian culture in every detail, even uniforms. Our décor was selected with the idea of promoting a tropical Haitian vibe, the uniforms are Karabela dresses and our art is exclusively Haitian art.

K. St. Fort: Typical is generally not a word that goes with entrepreneurship. But on the regular, what are your days like as co-owner of Myabèl?

I have full-time employment as the National Coordinator for the Vincentian Family Haiti Initiative which has me away at the Central Plateau quite a bit. My typical day requires a lot of juggling but my partners do most of the hands on work at Myabèl during the work week.

A typical day for me is waking up early and starting off with social media and emailing. I let our Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram friends know what is going on even before I get out of bed. Then I plan with my partner any guerrilla marketing we have to do in the immediate area around the restaurant. This includes flyers, text messages to businesses and our Myabèl Fidelity group.

If I go into the restaurant before work, it is to do stock inventory and to check in with the employees. After that I go to work and I spend the day checking in with Myabèl at least every two hours. It requires a lot of management because our human resources aren’t at the level that they would be in more developed countries or in a more developed area of Haiti. We have to spend a great deal of time assuring that our staff do what they are required to do.

What was the most exciting part of starting a business in Haiti?

The most exciting part is witnessing the potential and the growth. The potential that exists in Haiti is immeasurable. It is what I imagine the business landscape in the US looked like during the industrial boom. It feels like the sky is the limit and that there are so many unexplored industries and sectors. It feels like you are being innovative, and at the same time, you are assisting the country’s development – of course making money isn’t bad either.

K. St. Fort: And the most frustrating?

The most frustrating is that limit of human resources and the barriers of entry to business. Given the our lack of a formidable work history, in Haiti it is often hard to find people that are seasoned employees and understand what a formal job means and requires. Additionally, given our colonial history and our competitiveness sometimes unnecessary barriers seem to be created based on pettiness from misplaced competitiveness and a desire for others not to succeed.

K. St. Fort: What are some of the things you’ve learned about entrepreneurship and running a business?

I’ve learned to have the patience of 1,000 mothers and how to organize my day to the last minute.

K. St. Fort: How are Americans of Haitian descent who are starting businesses in Haiti viewed by the business community in Haiti?

It depends on who the audience is. I think business owners are typically judged by the professionalism they exhibit. The more professional you are, the more likely you are to be accepted by the business community as a partner and also competition. However, Americans of Haitian descent starting businesses in Haiti without doing their research and relying on how they knew Haiti when they left are looked at as future failures.

K. St. Fort: So many people have managed to build empires without having an education beyond high school. Do you think that college is something entrepreneurs can well do without?

This is a tough question. Both of my business partners are not college graduates. One is currently in college. However, despite not being college educated, one of them has natural human resource and leadership skills. However, for the writing marketing materials, grants, loans and other applications that we apply for, I’m the one that takes on the brunt of that work. Without my educational background, we wouldn’t be where we were with our business, but conversely without my partner’s natural skills we wouldn’t be either.

Thus, I think it is important if you’d like a formal business, and you don’t have the skills that higher education provides, you align yourself with someone that does.

K. St. Fort: Do you have any counsel for those who were born, or grew up outside of Haiti, who’d like to start a business there, or of course anyone else who may not be familiar with the business landscape there?

Research, research, research and be prepared that anything can happen that is outside of your control and illogical. About six months after we opened we started conducting informational interviews that would have been invaluable information before we opened. In addition to informational interviews, hire consultants that can to help cut the fat out.

Be prepared for anything, literally. We are surprised daily by what our staff, clients, and government do in relationship to the business. Opening a business in Haiti requires all of your time and energy and if you aren’t prepared to be involved daily, all day and night, with the business—then don’t start one.

MYABEL ON FACEBOOK |

Foodies looking to add some extra kick to their meals know to turn to a bottle of Men Pa’w hot sauce. The creation of entrepreneur and seasoned cook Carline Phanor-Briere, Men Pa’w electrifies the taste buds of even the most ardent pepper-loving eater. The brand won Third Place at The Hot Pepper Awards, a culinary competition that rewards fiery food brands.

Kreyolicious reached out to the entrepreneur to talk about what goes into creating a food and condiment brand.

Kreyolicious: What made you get into the condiment industry?

My childhood inheritance got me into the condiment industry. Not only was I born in a kitchen, many women in my family have left a legacy in regards to entrepreneurship. I have always had great exposure to cooking—whether it be soups, dips, cocktails, ceviches, gratinées and so on. I love international seasonings and enjoy multicultural cuisine. On the other hand, I thrive on business challenges and love to practice my intergenerational marketing skills.

Kreyolicious.com: What’s the spiciest meal you’ve ever had in your life?

The spiciest dish I have ever had is the Mexican Mole Poblano. It is called the national dish of Mexico. It contains about 20 ingredients of different chili peppers, including chocolate which works to counteract the heat of the combination of chili peppers. The mole sauce can be different according to the type of peppers that predominate; to name a few green peppers for mole verde and others including red habaneros for mole rojo, black peppers, yellow colorados, almendrados and pipian. This dish is most popular in the central regions of Mexico like Puebla and Oaxaca . It is most often served for special occasions and holidays, like Cinco de Mayo, and for the famous posadas. The mole poblano I savored was exquisitely prepared by primitive indians in Oaxaca.

Kreyolicious: As someone who has made it through the trenches and has her own food business, what would you say to others who are thinking of doing the same?

My message to anyone interested or starting this type of business is that perseverance and hard work pays off. Also most importantly, get inspired and do not be afraid of creating and customizing your own ideas; uniqueness and integrity is the core roadway to anointed success…Do not try to cheat your competitors or to copy exactly what they do…Create your own, believe in it and move forward with faith, fair play and integrity. Last but not least, competition is a great thing; I believe it is actually the most powerful engine to achieve great success. Do not be afraid as the horizon the cosmic is limitless and there is room for everyone to succeed!

So what are your thoughts on the Men Pa’w Hot Sauce? Is it inspiring you to become an entrepreneur?

CLICK HERE Visit the Men Pa’w Hot sauce Website |

Bertrand Martin, the Haiti-based entrepreneur behind the Haiti directory listing site Manman Pemba (ManManPemba), has a lot of work on his hands. It was quite a mammoth task to bring all of Haiti’s businesses on one platform. But it’s a challenge that he gladly took, and as a result, he now has the distinction of having what most consider one of the biggest Haitian business listing sites.

Kreyolicious: What are some of the best and most exciting things that have happened to you since you launched your brand?
In 2011: a month after the launch of www.manmanpemba.com, the very first customer who contacted me to be featured: La Réserve. It was a confirmation that the idea was relevant. I am so grateful to La Réserve, who remains a customer of ManManPemba since then!

Kreyolicious: Two…
In 2012: I got a call from Yvanka Jolicoeur, who became the Mayor of Pétion-Ville after, but at that time she was an advisor to Stéphanie Villedrouin. She wanted to meet the person behind ManManPemba, and the week after I got an offer to join the Cabinet to work for the Ministry of Tourism! It was a part-time contract, a great experience, an honor, but after a while, I decided to go back fully to ManManPemba.

Kreyolicious: Three to five…
In December 2013: the launch of the ManManPemba app, on the App Store and the Google Play Store. I remember the calls placed to my customers to announce it, and the excitement of the posts on Instagram to let people know about the app! A great memory, after so much work, sketches, coding, test, trial and errors.

In January 2016 : the very first PembaCraft video I made! Check out #PembaCraft on Instagram to see what I am talking about. It was an idea that came out to create digital content, using papercraft for short video animation, to stay original. It is well associated with the ManManPemba brand and if I could, I would make much more of those !

In December 2016, the successful launch of a sister app of ManManPemba, called HaitiGift ! A seasonal app, where people can find inspiration from hundreds of gifts available at local businesses.

As every true entrepreneur, I have lots of ideas, new projects, and for ManManPemba, I believe the best is what’s coming!

Kreyolicious: What would you do differently if you launched this year?
It is hard to reply cause the tech world and digital sector have evolved so much in Haiti. However, I wish online payment would be more developed by now in Haiti – that could change a few things – but the sad reality is, it hasn’t a bit. No matter what and when you launch though, you need to work real hard, test, debug, restart, make realistic plans. Decide to launch a full time venture in the tech and digital word, in the private sector, in Haiti, is no joke!

Kreyolicious: Do your parents support your ventures?
My parents have always been supportive of all I undertook in my life! I am grateful for that. They are even registered to the MMPB Weekly – the weekly newsletter of ManManPemba sent every Wednesday – and quite often discuss about that, about new places or exhibitions that we mention in there.

Kreyolicious: Of the classes you took in school, which proved to be the most beneficial to running your business?
I did not study business or management at all! I graduated from Sciences-Po Paris, with a major in Public Affairs and Urban Studies. I love politics and architecture ! However Sciences-Po is a great school, with a very solid generalist background. I believe it helped me to keep it real, for the good conduct of my company. But it takes a lot of pragmatism and continuous learning to run a business anyway.

One anecdote I like to share regarding my current situation as a tech entrepreneur and Sciences-Po Paris. When I came back from my year of study abroad at Boston University, Sciences-Po had totally changed their curriculum and students could now choose some classes outside of their core major. It was in 2001 and I came back from Boston where Napster was on every PCs in the dorms. I was amazed by those new opportunities offered by Internet. So at Sciences-Po I wanted so bad to follow this new class on start-ups and the “new economy” – as it was called at that time. There was not enough students who signed up, so the class did not open. I imagine that nowadays in Sciences-Po that would be part of the core curriculum ! And now, here I am, running my startup in Port-au-Prince!

This concludes the interview with the founder of Haiti business directory site Manman Pemba (ManmanPemba). CLICK HERE if you missed PART I.

CLICK HERE to visit Haiti business directory site MANMAN PEMBA.

Imagine running a digital brand, where you had to be attentive at all times. Imagine that you had to stay up late through the wee hours of the morning to update your royal readers on the latest happenings in Haitian music. This is pretty much the life of music and entertainment website entrepreneur and influencer Catherine Desmarattes, known in her circle as Kit Kat, and the founder of Ayiti Biyografi, one of the leading Haitian music platforms around.

Desmarattes single-handedly grew her website into one of the most popular web destinations on the digital space. She accrued more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, in addition to thousands of followers on Facebook and on Twitter, not to mention website visitors. Haitian music fans look to Ayiti Biyografi to furnish them with the musical happenings from New York, to Haiti to Atlanta and South Florida. If a Haitian music fan doesn’t attend a popular event, they know they’ll be able to view a hoard of photos on Ayiti Biyografi or better yet, get footage from Desmarattes shot and edited herself of said musical event.

She makes things look so smooth and so easy, that many of her thousands of followers may not realize the degree of work that goes into having a platform as big as her one-woman-show Ayiti Biyografi. So, here she is, giving the details on how she founded her brand, how she went about growing it, and her plans for its future.

Kreyolicious: Tell us about yourself.
Catherine Desmarattes: I was born in Manhattan, New York. Both of my parents are Haitian. I was raised in Brooklyn, New York. At a young age my parents divorced. After their divorce, my mom moved my brother and I to Haiti. In my teenage years, I joined the rap Kreyol group Rap in Family and worked as an MC at Magik Stereo and Radio Ibo. During that time, I fell in love with the entertainment world. In 2000, I moved back to New York. I attended Long Island University where I earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. I am currently a civil service worker. In all the hats that I wear, my most important hat is being a mother to my daughter Layla.

Kreyolicious: Were you into tech when you were little?
Catherine Desmarattes: I was not really into tech when I was little.

Kreyolicious: What made you launch Ayiti Biyografi?
Catherine Desmarattes: As a music lover, I often visited the websites dedicated to the Haitian music industry, and noticed that they mostly criticized artists than promoted them. I always enjoyed writing so I decided to use my love for writing as a hobby. On April 2, 2014 I launched AyitiBiyografi.com. Our mission is to “positively” promote Haitian music. Our slogan is to Keep Pushing Lakay (home).

Kreyolicious: Why that name?
Catherine Desmarattes: I wanted the platform to be about the lives of our Haitian artists.

Kreyolicious: Did you have any fears or apprehensions about launching?
Catherine Desmarattes: My biggest fear after launching the website was that I wouldn’t be accepted by the artists and other media personalities. Without their support, I know it would be difficult for me to be relevant in this industry.

Kreyolicious: When did you first realize that your brand was gaining ground?
Catherine Desmarattes: I realized AyitiBiyografi was growing when I started to receive calls from some well-respected promoter and artist in the industry. The platform became relevant when having your product features on our website and social media became a must.

I started Ayiti Biyografi alone. Almost four years later, I still not have added anyone else on board. I am passionate about my work and will not add anyone else to my team until I meet someone who shares my passion for this industry.

Kreyolicious: Some people say that entrepreneurship can be a lonely business. Do you share that belief? Why or why not?
Catherine Desmarattes: Unfortunately my social life has suffered because of Ayiti Biyografi. I now attend industry events to work. Even when I decide to take a night off, I still end of posting on social media to keep my audience in the loop. When you are your own boss, there are no days off.

Kreyolicious: Do your parents know you have a website? What do they think about it?
Catherine Desmarattes: My mom and dad are music lovers. My mom still lives in Haiti. She is a source of information for me. She is always sending me information that she gets on the radio just in case it hasn’t reached me yet. My dad, on the other hand, calls me to find out where the bands will be performing for the weekend.

Kreyolicious: A lot of work goes into maintaining a website. Do you ever feel exhausted?
Catherine Desmarattes: Running AyitiBiyografi can be overwhelming. For the past four years I’ve been the writer, editor, photographer, website builder, promoter and interviewer. You name it, I’ve done it.

Kreyolicious: And how do you prevent burnout?
Catherine Desmarattes: I prevent burn out by creating a schedule. I plan the weekend and then take things as they come. At times when I feel really stressed, I take a day to myself. That day is usually spent in bed watching television or going to the movies.

Kreyolicious: If you were to analyze the milestones you’ve reached with the Ayitibiyografi brand…which would you say have been the most impactful.
Catherine Desmarattes: So many great things have happened in the last four years. Reaching 100k “organic” followers on Instagram. People don’t follow you if they don’t think you are interesting. Being invited to some of the best industry events. Invitations equal validation Being nominated for “Website of the Year” and being recognized form something that I love to do is a great accomplishment. Building relationship with different industry insiders – I’ve gained some good friends traveling for Ayiti Biyografi. The list can go on and on…

Kreyolicious: What do you consider your biggest challenge in running Ayiti Biyografi?
Catherine Desmarattes: The biggest challenge is getting the artist to open up about new ideas. As Haitians we tend to be very reserved. That can be problematic when you want people to open up. I want Ayiti Biyografi to be the bridge between the artists and their fans. Most—if not all Haitian artists—have reservations when it comes to sharing their personal life

Kreyolicious: What would you do differently if you were starting out now?
Catherine Desmarattes: Honestly, I didn’t expect for Ayiti Biyografi become what it has become. I am extremely proud of its success. I didn’t rush things. I like the steps I took.

This concludes PART I of the interview with Ayiti Biyografi founder Catherine Desmarattes. Be on the lookout for PART II. Meanwhile check her out her work on these platforms:

SOUNDCLOUD| FACEBOOK| INSTAGRAM| AYITI BIYOGRAFI WEBSITE |

New York-born Catherine Desmarattes launched Ayiti Biyografi, a well-run, one-woman show, turning it into one of the leading, and most-referred-to Haitian music websites on the digital space. The Ayiti Biyografi is strong, as if Desmarattes were running things for more than a meager five years.

Her marketing skills, her love of and obsession for Haitian music, as well as her abilities as a videographer and photographer have made her platform gain respect and traffic. Her 120,000+ combined followers sleep soundly when there’s a popular Haitian musical event happening, because they know the next day (or in many cases, that same day), Desmarattes will deliver photos of their event with video footage and reporting.

In addition to running Ayiti Biyografi, Desmarattes is the host and producer of Biyografi Lari A, a Haitian music and industry show.

In PART I of the interview with the digital entrepreneur, we discussed how she came to launch her thriving brand. This time, I will delve more into her love of music, and we of course will discuss Haiti.

Kreyolicious: You must have a lot of favorite artists and bands. Those you not only enjoy listening to, but whose growth…whether artistically-speaking or audience reach speaking, you are especially proud of. Would you mind pin-pointing….say five artists or bands who fall in that category?
Catherine Desmarattes: I’ve always been a Harmonik fan. I am happy to see them benefiting from their hard work. Many did not expect Nu-Look to survive after the departure of Gazzman. Arly Lariviere stepped up and is handling himself very well. Both Rutshelle and Roody made the best out of their tragic breakup and both can be considered as success stories. Before Kai, many saw Richard Cave as timid like Arly, he has proven otherwise.

Kreyolicious: Speaking of artists…My readers vary. They are into Haitian music at different levels and some not at all. Now…what if you had to give an introduction to Haitian music to those in the latter category? Which artists and albums and songs would you include in a formulated playlist to them. You can give ten to start…
Catherine Desmarattes: As an introduction to Haitian music, I would recommend Carimi’s Bang Bang, TVice Kite’m Viv, Enposib Chay because they have a modern sound. Harmonik Degaje, Nu-Look “Abò”, and Klass “Fè’l Vini Avan” are also great options.

Kreyolicious: Do you go to Haiti often?
Catherine Desmarattes: I go to Haiti at least twice a year. I go in the beginning of the year for carnival and during the summer around my birthday in July.

Kreyolicious: Do you check out the music scene and see what’s it like?
Catherine Desmarattes: The music scene in Haiti is excellent. Despite the economic difficulties, the events in Haiti are better planned than those in the United States. The lighting, the stage, the décor are phenomenal, but that’s because they are not restricted by fire department rules. They have more room to play with things.

Kreyolicious: If you could pin-point 5 books that have changed your life, what books would make the grade?
Catherine Desmarattes: Who Moved My Cheese? is one. I’m more into mystery novels. My favorite author is Michael Connelly and Lisa Jackson.

Kreyolicious: What advice would you give to those out there who are wanting to start a site targeting the Haitian community?
Catherine Desmarattes: Anyone interested in working in this industry has to know the right people. It is difficult to open “powerful” doors if you don’t know which ones to knock.

Kreyolicious: Where do you see Ayiti Biyografi going?
Catherine Desmarattes: I am working on a few things. I am updating the website. My radio showed aired on KreyolJam on December 2nd. It will be on every Friday from 8 to 10 PM. We air the show live on Facebook on the Ayiti Biyografi Fan Page. I want my platform to move with technology. I want to remain relevant and reliable. At this moment, when Ayiti Biyografi is at an event, my audience is confident that they have a front seat at the event and they are not going to miss a thing. I like seeing the expression an artist face when they see me in the media pit. I hope to be in business for many years.

This concludes the interview with Ayiti Biyografi founder Catherine Desmarattes. If you missed PART I, go here. Meanwhile check her out her work on these platforms:

SOUNDCLOUD| FACEBOOK| INSTAGRAM| AYITI BIYOGRAFI WEBSITE | AYITI BIYOGRAFI YOUTUBE

It’s only a matter of time before the Instagrammer 1NegLakay acquires 50,000 followers. His account currently has more than 40,000 fans already, so this follower milestone will be a mere piece of cake, er piece of dous makos. Wesley, the originator of the account, knows that he has a winner under his fingers. He started sharing funny memes about Haitian culture as a theme, and through consistent posting, and with a legion of Haitian-Americans out there looking for a non-ending source of laughter, well, 1NegLakay has grown from a simple Instagram account to a full-pledged business, with the digital influencer launching an online store SizoStore to capitalize on his account’s popularity.

Kreyolicious: What made you start the sizo store?
1NegLakay: I wanted something I can look at and say “that’s mine.” Something my future grandchildren’s children would benefit from and happily say “that’s ours.” I have a passion for fashion. I believe that you make your first impression with the way we look. I have always had that motto growing up so I wanted to share my flavor of fashion with others.

Kreyolicious: What would you say to someone who wants to be a digital influencer?
1NegLakay: Don’t do it. You will have me as a competition and that’s not a good thing. [Laughter] Just kidding. It’s really about having a goal and sticking with it. Be sure of your brand and the message you are trying to get across. If you want to do comedy, work at it, if you want to do videos, it’s the same mentality, work at it till it becomes natural to you. And as well be a people person because it is all about interacting with others and above all, be humble.

Kreyolicious: Do your parents know that they have a social media influencer for a son?
1NegLakay: I don’t think they know but I do think they have seen the memes because they are on Facebook but I don’t think they make the connection. But if my dad was to find out , he probably wouldn’t be surprised because he is a jokester himself and that’s probably where I got the trait from. I grew up laughing at his jokes. [Even] today, I‘m still grateful to have him in my life because he is very funny. Wherever he is at he stays cracking jokes.

Kreyolicious: Where do you hope to take your brand?
1NegLakay: We want to continue making people laugh and make connections. We hope the popularity of the page flourishes that way we can reach more people and establish a solid platform for young and middle age Haitians in the States and abroad. We know the world is a tough place and people deal with various issues on a daily basis and if we can bring a smile to one person during a tough, that’s a big accomplishment for us.

This concludes the interview with Instagrammer 1NegLakay founder Wesley. CLICK HERE if you missed PART I of our interview. And don’t forget to check out 1NegLakay….

CLICK HERE to visit his Instagram page | CLICK HERE to get to the SIZO STORE brought to you by Instagrammer 1NegLakay |

Native Bostonian Shella Saintcyr is the creative entrepreneur behind the crochet accessories line House of Saintcyr. Saintcyr’s colorful pieces are unique, and would make any fashionista’s shopping day. Her line offers everything from church hats, to crochet hoops, headbands to crochet spiral earrings and messenger bags. Saintcyr is never short on creativity.

Kreyolicious: Prior to starting House of Saintcyr, did you ever have any sort of inkling that you were meant to be a business woman?

No.  Not really. I watched my mother run a small business—buying clothing and accessories from New York and selling them out of the family van on various corners of Boston. She would take one of my seven sisters and I on the Greyhound bus with her to meet our extended family in New York. When we got there, she would barter with shop owners for the best prices for dozens of hair bows and dresses not easily found in Boston. My mother successfully learned to solve two problems—how to uniquely dress her 10 children and how to make extra income to supplement my dad’s earnings. Looking back now, some of my happiest memories of my childhood are attached to those business trips to New York with my mother—watching her haggle with other business owners. 

I know that in school and in various jobs, I rarely fit into any particular circles.  I’m somewhat of a misfit. I can see now how that “fitting out” helps me to be more comfortable in doing some unconventional things as a business woman. My life plan in college and in graduate school was to be a counselor—to help hurting people. Never had I imagined I’d be in the line of running an accessories business. It was two years ago when I originally visited a church in Chicago to learn how to sew but ended up learning how to crochet because the sewing lady wasn’t there. I found crochet therapeutic, especially since my father had passed away a few months before. I developed my skills watching YouTube videos and discovered that my sisters would pay me to make accessories for them. I thought that if I could get my sisters with particular taste to buy my products, perhaps other women would be interested in purchasing them as well.

Kreyolicious: You’re an entrepreneur and you craft your own products. Do you think that makes things doubly challenging?

Yes—it can be challenging in some ways. It means that if that specific product I’ve made for a client isn’t purchased for whatever reason, I have to find some way to sell it to another client who may have a different taste in colors or shapes. But crafting my own products also means that each client is purchasing a product that takes into consideration their unique style. One size does not always fit all. I personally like finding jewelry at a boutique that can’t be found anywhere else. I want the luxury of it being a rarity.

Kreyolicious: Do you find that the fact that you have a Master’s Degree has helped you in terms of budgeting, time management, and business management overall?

My Masters degree is in Social Work. It helped me become more aware of systems and family dynamics, but I can’t say that I lean on it for budgeting and business management. I wish I had completed a Masters in Business Administration but hindsight is 20/20 vision. I guess when I’m requested to serve as a vendor at a church event or at a school, my social work hat comes on. I know how those systems can run and how certain social norms govern their culture. I keep this in mind when interacting with potential customers.

Kreyolicious: How do you measure growth?

Beyond looking at sales, I measure growth by the networks formed. I connect with the saying, “Your network is your net worth.” I want to know at the end of the day that I’ve connected with—provided a service to people with various international, economic and social backgrounds. It says to me that in my efforts to work my craft in excellence, people from all over the world stop to admire it and purchase what I produce. I’m also concerned with personal growth, if when faced with setbacks or obstacles, do I run towards faith or fear. Do I continue to respond in an unhealthy way with similar challenges? I need to know that I’m graduating from self doubts or the need to always be understood.

Kreyolicious: If you had someone over for tea, and that someone wanted to become an entrepreneur in the same industry as you, what would you tell her?

I’d tell her that she will need to be patient with herself and with sales. Seeds spend a lot of time in the ground before one can see the harvest they bring. Keep getting up when you get knocked down. You never know what new opportunities can come with a new day or the next hour. There may be 50 other people who can crochet but no one makes that specific product like you. Customers are drawn to authenticity. Your story is what distinguishes you from the crowd. Teach others what you learn in the process of doing business, so you’ll have internal space to learn more. Women’s wants and needs fluctuate, come to every meeting prepared to present a few options in terms of product. A request for yellow accessories can quickly change to blue the next day, so be flexible. Collaborate rather than compete with other women. Competition confines you to another’s standards. Collaboration frees you to maintain your own standards.

Kreyolicious: It’s been said that now as more than any other time, entrepreneurs are being made every day. Do you think that this pattern will continue in the next 4-5 years?

I hope it does continue in the next 4-5 years since our world is ever changing and new problems are developing. We need more people in the world who approach problems in creative ways (e.g. standing on the corner of the water tower building in Chicago dressed in interview clothes holding a sign that reads, “Looking for work. Got a Masters Degree.). We need more people who aren’t afraid to take risks. I think a lot of people are sick of the mold but are afraid to make changes, to explore something outside of their comfort zone because of possible ridicule and failure. I often meet people who are more financially secure than I am who think that owning a business is somehow outside of their reach. Sometimes the one who succeeds is the one who had enough courage to try something different or didn’t give up.

Kreyolicious: Where do you hope to take House of Saintcyr?

I’d like to see House of Saintcyr accessories on the runways in Paris, New York and in Africa or adorning an actress on the set of a major movie production. I want a portion of the business to be dedicated to coaching and mentoring girls and women internationally to start and maintain their own businesses. I hope to establish a legacy that sends the message to women everywhere that out of the ashes of life there is beauty—whether the ashes come in the form of the death of a parent, the loss of a career—or the loss of a valued relationship.

HOUSE OF SAINTCYR ON ETSY| HOUSE OF SAINTCYR ON INSTAGRAM| HOUSE OF SAINTCYR ON FACEBOOK

CLICK HERE to read interviews and other articles with fashion and beauty entrepreneurs.