Carel Pedre is at IVLP!

Earlier this month, Haiti multimedia personality Carel Pedre left Haiti to participate in the International Visa Leadership Program, an exchange program sponsored by US State Department’s Bureau of Cultural Affairs.

In existence since the early 1940s, the program recruits media leaders from all over the world, and in a series of exchanges, schools, trains, and immerses them into the US media landscape. Participants, in return, share ideas with another—and not just media-related insight, but cultural insight as well. This year participants came as far as Tanzania.

Carel was nominated and selected by the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, and the other participants were selected by the US Embassies in their respective home countries.

Here he is posing with his colleagues.

Carel has made stops in cities like Austin, Seattle, Capitol Hill…and by the conclusion of the program, he will have assisted educational and exchange sessions in Denver, New York and Minneapolis.

And speaking of Capitol Hill…

here is the multimedia personality inside Capitol Hill…

Carel poses with fellow participants as well as radio personnel Erin Gesiler, Ben Philpot, Andrew Weber and Rebecca McInroy inside the KUTX/KUT building in Texas. KUTX broadcasts through the University of Austin’s Moody School of Communication.

Carel and the rest of the IVLP participants make a stop at the Austin Police Station and met with the Public Information officers for the station. They discussed the strategies they employed to assure the department’s transparency.

An International Visitor Leadership program would not be complete without a stop at Facebook!

Inside the Facebook office.

Spending time at Voice of America, broadcast through the Bureau of Broascasting Governors.

The radio and TV host has been chronicling his adventures at IVLP on his social media channels as well as on his personal website. The program is scheduled to end at the end of May, and is one of his primary triumphs as a media professional this past year. Earlier this year, the multimedia personality joined forces with Loop Scoop, a current events website, and got into a partnership with broadcasting vertical Zenio.

[All photos via Carel Pedre IVLP].

Ever sit there and wonder how the graphic design, social media and event marketing world operate in Haiti? Karl Jean-Jeune—the CEO and Founder of Ayilo, one of the fledging social media marketing firms based in Port-au-Prince—gave Kreyolicious an overview of these two industries.

At the top of his game, Jean-Jeune not only runs Ayilo but heads Partying in Haiti. Partying in Haiti is self-explanatory. It’s an event marketing and promoting firm that reaches out to twenty and thirty-somethings to assure that local events are packed with them. Using his strong network and social media pull, Jean-Jeune is able to bring them in droves to events either promoted by him or his clients. Looking at the photos posted on the site’s galleries, it would seem that Partying in Haiti even has a local tourism aspect to it. Flamboyantly dressed boys and girls look to be having a grand ‘ole time at everything from casual parties to musical concerts and carnival masquerade balls. Oh, my. Partying in Haiti is certainly doing its share in Haiti’s international makeover. Young professional partygoers looking very content and self-satisfied. No burning tires in sight—or trash piles.

Ayilo and Partying in Haiti are both less than five years old, but their CEO clearly wants to build them into something big. With his right hand, Jean-Jeune is pulling the strings to make sure clients are adequately represented on social media, and with his left, he’s using his marketing-know-how to think of the best strategies to bring warm bodies and diversion-searching minds to events all over Port-au-Prince and its surrounding suburbs.

Kreyolicious: How did you initially become interested in marketing?

I was only a graphic design student when I landed an internship at the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority’s office. I was working with community events, promoting and coordinating. From there, my love for marketing grew and I found myself getting involved in all marketing or communication related aspect of the projects I work in.

Kreyolicious: I think the name of your company is cute. Ayilo…Does it have a story behind it?

Actually, I had a previous project which involved blogging and I wanted to call it Alo Ayiti. Someone told me about another company or organization with the same name. Therefore, I decided to combined Alo and Ayiti. I got Ayilo. The project never took off. Loving the name, I decided to use it for my company.

Above: Karl Jean-Jeune, the CEO of Port-au-Prince-based marketing and event company Ayilo.

Kreyolicious: As the CEO of Ayilo, how do your days start and end?

My day usually starts with meetings and putting final touches on projects. I work best at night—therefore you will find me late at night starting on a new project or working on an old one. However, being in that line of work, my days are unpredictable from start to end.

Kreyolicious: What’s the world of social media and marketing like in Haiti from an agency point of view?

It is relatively new. Businesses are starting to seriously pick up on it because of how easy it is to reach their target market. It is also cost-effective. But it is hard to convince “old management” that social medias are great for business.

Kreyolicious: In terms of challenges…what are some that you have faced?

My biggest challenge human resources. In Haiti, freelancers are either too expensive or cheap freelancers are not able to meet standards. I believe in paying for quality work, but I also believe in not tolerating overly-exaggerated prices. I find that proper training to up-and-coming designers are the best way to cope with this situation, and that is what I am starting to do.

Kreyolicious: What advice would you give to a company outside of Haiti who wants to reach out to the masses in Haiti?

Be bold, be innovative and creative in your campaign.

Kreyolicious: Do you think that the fact that Haiti is a small country gives marketers an advantage in terms of reaching out to influencers?

No. I don’t believe so. I think it makes it a little bit harder to keep the hype up for the product you are trying to market. You have to always go the extra mile. Haiti has a very complexed population. What works for one-sixth, the following one-sixth, so on and so forth. And don’t be surprised if what worked this morning for one category doesn’t work in the afternoon. I don’t think it is a small country issue though. It’s a Haiti issue.

Kreyolicious: Reading your bio, you also have an event marketing firm, and other companies. How do all them come together?

I am also the co-founder of Partying In Haiti and HaitiUnder40. I am a party lover and I am fascinated by great events. I believe that they all come together in helping the nightlife in Haiti to grow and showcase itself to the world. HaitiUnder40 is not launched yet and should be soon. It is a networking event for professionals under 40. PartyingInHaiti is an event listing company. It also organizes events at certain periods of the year.

Above: Partygoers in Haiti pose at an event organized by Ayilo’s sister company Partying In Haiti. Photo Credit: Partying in Haiti.

Kreyolicious: And how do you keep yourself sane, while balancing all the responsibilities that come with running multiple companies?

Someone once told that you have to do everything you need to do. I guess I just create a little time for everything. I have also great partners in several of these projects. Responsibilities are shared—and because we have the same visions—I don’t worry about the results.

Photo Credit: Partying in Haiti

Kreyolicious: As for Ayilo, how do you plan on pushing it forward as a firm?

So far we are relying on social media and word of mouth, but most importantly, our work is the biggest client magnet. We keep our prices lower then the competition while providing great services with innovative thinking. We are now exploring other aspect of the industry such as advertising and publishing. We shall see what the future holds. We are very hopeful.

FOLLOW AYILO ON TWITTER | AYILO ON FACEBOOK | FOLLOW AYILO ON INSTAGRAM | CLICK HERE TO VISIT PARTYING IN HAITI

Meet Martine Jean of Melange Media.

Jean left law practice in Ohio to pursue her dream in Hollywood, and founded Melange Media, and like its name indicates the company delves into all sorts of mediums, whether film or television. Jean was born in Cap Haitien, and grew up in that city as well as Port-au-Prince before coming to the United States. As she worked as an attorney, she was pursuing acting on the side, earning herself several spots in commercials and industrial videos. Theatre was also a big part of Jean’s life, so it was only a matter of time before films would become a part of it all as well. Jean auditioned for a film about a superhero who discovers that she has super powers after a lab experiment. It turns out that the script would mirror her own life. She imagined that she wouldn’t get the part, as she didn’t feel that she physical fit the character’s profile. But the audition and casting folks thought otherwise. They were immensely impressed; turns out that Martine Jean had acting superpowers that she didn’t know about.

The part in that film was followed by a part in another project called Johnny Appleseed. Jean finally relocated to California, but was still a practicing attorney on the other side of the coast! Upon arriving in Los Angeles, her focus changed from acting to writing and producing, and she’s been doing that ever since. Her latest project is The Silent Treatment, a silent black and white film with a cast she dubs “some amazingly talented actors”.

Jean knows that in Hollywood, your business value is not based on your past glories, but on current projects. At the moment, she’s writing a project for a major production company that is soon scheduled to go into production.

How did Melange Media come to be?
Melange Media came to life after I’d had a brutal year. My previous production partnership was not working out the way I imagined it would. I had some health and other personal matters to tend to. I hit a wall. It felt like I hit a plateau before even starting. It’s funny, in L.A. you can spend years begging people to read or option your scripts, but at some point, you have to make a decision to shoot your own films. It’s not easy at all. In fact, even though I’ve produced for other companies, I’m still learning. I’m constantly learning.

The biggest obstacle to making your own movie is funding, finding the investors who believe in you enough to give you money to shoot a film. That’s why you usually start with a short film. A short is kind of a business card. It’s like a preview and it tells people what you can do. So, it’s with those things in mind that I decided to start Melange. I have a diverse background and I wanted that to inform my work, hence the name Melange—which means mixture.

The tagline for Melange Media is ‘Bringing Quality Entertainment to Life’. How do you go about fulfilling that mantra in every film venture?
The tagline came about because we wanted to focus on quality and not quantity. That’s something we strive for every day. That’s our goal and we do our very best to attain it. It’s all about how passionate you are and what sacrifices you are willing to make for the love of the art.

You have a project on the Horizon The Prenup. What type of project is it?
The Prenup is actually a tv show, not a movie. It’s currently under option and we’ve had several meetings at networks about the show. I can’t discuss the details, but I will tell you that it’s a lot of fun and hopefully it’ll come to a TV near you soon!

What is it really like in Hollywood?
Hollywood is interesting. The business is not what I expected before moving here. In a way, it is what you make it. You have to move here already grounded and centered. If you already have family or close friends here, then that is wonderful. Behind the glitz and glamour, Hollywood can be little ruthless, so my advice is to keep your circle small and tight. Make sure it includes people you’ve known for a while and whom you trust fully. Living here is great. L.A. has everything a person would want: beaches, nightlife and great weather. For those who are into winter sports, just go up the mountains and there is plenty of snow for skiing and snowboarding. Once you’ve learned the traffic patterns, driving is not too bad either.

Do you think that technology will one day render movie theaters obsolete?
I sure hope not! Movie theaters are not just about the movie itself, they are an experience. Popcorn, drinks and raisinets … and then just sitting in a huge theater and experiencing a film with complete strangers. It’s amazing to me.

What goes into running Melange Media on a day-to-day basis?
The most important thing to do on a daily basis is network. This was hard for me. I enjoy going out occasionally, but I don’t like going out with the intent to network. At some point, I had to learn that the entertainment business is seventy five percent who you know. You can have the greatest, Oscar-worthy script. If your mom is the only one who’s read it, then you’re going nowhere fast. On a daily basis, we network as much as possible, we set up meetings, we pitch projects to different networks or to the huge production companies and we watch movies. That last part is very important too. It’s like a basketball team, studying another team’s film so they know what to expect at the next game. We try to be aware of what’s out there or what’s coming and from whom. We are constantly studying and improving.

Do you have any projects planned for Haiti or for the Haitian community in the USA?
I am working on a couple of scripts that center around Haiti. They are far from being in production and I would need the funding to bring them to reality. I also had an idea a couple of years ago that I hope to one day make bring to life. I would like to develop a program where we would select a few up and coming Haitian writers, directors, producers every year, bring them to Hollywood for 2 weeks of training with the big, award winning filmmakers in Hollywood. Real, hands-on training. And hopefully at the end of the program, give each filmmaker a camera or other equipment they would need.

After music, movies are the universal language that allows us to communicate with others. As Haitians, we have such a passion for the art of filmmaking. There are so many films being made either in Haiti, Miami, NY and Canada by Haitians. Sometimes, I’m amazed at what Haitian filmmakers are able to accomplish with little to no resources! A lot of Haitian filmmakers simply lack the resources to make their films the way they would like to make them. I think a program like this would be a wonderful opportunity for them.

Is it necessary to live in California to thrive in the cinema industry?
I don’t think it’s necessary to live here. Tyler Perry lives in Atlanta and his movies do amazingly well theatrically and on DVD. With that said, I think L.A. and to a certain extent New York are where you make the big connections to advance your career, so it would be wise to be in one of those places at some point.

As someone who has so much experience in the industry, what counsel can you offer to someone who’d like to follow in your footsteps?
I don’t think I have very much experience at all. I do have a lot of drive and passion. I also have a lot of fight in me and you need all of those, at a minimum, to survive in the industry. My biggest advice is if you want to make movies, start wherever you are. When you’re first starting out, you don’t necessarily have to be in Hollywood. If you’re in Haiti or in Idaho, start there. Shoot your short films, submit them to festivals, get some credits on IMDB, so that if and when you decide to move, you’ve already got a body of work and some experience.

What’s the next big thing at Melange Media?
Next on our agenda is submitting The Silent Treatment to film festivals. Personally, I am writing a feature film script for another company. The story is titled Bits and Pieces. The title may change, but hopefully that film will be in production before the end of the year. We’re excited about what the future hold!

Earlier this month, Miss Boss Entertainment’s Haitian Music Awards was the dominant conversation on #TeamHaiti’s social media radar. One of the topics of chatter from that award show was Kowkow, whose parka-themed outfit was deemed one of the highlights of the event by many observers.

But who’s really the man who calls himself Kowkow? And what is it about him that’s making so many youngins emulate his hefty-leather-belt-on-the-forehead-style? To begin, his real first name is Davidson. Curious about how he got the moniker Kowkow, or about what he has in store for his devoted fans? Catch up with Kowkow!

Kreyolicious: Tell us more about yourself Kowkow.
I’m also known as Bote Lavi—I’m studying Business Administration at Miami-Dade College. A lot of people don’t think I go to school [Laughter]. If only they knew [that] I’m a genius when it comes to education, they would pay me millions to school them. I’m a very intelligent guy. Besides attending school, I’m an entertainer, a poet, and I often rap. No, I don’t rap. I just kowkow on beats, which I call rap. I’m also a stylist and a walking billboard in the Haitian music industry.

With the legendary Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.

Kreyolicious: How did you get the name Kowkow?
The name Kowkow was discovered from my writing skills as a poet—K.O.W [standing for] King of Words. A year later, I decided to change K.O.W to Kowkow which became more appealing and unique to myself and [my] fans.

Kreyolicious: Where did you get your sense of style?
I have a love and passion for fashion. Anything that is unusual and unique suits my creative ideas. Honestly, I don’t really look up to anyone for inspiration but myself. I basically put all my imagination in use, and continue to think about what’s next to bring to the plate, that others haven’t invented. Or should I just say reinvent? “Nothing’s new underneath the sun.” In this case, this is how my different ideas come to pass. For example, the watch on my chain and the belt I rock on my head isn’t something easy to be different with, but as for someone like myself that practices “savwa lib”—which means learning how to be free—I love it.

Kreyolicious: Being different is not always celebrated. What gives you the courage to stand out?
I would always remind myself that I live in my own world practicing savwa lib—being free to wear anything that satisfies me. If today I decide to paint my nails, or wear my shirt inside out with tags all around, [or with] fur, or even wear two different types of shoes, that’s just Kowkow. Let me be me and keep it pushing. People don’t get that, but as long as I do, that’s all that matters. I don’t care what others think or say of me. People judge anyways. This is just the beginning, and I will continue to be myself.

This concludes PART I of the interview with Kowkow. Stay tuned for PART II. Meanwhile, stay connected to Kowkow, by FOLLOWING HIS INSTAGRAM HERE!

Haiti-based radio host and multimedia journalist Carel Pedre is altering the media landscape in Haiti.

Chokarella, Pedre’s flagship property, has grown into one of Haiti’s most recognized and most-esteemed entertainment platforms. The Chokarella brand launched as a morning radio show, then grew into a phenomenon among the Haitian-American Diaspora. Some of it had to do with Pedre’s timing.

Pedre, who has clarified in interviews that Chokarella existed prior to the 2010 earthquake, created a show that first resonated with Haitians in Haiti. In particular, with Haitian-Americans in the United States, and others living abroad—who newly shook by the earthquake in Haiti in the early 2010s—were looking for ways to establish, reconnect and rekindle their ties to Haiti. And here was Pedre with a morning show that appealed to their Haitian-American sensibilities while also stroking the newly-found love or reignited love for all things Haiti, and his tech-loving ways equally appealed to them. And here was Pedre who was their audio window to Haiti and everything that was happening in it.

Pedre has connected with audiences living outside of Haiti in a way that many, who also have an online presence, didn’t. Pedre also used his tech-savvy to launch an app for the show that made his brand even more distinct from his counterparts. And he kept on coming up with content that could engage his base listeners in Haiti, while also catching the interest of the Anglophone-oriented Haitian-American community.

And then there’s the matter of personal branding. His smiling face is everywhere. It’s almost as memorable as his vision for Haiti’s media. But then again, as any branding evangelist will tell you, a brand with a face will always be championed more than a simple logo. Pedre knows that. He’s not one to sit behind the microphone, close up his equipment when his interviews conclude, and call it a day. One minute he’s in Seoul, Korea at a journalism development conference, the next he’s conducting a “takeover” in Miami during Haitian Flag Week, and the next he’s in Haiti directing his crew, and covering some event in Petionville or Cap Haitien. Next thing you know, he’s in Montreal, Canada for the Haitian culture extravaganza show Haiti en Folie.

Pedre won’t rest. A tireless social media strategist, he can be seen posting on his social media platforms through the wee hours of the morning. The multimedia czar was honored this past October by the Creole Image Honors, a cultural organization, that is fittingly enough based in New York, one of the undisputed cocoons of the Haitian Diaspora. That same city honored him in June, this time by Fleur de Vie, a non-profit launched by designer Dayane Damier.

This concludes PART I of the article about multimedia journalist Carel Pedre. CLICK HERE to view videos on the Chokarella platform.

This has been another episode of STRAIGHT OUTTA HAITI in which your fave chick Kreyolicious discusses talents and people emerging out of Haiti, and assorted things. Today’s episode centered on multimedia journalist Carel Pedre. But, there are others…ahem…

CLICK HERE to check out other episodes!

Daniella Bien-Aime is not only the editor of The Bienaime Post, but also a think-tank blogger whose focus is on marketing, social media, tech and entrepreneurship. Recently, she’s added author on her list of accomplishments. Her timely book Take Haiti to an Emerging Market Position: 61 Business Ideas Haitians Can Profit With Right Now outlines Haiti’s potential as an up-and-coming market.

A graduate of the prestigious Teachers College, Columbia University, it isn’t surprising that Bien-Aime’s digital discourses on business, social media marketing, and emerging technology are filled with insightful knowledge and keen analysis.

Kreyolicious: Tell us more about your work.
First, I want to thank you for inviting me here to share my story with you and with the Kreyolicious family. I’ve been a fan for several years now. And I want you to know that I love the work you’re doing for Haiti and our community.

As for telling you about myself, sure, I’d be happy to share some of the events in my life that led me to write the eBook. I’ve spent about ten years in the corporate space in several industries. I started working in the financial industry supporting Wall Street bankers in various teams.

From that experience, I then moved on to several management roles within the publishing and healthcare sectors, and to education. I’ve been fortunate to work with some bright and generous individuals. I’ve learned so much from them. I like to think that they have also learned from me, as I often bring my own perspectives to whatever environment I am in.

While I was working and completing my graduate degree, the Haiti earthquake hit. That tragedy gave me an opportunity to use my experience to help change Haiti’s dialogue. Right after the earthquake, as a Haitian I understood what it felt like to go through that experience. I think there was an emotional piece that died with each of us as we watched the amount of devastation unfold in the news.

Kreyolicious: Certainly…and thank you.
In essence, that event forced me to shift my priorities in thinking of a creative way to work on behalf of Haiti. I believe that Haiti will change when we focus on developing the people—and one way to do that is to focus on supporting the country’s entrepreneurs. That sense of priorities has been with me since the earthquake, as I build a platform to elevate Haiti.

Kreyolicious: I see…
Unbeknownst to me, as I was sharing about my work in Haiti on social media, the editor from Haiti Business Week reached out to me on LinkedIn. The initial idea with Haiti Business Week was to do an interview to discuss my experience from my recent trip to Haiti. Halfway through the interview, the editor asked me if I would be willing to write a piece for the magazine.

After giving it some thought, I agreed and from there, the work just took off. I started contributing to The Haitian Times, Caribbean Journal, and most recently Caribbean News Now and other niche Caribbean magazines. Now ,my writing has evolved into a full blog to the point of writing this eBook.

Since I am interested in how business and technology can elevate societies, I decided to use my research skills and knowledge of Haiti to start the blog. Part of my work involved telling these innovation and business stories.

But, I think you do the same thing with Kreyolicious, too. To me, when I first started writing about Haiti, it was my way to give back. I knew my obligations here in the U.S. would not allow me to go back, but I still wanted to create change. Now the blog has evolved into a new media venture.

In hindsight, I realize that every experience is valuable. After I left the publishing industry, I didn’t think I would use some of the skill sets, but I’m currently using them to grow Bien-Aime Post.

Kreyolicious: What led you to write your ebook, Take Haiti to an Emerging Market Position: 61 Business Ideas Haitians Can Profit With Right Now?
The one thing that led me to write the book is that I started to see and study patterns that have not worked in Haiti’s development. And unfortunately, because the systemic aid is ingrained in Haiti, most Haitians adopt the same method regardless of whether that aid has been effective.

They focus on establishing non-profits and NGOs. Not that all non-profits are bad, but there should not be so many that the aid hurts the country’s economy. I often wonder, if Haitians grew up seeing foreigners build businesses, would they follow suit? I am hoping the eBook can provide this dialogue and some practical solutions.

I thought about writing the eBook on these business ideas because the topic is one of the most popular topics with my blog audience. Even the business pieces I’ve written for Haitian Times, I am told, have done well. Based on this feedback, I decided to write a more comprehensive piece than just my shorter blog posts. Also in the book, I purposely highlighted some people that my audience may not have heard about. This was to show how important it is as a community to collaborate with others. It builds trust and a spirit of community. My supporting someone’s remarkable work does not negate the value of my work.

In fact, it’s good to be in the company of people who push you to do your best. We often don’t realize the power of collaboration and trust. Successful ideas are rarely implemented in silos, so I’m learning the importance of taking the time to support others. It’s not easy to show up day after day with the possibility that you might be ridiculed for your passion and convictions.

As you decide to take risks and put your work out there, you’ll find those like-minded peers, where there is a spirit of mutual respect and support with no hidden agenda. Even as a blogger and Haitian contributor to several publications, few people would know my work if I didn’t have the support of others and a willingness to support them, as well.

Kreyolicious: The book is available now. What has been the feedback from your readers regarding it?
You know, it’s interesting. When you create or produce something, you have no idea how others will receive it. I just found this week that the Nassau Guardian newspaper in the Bahamas published my last post about the eBook. I found out through several readers. I was encouraged by the opportunity to reach a larger audience. Yes, the eBook is available, and it’s free, so anyone can register to download it on the site. The feedback has been positive.
I do believe that people have been supportive, based on their social media comments. I’ve received many positive comments.

I’ll share one with you here from a reader on Facebook:

“I am glad someone wrote what I was thinking. The great thing about Haiti is that because it has a lot of problems, it creates an opportunity for a lot different solutions. Haiti has problems that, if viewed in isolation, are simple to solve. But when you look at them as a system, they become complex. As a result, one organism (the government) cannot tackle all these problems simultaneously. The solution is to have many different startups that seek to solve a very specific problem—just pick an industry, then pick a problem within that industry. Then, as a whole they will collectively reduce the complexity of Haiti’s problems”—Richard D Sam

KEEP UP WITH DANIELLA BIEN-AIME BY VISITING HER WEBSITE HERE! | CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW DANIELLA BIEN-AIME ON INSTAGRAM| DANIELLA BIEN-AIME ON TWITTER

Carel Pedre’s work ethic pushes him to create original content seemingly around the clock. His Chokarella radio show has morphed into its own brand, the same way its creator has grown into a separate brand. Pedre introduced a show called “Lunch Break”, in which he has lunch in a posh restaurant in Haiti with a local celebrity. “Lunch Break” is a chance for the radio king to explore possibilities beyond radio, while giving people of Haitian descent living abroad an introspective view of life in Haiti.

Carel Pedre with actress Vicky Jeudy. Photo Credit: Dave

The past and future of media is video, it’s been said. To that end, Pedre has amassed a collection of content on the Youtube platform, and conducts Facebook Live streamings that get thousands real-time viewers—not to mention later time watchers. He gets ideas for content series the way real estate developers get ideas for new gated communities. “Personality of the Week”, one of the segments he’s introduced on that platform, explore the life and work of Haiti’s cultural icons. Done in Haitian Creole, these egments introduce viewers to vibrant personalities that have made considerable impact on Haiti’s cultural landscape.

Like the Chokarella entertainment news segments, they’re a break for those who could care less about political talk and disheartening news bulletins, and would rather see the lighter side of Haiti. The fact that Haitian Creole is the language of choice in these videos make them appealing to those who have no knowledge or limited fluency in French, Haiti’s other official language. Those in other French Caribbean countries, can also relate to Chokarella’s content, though there are major variations in the other islands’ Creole and Haitian Creole.

One of the most striking aspect of Carel Pedre’s content is his penchant to explore and give a platform to entertainment industries like stage theater that are not as heralded as other forms of entertainment, as well as health activism, such as a cancer awareness march he and his crew covered.

Pedre has launched a personal vlog to chronicle his life and career and give his viewers a more in-depth look about his work. The Port-de-Paix born media professional is also putting the finishing touches on what is bound to be Haiti’s first major podcast network. Pedre had previously begun a successful experimentation with the podcasting platform, first with “De Tout de Rien” (Everything and Nothing), a podcast with DJK9, a Haiti-based disc jockey. He’s since added Krik? Krak? hosted by Tina, that celebrates and seeks to revive Haiti’s storytelling tradition, as well as Woy podcast, in collaboration with singer-activist-media mogul Miss Talie, a social talk podcast that is parts Black Girls Pod, Black Girls Nerds, and even a bit of American Serial.

Pedre is the baseball player who goes to the field with multiple bats. He wants to hit all the bases. He breathes content marketing, drinks video strategy, and lives personal branding.

| CLICK HERE TO VISIT CHOKARELLA | CLICK HERE TO VISIT CHOKARELLA ON YOUTUBE

Did you miss the first part of this article? CLICK HERE to read it!

This has been another episode of STRAIGHT OUTTA HAITI in which your fave chick Kreyolicious discusses talents and people emerging out of Haiti, and assorted things.

CLICK HERE to check out other episodes!

Hey there, readers! Be sure to check out the concluding part of my interview with Daniella Bien-Aime, a social media strategist and Haitian-American entrepreneur. She is the editor of The Bien-Aime Post, a digital platform that covers leadership, social media management, and Haiti entrepreneurship. Bien-Aime recently published the book Taking Haiti to an Emerging Market Position. She’s a graduate of Columbia University.

Kreyolicious: What business and personal development books would you recommend as a companion to your own book?
Oh, my! That’s a tough one because I love to read. I hope I can share three that have influenced me to take a leap of faith in starting the blog. The first one is Permission Marketing by Seth Godin—it is a must if you want to understand the new form of business marketing.

The second one is The One Thing: The Surprising Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller. And the last one is The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically by Eric Ries.

Kreyolicious: You attended Teachers College, Columbia University. How did that prepare you for the business and entrepreneurship sector?
It’s interesting. I get asked that question quite a bit. And one thing I always say is, yes, it was a great opportunity to be part of that institution. But I always share when people ask me that I am first a product of the Haitian educational system. I attended Madame Boisson in Haiti, and that set the crucial foundation for me. It was sad to hear some of Madame Boisson’s family and many of the teachers did not survive the earthquake.

I think one of the most rewarding experiences of attending Teachers College, Columbia University was the ability to learn from some of the leading scholars in their field. I also made some great connections, many of whom I am still friends with today. As for being prepared for the business sector, the work experience I’ve gained in the corporate world has helped, not to mention my background working at Columbia Business School.

I think a focal point on developing Haiti’s future business leaders is vital to the country’s economic development. Aid will never help Haiti achieve independence, and
I see business as a vehicle to bring changes to Haiti and to also push the Haitian diaspora to take more chances on becoming entrepreneurs.

Kreyolicious: As a Haitian-American, if you were to land in Haiti right now, of all the business possibilities, which would you personally choose and why?
As a Haitian-American, since I have a passion for Haiti in the context of business, technology and education, I would build a business hub where Haitians can learn about entrepreneurship and technology. I’m working on a few ideas that have the potential to move forward. But like everything else, you need the right team and partners to make things work. Why? I think the need of the hour is to increase the Haitian people’s annual income. And I think entrepreneurship can play a major role in Haiti when it comes to increasing the people’s job prospects.

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Joyce Fuerza has lived in four different countries, so it’s barely a surprise that she’s fluent in five different languages and is learning a sixth. What’s surprising is that in spite of her overwhelming success, she still comes across as apprpoachable. Fuerza is one of the most popular voices on Canadian television. Her show “The Joyce Fuerza Show” offers viewers entrepreneurship and personal development guidance. She regularly interviews small business owners and entrepreneurs from all over Canada. Business is a passion for the media personality, and this shows through her launch of her very own production company Joyce Fuerza Productions.

K. St. Fort: Joyce Fuerza, I think it’s interesting that your last name is Fuerza since it means strength in Spanish.

Thank you so much for inviting me to do this interview. I am really humbled and delighted to be able to share a bit about myself, my projects, and my journey with you and your readers. Hopefully I can inspire others to focus on their passion and motivate them to work hard towards achieving their objectives. This is definitely not the first time I have been asked to comment about my name. Fuerza is actually my middle name—given to me by my lovely mother. I use my first name and my middle name—Joyce Fuerza—as my brand.

K. St. Fort: So you know Kreyol, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and you’re learning Mandarin. How cool.
Thank you! Living and studying abroad in four different countries has been one of the most important experiences of my life and I am so grateful for that. It definitely widened my horizons and got me to be more involved in other cultures. That also explains why I speak five languages. I encourage anyone to learn an additional language, it’s incredible how much it will change your life!

Above: Interviewing a guest on The Joyce Fuerza show, her motivational and personal development-focused talk show.

K. St. Fort: Did you feel pretty growing up?

I have always believed that being pretty comes from the inside first. I have always felt I had a beautiful personality which in turn reflects on the outside. Growing up I don’t remember ever being obsessed about beauty, and today, I’m still not. It’s so easy for people, especially young people today, to get the wrong picture about what is labeled as ‘beautiful’ or ‘pretty’ with what they are constantly seeing on TV, or with the use of Photoshop on pictures in magazines etc… What’s important is that you feel good in your own skin. Charm and kindness last way longer than beauty. Beauty will eventually fade away.

K. St. Fort: Every day practically you have a camera aiming at your face. Does that ever make you self-conscious?
No matter what you do in life, people will form opinions about you. So, if you are afraid of being judged, you will never accomplish anything in life. I am a person who believes in taking initiatives in order to make it in this world, so it is important to learn to be comfortable with not caring so much about what other people think about you and not let other people’s judgments stop you from following your dreams. Otherwise, you will never do anything great in your life. I enjoy having a camera on me as long as it’s helping me share what I learn everyday with others.

K. St. Fort: Do you have a beauty and fitness regimen?
I don’t follow any particular diet, but I do eat healthy. I prefer home cooked meals; I watch a lot of cooking shows to try new recipes. As for fitness nothing drastic either, I usually run (either outdoors or on the treadmill) and I enjoy dancing especially Salsa.

K. St. Fort: What would you say to other young women who would like to make a career in television broadcasting?
I would tell them first to make sure they get an education. Knowledge is something that nobody can take away from you. Then, go out there and network, volunteer or do internships with established organizations so you can learn more about the industry, to acquire more skill set and experience. Always be confident.

K. St. Fort: You have your own production company Joyce Fuerza Productions, Inc. What’s a Monday like running this company?
I work with a very dynamic team. We share the same passion and vision which makes our working environment not even feel like we are working, but more like sharing ideas and having fun while being productive. My typical Monday is much more than running my production company. I am also involved as the head coordinator in the organization of two major film festivals in Canada: the Toronto Black Film Festival and the Montreal International Black Film Festival. So, I go from coordinating special events, to speaking at different TV and radio outlets, going to team meetings and press conferences, welcoming celebrities coming from different parts of the world, doing red carpet interviews, among other things.

K. St. Fort: Any book or books that you’d like to recommend to me and my readers in terms of how it helped you grow as a person?
I am very business-oriented, so I read a lot of leadership and entrepreneurship books. One book I would highly suggest is The Nine Step Plan for Success by New York Times bestselling author Stedman Graham whom I had the pleasure to personally meet. If you can also attend one of Stedman’s business conferences, then it’s even better. You will learn a great deal of tips on how to grow and be more successful in your life.

[Photo Credit: All photos furnished by subject.]

STAY TUNED FOR PART 2 OF THIS INTERVIEW. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH BY CLICKING THIS LINK.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT JOYCE FUERZA’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL | JOYCE FUERZA’S WEBSITE | JOYCE FUERZA ON TWITTER | JOYCE FUERZA ON INSTAGRAM

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Concordia University graduate Joyce Fuerza is the host of her own self-titled talk show in Canada. The media mogul and owner of Joyce Fuerza Productions uses her know-how as an entrepreneur to motivate viewers in Canada to pursue their dreams. The motivational aspect of her show has earned the Haitian-Canadian comparisons to the States-side mogul-of-all-moguls Oprah Winfrey.

Kreyolicious: You went to Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business. If you had to do things over, would you have skipped college and just gone right into a position in broadcasting?
Education has always been a top priority for me and one of our key values growing up in my family. Going to university has been an incredible experience and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Aside from the knowledge I got, I was able to make amazing connections. I got exposed to a rich cultural and social environment. University definitely allowed me to mature and be more equipped to tackle everything I’m doing today. However, you should never limit your education with only what you can learn in school. You have to constantly be networking, volunteering or do internships with established organizations so you can learn more about the industry you are interested in…And keep learning all your life through books, seminars, workshops, conferences and more.

What would you like to say to somebody out there whose going to be reading this interview…who’s tried everything with their personal and professional lives, and nothing seems to work. What would you say to encourage that individual?
Success is not something that happens overnight. You have to constantly take tons of action with the right attitude and surround yourself with positive and likeminded people who will lift you higher and contribute to your success. In today’s world where technology is constantly changing, where there are so much networking opportunities, there is no such thing as, “I’ve tried everything.” Learn as much as possible about yourself, about what you want to accomplish, about what you like or are passionate about. Even though it is not always easy to determine at first what is it you are really meant to do, you need to get involved and engage in activities that are of interest to you and by engaging you will certainly discover your true potentials and have a clearer sense of what direction to aim towards. A lot of doors will close for you on the road to success, and that is exactly when you should get even more fired up to knock at other doors and go after your goals. As Oprah likes to say it: Failure is the Universe trying to shift you into another direction. So wake up, dust yourself up, and try again—or try something new.

Kreyolicious: Are you involved with any philanthropic causes?
Every year, I volunteer with different organization. I’m involved in causes such as feeding the homeless. I am also involved at the Fabienne Colas Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting education in the arts as well as to promoting cinema, art and culture in Canada and abroad. At the Foundation, we leverage the power of the arts in order to break isolation and foster social change. One of the most amazing festivals we also do is the Québec Film Festival in Haiti which is completely free for everyone. This allows exchange and cultural sharing between Québec and Haiti.

Kreyolicious: How do you stay connected to Haitian culture? Do you go to Haiti often?
I am very involved in the Haitian community and support as much Haitian initiatives as I can. I am also part of the organizing team of the festival Haiti en Folie in Montreal every summer. It was created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation and it definitely gives me a sense of pride in supporting Haiti and having others discover my country’s culture. The festival offers the very best of Haitian culture by showcasing over a hundred artists. It attracts thousands of people each year. Because of all my current projects, I don’t get to go to Haiti as often as I would like to, but I definitely stay connected to my roots.

Above: Joyce interviewing a guest on her talk show.

Kreyolicious: Are your parents proud of you? How have they shown that?
I am very blessed to have parents and siblings who have always been the first people to praise me and encourage me to reach all my milestones in life. I am very fortunate and grateful to have their support in everything I do. But don’t get me wrong…they are also my toughest critics. You also need to have constructive criticism in order to get better.

As a media professional and entrepreneur, you constantly have to get hip to the latest technology and developments. In order to grow, you have to be on this perpetual road of applying new things. What should we expect from you next?
I am currently working on many projects having to do with Fashion, TV, including being a jury member for a beauty contest happening in Canada this fall, and other projects from my production company Joyce Fuerza Productions, Inc., I also have many speaking engagements, I get invited to be on several panels, and to host different events. I am also focusing on my career as an actress. I can’t reveal too much for now, but make sure to stay connected by following me on social media and by signing up for my free newsletters where I give lots of tips on my website at joycefuerza.com.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT JOYCE FUERZA’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL | JOYCE FUERZA’S WEBSITE | JOYCE FUERZA ON TWITTER | JOYCE FUERZA ON INSTAGRAM