Telecommunications provider FLOW on Thursday honoured about 30 girls and young women for their achievements and contributions in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) field.

These youth and young women were recognised for taking up space and breaking glass ceilings through innovative and creative ideas in the ICT sector.

While speaking at the ceremony, Maria Myers-Hamilton, CEO of Spectrum Management Authority, shared her experience in the industry whilst also encouraging the young ladies in attendance.

“ICT is more than just a thing of your phones, a thing that you learn in school. It’s a passion. It has to be a passion. You have to love it because if you don’t love it, you will hate it,” she said.

Hamilton also stated that she was the first female chief information officer (CIO) for the largest light company in the region of Jamaica. “I led that team of over 200 persons. IT and communication, Computer-Mediated Interactive Communication Technology (CMICT) – it was so important.”

Furthermore, she noted that working at Spectrum has moulded and shaped her experience in the field of ICT. “I want to say that Spectrum carried me on a journey because after having done my last degree, I was ready to teach, because I feel the whole need to give back is so important. Serving the country is one thing, and I hope each and every one of you gets that opportunity to serve the country because in this room, there are brilliant people. I know there’s a winner somewhere in the room,” she continued.

Parents need to know when to let go

Hamilton also encouraged parents to know when to let go and allow their children to grow and thrive. “Our parents have to learn to let go and trust the process. Trust that you have provided everything in your child to make a difference in this world,” she said.

She further alluded to the story of an eagle by outlining that it also goes through a process of growth and change, which, though it might be painful, is rewarding. “First of all, when its beak gets too long, it gets dull, and then its feathers can’t elevate as high as they’re supposed to. It takes itself away, it breaks its beak, it picks out all its feathers and goes through a growth process, and sometimes we have to go through that process. We have to go through that process of growth. Sometimes growing is not easy, and it can be a painful process, but growing is learning.”

Hamilton also stated that diversity is very important because it allows people to learn from others. “How we look at people, how we treat people—everybody can learn from them. Every single person—you can learn from them, and sometimes they’re put in your path for a reason. They’re put in your path for a reason, and accept it or reject it, but learn from it. So diversity is critical.”

She also encouraged the honourees to learn to listen and reflect on their journey. “Not just listen to what is being said, but really take it in, and even if you don’t write, even if you don’t journal, it’s important to reflect.  Every day, you must take a day; you must take a moment and sit and look at the day. What happened? What didn’t happen? Why? Or what do I need to do now? Always, because if we fail to plan, we plan to fail,” Hamilton said.

Continuous development and education are other critical elements, she said, that are imperative for success. “Development and education stop when you’re in the grave, and I don’t mean you don’t have to be formally in a school or formally in an institution. You can go on courses, because I can tell you, when I started my journey in ICT, the industry was way ahead of what was at UWI or UTECH.

“So I had to find my knowledge in the field, trial and error, liaising with engineers, going overseas to conferences, asking questions and being inquisitive,” she continued.

Hamilton further exclaimed that while it’s important to achieve, a person must also strike a balance. “You must, live and you must be balanced. Balance is so important, and living is important. I think COVID taught us that lesson,” she added.