Author Archives: Joanne M. Brathwaite

Five Things Friday: Graphic Designer Jenny McCracken

Five Things Friday is a departure from the interviews and features we typically post. Part conversation, Part Proust Questionnaire – but with just five questions, Five Things Friday (hashtag alert! #5TF) shows the lighter (and sometimes sillier) side of our interviewees. We’ll be talking to everyone we can get our grubby little hands on; it’s our way of introducing you to the communications, marketing and creative cognoscenti who rock their respective industries. This week, Joanne M. Brathwaite dabbles in the creative side of things with graphic-designer-cum-yogi, Jenny McCracken.

How long did it take you in the industry to get to where you are today?

Oh no. 16 years. How did that happen? I’m only 29, right? Right?

Besides artistic abilities, what are some of the qualities that a good Graphic Designer should possess?

Design is, first and foremost, about problem solving and communication. A good designer has the ability to identify a problem and approach it with a balance of creativity and efficacy. S/he is also able to use design tools and principals to tell a story or relay a message that is both engaging and unmistakable. Continue reading →

Five Things Friday: Dayo Kefentse

Joanne M. Brathwaite

Five Things Friday is a departure from the interviews and features we typically post. Part conversation, Part Proust Questionnaire – but with just five questions, Five Things Friday (hashtag alert! #5TF) shows the lighter (and sometimes sillier) side of our interviewees. We’ll be talking to everyone we can get our grubby little hands on; it’s our way of introducing you to the communications, marketing and creative cognoscenti who rock their respective industries. This week, Joanne M. Brathwaite quizzes media and communications maven, Dayo Kefentse.

Have you always been a writer/known that you wanted to write? Has there ever been a time when you thought you might give up on words?

I have always enjoyed writing and working words because I realized from an early age that words, particularly those placed in public platforms, can be a powerful way to bring volume to your voice. When I was 17 years old I wrote an opinion piece protesting a decision about a radio station. I mailed it to The Toronto Star, and it was later published.

The experience of seeing it in black and white in the Opinion section of the daily paper gave me a boost of confidence that I think has influenced me to this day. I believed then and believe now that I could not only express my thoughts to do a wide audience, but I could also help tell other people’s stories, too. I continued to interview family members, friends, entertainers and anyone who was willing to share as a way to ensure their words were recorded, documented and put away for writing projects. Continue reading →

Five Things Friday: Evan Carmichael

Joanne M. Brathwaite

Five Things Friday is a departure from the interviews and features we typically post. Part conversation, Part Proust Questionnaire – but with just five questions, Five Things Friday (hashtag alert! #5TF) shows the lighter (and sometimes sillier) side of our interviewees. We’ll be talking to everyone we can get our grubby little hands on; it’s our way of introducing you to the communications, marketing and creative cognoscenti who rock their respective industries. This week, Joanne M. Brathwaite chats via Google Hangout with entrepreneur Evan Carmichael.

What was your first business idea and what did you do with it?

My first business idea was when I was five years old. I convinced my 3-year-old little sister to make paintings with me and go sell them door-to-door. We sold one to our next-door neighbor for ten cents, I think. But this is interesting: I had a whole bunch of ideas growing up, but I never thought I was going to be an entrepreneur, mostly because of my environment; I didn’t have entrepreneurs in my family – my parents had normal, safe jobs (although, they did always encourage me to do whatever I wanted).

So I had lemonade stands…I once tried to turn raisins into grapes and tried to sell them (not realizing it goes the other way around!). I tried selling baseball cards at garage sales and I’d make more money than anyone in my family. Then there were a bunch of ideas that I tried that never really took off. Continue reading →

Five Things Friday: Jay Goldman, Managing Director at Klick Health; wearer of many hats

Joanne M. Brathwaite

Five Things Friday is a departure from the interviews and features we typically post. Part conversation, Part Proust Questionnaire – but with just five questions, Five Things Friday (hashtag alert! #5TF) shows the lighter (and sometimes sillier) side of our interviewees. We’ll be talking to everyone we can get our grubby little hands on; it’s our way of introducing you to the communications, marketing and creative cognoscenti who rock their respective industries. This week, Joanne M. Brathwaite talks to Jay Goldman, Managing Director of Sensei Labs at Klick Health – and wearer of many hats.

You describe yourself in multiple titles (technologist, designer, speaker, author…generally swell guy). How did each incarnation come to be? Which is your favorite one?

I feel like the list has slowly built out over the years, especially the middle bits. I’ve always tried to live up to the generally swell guy part (hopefully it’s working!) and the technologist in me has been there since a really young age when I used to sit and play Atari 2600 for hours on end. My dad was in computers from before I was born—somewhere we have one of his college textbooks with my mom’s contractions timed and noted on the inside cover as she gave birth to me.

My mom has been an artist since art school, so the technology and design parts came naturally. So did the authorship, which I would say is a direct outcome of having been raised by bookworms. The speaker part was something I fortunately discovered early in my career as a love of public speaking that has remained true to this day, whether an internal talk at Klick or on a major stage like TEDx. Continue reading →

Why that retail job you had in high school could be worth big bucks to you as a freelancer

Joanne M. Brathwaite

Image of Customer relationship management from Shutterstock.

As a freelancer, you’re acting as a business that provides a particular service to your customers. But how good is that service? We’re just talking about the end product, here. How are you doing in the customer relations department, my friend? From start to finish, how satisfactory is the delivery of your goods? Do you have a set of policies in place to ensure your client’s satisfaction? How do you handle complaints? Do you provide value-added incentives?

Going the extra mile can mean repeat business – and referrals. Keep your bank rolling with these helpful tips. Continue reading →

The Clash: how to deal with conflict in the workplace

Joanne M. Brathwaite

Photo of Overtime from Shutterstock.

The workplace is a veritable hive of personalities that make an office hum and buzz with productivity. But when people work in close quarters every day, it’s inevitable that people will eventually clash. If not dealt with immediately (and effectively), a constant battle of wills can drain productivity and sap morale. Here are some of the ways you can navigate the minefield of emotions and keep everyone upbeat – and on track. Continue reading →