Hotelier encourages Hanover student entrepreneurs to rise above ‘trying a thing’ mentality

Christopher Issa, CEO of S Hotels, urged student entrepreneurs from Hanover, Jamaica, to move beyond a passive approach to business and actively pursue opportunities. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Social Development Commission (SDC) Hanover and Infiniti Cooperative Credit Union Youth Entrepreneur Programme, Issa emphasized the importance of networking, starting small, managing risk, and cultivating a growth mindset.

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Where this is happening [is] not by accident. Many people say business people are ‘in the right place at the right time’. It’s really not about luck, it’s about pursuing every opportunity.

The pilot program involved 30 students from Rusea’s High, Green Island High, Merlene Ottey High, and Knockalva Technical High. Over three months, these students operated 23 businesses, competing for a prize valued at $90,000. Issa highlighted how his own hotel, the S Hotel, came to host the event through a connection made at the Jamaica Diaspora Conference, illustrating his point that success often stems from actively seeking and making contacts.

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My real love is the role that the hotel can play in the life of the city: hosting events such as this, or bringing down speakers who will address other gatherings to help inspire and motivate us.

Issa cautioned the young entrepreneurs against overextending themselves financially in the early stages. He advised them to start ventures with minimal investment until the idea's potential for growth is clear. "A lot of people go out there and invest all they have in a venture, and when it fails, as ventures do, they lose everything," he stated, advocating for a more cautious approach.

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Take a lesson from that, young entrepreneurs: you never can tell who, where, when you’re going to make that contact. You just keep reaching, making those contacts.

Furthermore, Issa stressed the significance of a growth mindset, contrasting it with what he described as Jamaica's common "fixed mindset." He explained that a growth mindset involves viewing both success and failure as learning opportunities, rather than definitive outcomes. This perspective, he suggested, is crucial for entrepreneurial success, encouraging students to learn from every experience, including setbacks.

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Don’t spend too much money on your project. Wait to see if it’s really an idea that’s going to grow. A lot of people go out there and invest all they have in a venture, and when it fails, as ventures do, they lose everything. You really want to start a venture with as little money as possible.