It takes a heart of selflessness to be heavily invested in the professional development of others. The notion that youth are our future holds no veracity if we do not acknowledge that youth also have to be our now. If we do not provide them with the tools they need to blossom creatively and professionally, the idea that they will have any sort of successful future is a fallacious one. Rebecca Walcott is a creative entrepreneur committed to the professional development of our youth, and her platforms ‘Connect Forward’ and ‘Visionaries’ are evidence of this.
The reason we identify Rebecca Walcott as selfless for creating these professional development platforms is because she is in a position where she doesn’t really need to. Rebecca is a proud graduate of American University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, and currently works as an Associate Producer for National Geographic – one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Being born and raised in the breathtakingly beautiful island of Trinidad & Tobago definitely impacted Rebecca’s passion for natural environments. Her desire, though, is to see more of our youth flourish in professional environments; that’s why she built Connect Forward – a digital workspace for students and entry-level professionals. The desire to inspire that Walcott possesses is further reflected in the launch of her podcast, Connect Forward –Visionaries. Her engaging Trini accent and informed perspectives cultivate the perfect environment for riveting conversations between Rebecca and her guests. Visionaries dives into the stories behind the most successful disruptors, change-makers, activists, influencers, entrepreneurs – you name it! It’ll leave you inspired and enlightened to be your own ‘visionary’.
CARIB VOXX: When you first moved from Trinidad to the USA, what was the biggest cultural adjustment for you?
Rebecca: “The food! In my eyes, there’s nothing better than doubles or a shrimp roti, so I’d say getting used to the food options in America was definitely an adjustment. But, it was a great excuse to learn how to cook some of my favorite meals like pelau and curry. I haven’t mastered roti or callaloo, but maybe one day I’ll get there!”
CARIB VOXX: How do you think being from the Caribbean helped to shape your passion for the environment?
Rebecca: “My dad loves to surf, so he’s really big on nature. I also grew up going to the beach a lot with my family so I’ve always loved the outdoors. But I think when I came to America, I saw the growing demand for environmental research and how companies were implementing it more into their corporate social responsibility sectors. So, I learnt so much about the importance of sustainability and the impact and responsibility humans had in fixing our ‘mess,’ and that really made me want to pursue a career that would make a difference.”
CARIB VOXX: What compelled you to start Connect Forward and why are you so passionate about contributing to the professional development of others?
Rebecca: “The concept of ‘Connect Forward’ came about because I noticed a lack in resources specifically for young adults fresh out of college. Plus, my first job was (and still is) a huge learning lesson for me. I wanted to create a platform where I could support and advise people my age on how they can boost their portfolio, and improve their chances of standing out because the job market is so competitive.”
CARIB VOXX: What have you found to be the most challenging aspect of podcasting thus far?
Rebecca: “Marketing for sure! There’s so much that goes into marketing that I think people don’t respect, and so it’s been challenging figuring out strategies to capture and retain my audience’s attention. Since the podcast format is usually long form (30+ minutes), I decided to do 3-5 minute IGTV snippets to entice people to click the link in my bio and listen to the full podcast. It’s something that I’m truly passionate about and I think it can inspire and inform people.”
CARIB VOXX: Who are the top 3 Caribbean personalities you would love to someday interview on Visionaries?
Rebecca: “Great question! This is hard because there are so many people that I’d love to talk to.
Right now, it seems a bit far-fetched but I’d love to interview Rihanna, Usain Bolt and Skip Marley. I always try to dream big and give 100% so hopefully it’ll happen one day.”
