She is a trained teacher, who has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Technology Education from Florida A&M University and a Masters Degree in Education from Lancaster University in England, and having taught for a decade at the now Elmore Stoutt High School it would be almost surprising to hear that our Young Professional is now in the banking sector.

How did that happen? An issue of money? Not at all! After twelve years in the classroom, our Young Professional felt the time was ripe to try something new and being not afraid to come out of her "comfort zone" she made that brave move.

As a result of that move, she is now in her second year in banking, having been appointed as a Commercial Account Manager at Scotiabank (British Virgin Islands) Limited where in a lot quieter setting she deals with the management of clients’ portfolios within the commercial sector. “As a Commercial Account Manager we monitor a portfolio of client accounts as a personal banker would do. We don’t make decisions for them but make sure that they are in compliance with the VI regulations and assist in facilitating the flow of funds for operations,” she explained her job at the banking institution.

A large part of her job is also dealing with credit applications, as it relates to operating lines, loans, overdrafts, residential and commercial development. “It might be lending for inventory or it might be lending for assets or construction purposes, which is a lot of what we do in the Virgin Islands.”

Our Young Professional attended the Cappoon’s Bay Primary School, where she graduated as valedictorian in 1989. After graduating in the top five from the then BVI High School in 1994, Ms. Blyden joined the teaching profession at the primary level under the encouragement of teachers such as Ms. Adorothy Turnbull and Mr. Elmore Stoutt. Two years later she left for Florida and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2000, and joined the Business Department of the BVI High School where she worked for 10 years. During that time she also received her Masters in Education, with Distinction, from Lancaster University in England.

Although she enjoys working with the students, she admits that she started to get a little frustrated with the system, and started to look into other opportunities that were available at the time and ended up in Banking although it was not a planned move. “It was not exactly where my mind was but I attended a job fair at the college to see what was being offered. Scotiabank was there and after conducting a mini-interview I filled out an application and was surprised when they called me. “They really thought that I had something that they could use and mould. I have not regretted that decision.”

The job transition, she said was difficult for a period but she was up for the challenge. She readily admits that she is not afraid of challenges or changes, and is always willing to see what can happen. Moving to Scotiabank was a challenge in that she was accustomed to the classroom and interacting with young adults. Ms. Blyden also didn’t find it very difficult considering that she was a Business Teacher and at the bank was able to experience the practical side of the theory. “It requires a lot of customer service and it was sometimes challenging because you had to learn how things are done in that particular environment even though I knew the concept.”

Starting out as a Commercial Banking Trainee, she is now fully an Accountant Manager and is comfortable although she still sees it as a continuous learning experience as she is aware that there are always new situations that she might not have encountered before. Making her more comfortable too is that she is cognizant that there is a lot of support within her department. “There are a lot of senior officers and managers who are always willing to assist. So I do feel part of the team.”

“I think that I am comfortable where I am. I wouldn’t say that I wouldn’t go back to teaching because you never know what the future holds. But I think I made a good decision for myself and personal development.”

Asked what her goals are, Ms. Blyden said she would like to see herself gain a lot more knowledge and experience within banking. “I do see myself staying within banking for a while and obviously, like everyone else, I would like to see myself progress but that takes exposure and building repertoire, which may also mean travelling to other jurisdictions to see best practices.” She also hopes to pursue an MBA in Management in the near future.

Asked what her driving force was all these years, Ms. Blyden said memories of her mother, who died following her first year in college. “She was always pushing and encouraging me to educate and better myself because she did not get the opportunity.”

As the eldest in her family, our Young Professional said she tries to do the same for her siblings. She is especially grateful to her aunts and other family and community members who took on the nurturing of her siblings after their mother passed, and continue to play a pivotal role in their lives. .

As expected, Ms. Blyden encourages the youths to not be afraid to step out of the box. “Don’t be afraid to step out on faith. You must have that level of faith in yourself first of all before others can even have that level of faith in you. You have to believe in yourself. If you have an idea to develop yourself push for it and don’t be afraid to come out of your comfort zone.”

She also recommends a support network that does not necessarily have to consist of a lot of persons, whether family or friends. “Those persons who you know will be honest with you and give you constructive advice.”

Being a teacher for many years too we asked what needed to be done to help the youths to realize their potential and steer them off the wrong paths, our Young Professional opined that there is need for more community involvement. “I have always said that and I use the high school as my reference. I always tell people that the high school is a reflection of our community and when people speak negative things about the youths its only that they (youths) are emulating what they see in the communities that they live in, whether the villages, homes or churches. They are not just bringing something totally out of concept into the school.”

She feels it is also important to get the young people involved in extracurricular activities, whether it be in the school, church, or community based organizations, as these provide an avenue for developing positive social behaviours and provide an opportunity for developing key leadership skills.