IGT SEES POSITIVE REWARDS OF EMPOWERING YOUNG MEN
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – November 24, 2022: Deputy Country Manager of International Game Technology (IGT) in Trinidad and Tobago, Dexter Thomas has noted that young male beneficiaries of the IGT After School Advantage (ASA) Programme do well with the assistance that they receive through the company’s outreach initiative.
Thomas was the Guest Speaker at a recent male empowerment session hosted by IGT for its ASA beneficiaries in the Caribbean to mark International Men’s Day, recognized on Saturday, November 19. He stated, “International Men’s Day should be celebrated with great enthusiasm and significance.” He added, “IGT’s International Men’s Day activities are geared towards reaching our young men through mentorship and education, and developing their potential as future innovators, promoting the benefits of emotional intelligence and positive work ethic.”
Thomas went on to explain that, “Our young males need responsible grown male figures in their lives who they can emulate. It is our hope that this series of International Men’s Day events will inspire our young men in the Caribbean to be the source of positive change for the generation of men to come.”
The IGT ASA International Men’s Day virtual session was hosted under the theme, “Innovators…harnessing the power of technology for good.” Several male beneficiaries of the IGT ASA Programme from IGT ASA Centres in Jamaica, Antigua, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis; and Trinidad and Tobago participated.
Inspiration
Positive messages and career insights were imparted to the youngsters by male senior executives of IGT during the virtual celebration.
Daniel DeGannes, Market Research Analyst, and Darren Awai, Systems Administrator with IGT in Trinidad and Tobago, both shared the story of their professional ascent, emphasizing the need for flexibility and open-mindedness.
Daniel shared how his formal education continues to advance him in his current role of Analytics, providing analytical and market research support, across multiple jurisdictions regionally. He explained that he was able to do so by seizing opportunities presented throughout his career at IGT, though challenging at times, it has helped him to improve his skills and become more efficient as he expressed that, “hard work always pays off”.
Darren echoed a similar sentiment, sharing that he always hoped to become an architect, but given the non-linear nature of professional growth and success, found a passion for IT.
“I had a dream of becoming an architect and while that hope has not died, I found a greater passion for information technology (IT) by a chance encounter with a repair technician that sparked an interest in building computers. From there, my passion for technology and computers grew. I learned how to use a computer by reading, speaking with people, using the internet, and trying to figure stuff out on my own.” This drive to become better eventually landed him his current role within IGT’s IT department.
“I also want you to know that doing what you truly love can be more rewarding than doing something just for the salary,” said Darren. “Be honest and deliberate with your choices. This will create more ease for you to work hard and give it your best so you can excel.”
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) and Education professionals Kadia Francis and Tanique Easy also shared insights with the young males on digital literacy and preparing for their careers.
Francis, Founder and CEO of Digital Jamaica Limited, encouraged the participants to use the internet to surf and earn responsibly. She emphasised the importance of seizing economic opportunities online and in the same breath, cautioned the young men about real-world consequences of nefarious online activities.
“The internet provides a means by which you can generate multiple streams of income. To seize those opportunities, you need to seek knowledge about the technological skills gap in society and attempt to acquire those skills. Once acquired, you need to practice being visible, disciplined promoters of your skills and use the digital space to create an online brand for yourselves – this is where social media comes into play.”
She added, “As much as the internet giveth, it also taketh away. Be mindful of plagiarism, creative theft, job scams and fake news. Ensure that you ascribe credit to authentic sources for data that you use, watermark your creative work to safeguard against theft, use authoritative sources to avoid fake news and consult reputable job boards to search for employment opportunities.”
In the meantime, Dream Builders Academy's Tanique Easy discussed important processes of cultivating a career-ready mindset, gaining internships, volunteering, and building personal professional brands.
“Preparation is key to success and to be prepared you must first be informed. In this era, there are some important career attributes that you need to be equipped with if you are to be seen as career ready. Some of these include IT literacy, creativity, flexibility, leadership, productivity, the art of effective communication, critical thinking, and collaboration.”
Easy encouraged the young men to dispel the commonly misinterpreted notion that curiosity kills the cat. “Curiosity does not kill the cat; it enlightens the cat. Cultivating a career-ready mindset is cantered on what you know. You must know what drives you and nurture this authentic aspect of your being. You also need to know your academic, creative, and professional strengths as well as where to seek development opportunities and you must know your audience so you can cater to them well.”
The Men’s Day presentation ended with a question-and-answer segment where the young men sought further career and tech guidance from the IGT Executives and IGT partners.
International Game Technology (IGT)’s Market Research Analyst, Daniel de Gannes prepares to address the young audience during one of IGT ASA International Men’s Day celebratory events.
Darren Awai, Systems Administrator at IGT, addresses the young audience about unexpected changes and sacrifices along his professional journey during one of IGT’s ASA International Men’s Day series of events recently.
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About IGT:
IGT (NYSE: IGT) is a global leader in gaming. We deliver entertaining and responsible gaming experiences for players across all channels and regulated segments, from Lotteries and Gaming Machines to Sports Betting and Digital. Leveraging a wealth of compelling content, substantial investment in innovation, player insights, operational expertise, and leading-edge technology, our solutions deliver unrivalled gaming experiences that engage players and drive growth. We have a well-established local presence and relationships with governments and regulators in more than 100 countries around the world and create value by adhering to the highest standards of service, integrity, and responsibility. IGT has approximately 10,500 employees. For more information, please visit www.igt.com