Entrepreneurship is the way to go - Wilson

Tyrone Wilson, CEO and president of eMedia Interactive Group, embodies entrepreneurship, and it all began during his days at Jamaica College, he claims.

Now 30 years old, Wilson has achieved a great number of his goals and is set on breaking down more barriers as a young and promising entrepreneur.

He told THE STAR how he got started. "From high school days, I have always wanted to run my own thing. I remember when we used to spray paint T-shirts for Champs. I felt the joy in seeing others pay for and wear my brand. From then on, I went to UWI and became in charge of the publications committee while I served on the guild," recalled Wilson.

According to Wilson, while at The University of the West Indies and serving in the capacity of publications committee chairperson, he had his own budget and was tasked to manage it to the best of his ability.

UNIVERSITY START

Today, he charts his course of becoming a business leader from starting his own website while attending university which has evolved overtime.

He said, "After I started yaadmedia.com, I went on to Yaad Magazine. Then I embarked on a few ezines (online publications) such as Your Money Ezine, Entertainment Lifestyle, Team Spirit, and The Wkndr. eMedia is really from all of that."

Wilson told THE STAR that securing investment can be challenging, but in his case, he was able to secure investment through making the right connections.

He said: "The first person to invest in my ideas was Chris Williams while he was with NCB Capital Markets at the time. He is a Jamaica College old boy."

Wilson continued: "I recommend that person who are seeking investor, go to like-minded people that you have something in common with. Probably you are from the same community, like the same football team, and so forth. It's very difficult to get a perfect stranger to just invest in your business."

Wilson told THE STAR that entrepreneurship is the way forward for Jamaica's youth and for that reason, he would encourage anyone to get involved.

"Right now, when you look at Jamaica, there is no other way to grow the economy than entrepreneurship. Unemployment is too high for the existing companies to absorb, so we have to create jobs and expand on what we have," said Wilson.

He also told THE STAR that his reference was not to build wholesale, but something new and innovative.

When asked if he got training to aid his development, Wilson's answer was no.

He said: "I was fully equipped coming out of college, coming off the guild. My committee was a business within itself. I learnt everything from my tenure on the Guild of Students. Apart from that, I also learnt in the classroom while reading for my degree in banking and finance."

In 2010, Wilson at age 25, was awarded the Prime Minister's Youth Award for Entrepreneurship and was later recognised in 2012 by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica as one of 50 under-50 business leaders shaping Jamaica's future.