CariFin News caught up with Ms. CariFin 2011 – Ms. Central Bank – Esla Anthony and CariFin News had a frank heart to heart chat with her. She revealed quite a lot about her experience participating in Ms. CariFin 2011 and what it meant to her. We are pleased to share this  rare moment with you.

CariFin News: How was the experience of Ms. CariFin 2011?
Esla Anthony: Ms. CariFin 2011 has been a fun and learning experience. I was exposed to an environment that I am not familiar with.
CN: What helped you to make up your mind to do this…”I would not normally think you would take up a role like this?
EA: The support, confidence and encouragement from my co-workers had in me. The weeks leading to Ms. CariFin, various co-workers suggested that I would be a suitable representative. They said I had what it takes to be Ms. CariFin. I guess they saw something in me.
CN: Did you talk to any of the previous Ms. CBTT/Ms. CariFin prior to you participating?
EA: Yes, I did, I spoke to all the representatives. Central Bank has won the title ____ times. In fact the winners of Ms. CariFin 2010 and 2011 offered advice on my outfit and question and answer segment.
CN: What you thought gave you the edge to win this competition?
EA: I believe it was my overall toned physique and my execution of the aerobics routine. Ms. Guardian Holdings answered her question well, so I believe we were on equal footing in that area. Ms. First Citizen’s exuded confidence, I was timid.
CN: Ms. CariFin competition had a little more responsibility /activity… meaning you had to be part of the opening act for the Opening Ceremony… I heard you handled yourself well … how did you enjoy this?
EA: My main role at the Opening Ceremony was to make a presentation to the Lupus Society/Foundation. I am a firm-believer in supporting charitable medical organizations, so I felt proud very that CariFin supports this organization I was able to be a part of this initiative.

CN: What or when were the most nervous moments in the show for you
EA: The most nervous moments in the show for me were:
1. Best Dressed Tent and Dance Competition – highlighting the Central Bank tent. The routine was prepared 15 mins before the judges came to view our tent and dance routine. I have 2 left feet and prefer backstage than front stage, but I was the main lead!!!!!
2. The Question and Answer Segment – the fear of the unknown always makes me nervous. I did a lot of self-talk to calm myself.

CN: What was your approach to the Q & A part?
EA: My approach was to remain calm, listen carefully and answer exactly what was being asked and don’t ramble on.

CN: What was your mindset and did you see this as your biggest hurdle?
EA: My mindset was one of anxiety but the over-whelming support of the CB Family kept me grounded and I thought to myself “if they have the faith in me, I should have faith in myself”

CN: The judge’s decision
The judges was doing their deliberations, the CBTT supporters were confident and shouting positives from the sidelines. Were you there standing brimming with confidence that you would win Ms. CariFin?
EA: “Brimming with confidence!” far from. I was listened to all the other contestants and I was impressed with the responses from Ms. Guardian Holdings and Ms. First Citizens, and I thought to myself “they are my competition but it is all in God’s hands now.”

CN: What was your initial reaction – when you saw it was between you and Ms. FC
EA: I was shocked! i was in a daze! I tried to maintain a cool, calm and collected façade.

CN: She then was declared 2nd …… It meant that you had won …… Your supporters (Team CBTT) were jubilant, jumping, screaming …. One was evening seen kneeling and paying homage to you….. What you felt there and then…..
Could you for once capture that moment for us?
EA: Relief……I was able to keep the Ms. CariFin crown in Central Bank. Grateful……all the persons who believed in me, I did not disappoint them. Shocked and disbelief……….I actually won a beauty competition, who would have thought!!!!!

CN: How was the reception from the average staff member to you when the news spread?
EA: Congratulatory. Expected results.

CN: As Ms. CariFin 2011 what encouragement or what would you say to people in general in the financial services sector to make fitness part of the daily life?
EA: The world of work is getting more demanding and it is easy to put your health on the back burner by working longer hours and even weekends. I urge everyone to make a lifestyle change – incorporate fitness in your life.
When – make the time – before work, at lunch-time, after work, on weekends. Who – co-workers, friends, family, even strangers it is a great way to meet new people
What/Where – walk/run the Savannah…..it is free, join a gym, learn to a new sport
How – just get moving

CN: Any last words.
EA: I hope that responsibilities of Ms. Carifin continues to increase as it relates to Carifin’s motto – Fun Friendship Fitness.
I would like to thank the following persons:
All members of staff of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago for their support and words of encouragement before and during the competition.
Linhurst Cole for assisting me in selecting my outfit.
Ms. Carifin 2009 – Melissa McAlister and Ms. Carifin 2010 – Krystle Gomez for assisting me on competition day.

CariFin e-news interviews Maria Rivas-Mc Millan – Group VP, Corporate Communications at Guardian Holdings Limited.

Team Guardian is again doing well in this year’s CariFin Games and she is an ardent fan of CariFin.  It is always a pleasure hearing from her around this time as we try to find out her thoughts on CariFin and health and fitness issues in the industry.

CariFin E-NEWS: How are you today Maria?

Maria Rivas-Mc Millan:
Great!

CEN: We last spoke around this time in 2009.  How do you like how your team is doing in CariFin 2010?

M-RM:
I’m always proud of all the members of Team Guardian.  Win, lose or draw, the real success is in the strength of mind, body and spirit that is the inevitable result of a commitment of this nature.  Overall, Team Guardian has given an excellent account.

CEN: Your star athlete won one of the 3 running events so she goes in with the best chance among the women to win the cross country event.

M-RM:
Absolutely! We stand a good chance at winning the Cross Country since Crystal showed strength and endurance in the Chancellor event and the Cross Country is not much different.

CEN: We are seeing a level of consistency in your team members that makes me wonder, there could be a level of dominance if they continue and stay together.

M-RM:
Having a common goal and dedicated, encouraging coaches like Jade Camps and Alfred Patrick continue to play a huge role in their progress to date.

CEN: What kind of standing does CariFin Games have in your institution among events you take part in? I am seeing a bigger role every year?

M-RM:
CariFin Games are a major event in our Employee Calendar – you’ve seen how our team participation has grown and, with it, our role as a corporate sponsor.

CEN: On a more serious note, how has Guardian coped with obesity and inactivity, and the resultant absenteeism caused by these factors?

M-RM:
I should mention that Guardian introduced a Wellness Programme more than a decade ago.   Called ‘Life Pulse’, it is managed by an employee committee with the support of Group Human Resources.   Life Pulse’s mantra is ‘healthy bodies, healthy minds, healthy lives’.
So both the company and employees are very cognizant of the effect lifestyle choices can have on quality of life.  That doesn’t mean we do what we’re supposed to do all the time – it’s a battle on an individual and company basis.
The most important thing is to continue to drive home appropriate messages and to offer opportunities to employees to engage in an active lifestyle.

CEN: What kinds of programmes have you and your department been involved in to bring awareness of better health and the need for individuals to take personal responsibility for their physical fitness.

M-RM:
We work closely with the Life Pulse Committee in their wellness activities.    There is the annual fun walk/run; we do lots of hiking and actively encourage people to stop smoking, to take advantage of our discounted gym membership facility and we usually have a health week, where we test our employees’ pressure, cholesterol levels, diabetes, etc
Earlier this year, we gave employees a free Self-Defence class and are considering how we can take this forward.
Employees also have access to a table tennis board, basketball net and a billiards table for after work cool down.  This is, of course, in addition to the support we give the Guardian Dragon Boat and CariFin Teams.

CEN: The entire financial services sector seems to be fighting a big battle with obesity and associated diseases; as an industry we are expected to give high levels of performance to world class best practice yet there is the need for work life balance, how do you deal with that?

M-RM:
It’s a challenge and it’s at every level, in every industry.  Life is much faster today and more stressful – just think of the effort to get to work, facing hours of traffic going and knowing it’ll be more of the same to get back!
I remember something that Anthony Watkins, well known motivational speaker, told me once when he asked me what I did to relax and for a second, I couldn’t think!  He said, ‘always take time for self-care’.  That piece of advice I continue to pass along.

CEN: Do you see the things we are doing as being enough to impact our health and fitness problems.

M-RM:
Yes but it is ‘seasonal’.   The question is – how do you get the teams to keep training together as a group throughout the year and encouraging others.

CEN: You have seen your team organize themselves, get into training programmes and you have seen the effects of fitter, more energetic people on your staff and the influence that would of have on the other staff, what advice would you give to the rest of financial sector to have similar program or do more to see the effect on a greater percentage of staff.

M-RM:
The core team members are getting fitter and feeling really positive.  They are the ones who you see in other company activities and getting others out there as well.   We still have a lot to do but, if I were to offer advice to any other teams, I would say, look for an executive or management sponsor -  Someone who can drive the message across the organisation.  Ask your HR or Communications department to brainstorm ways in which you can do it together.  People have different fitness levels and goals.  You need to appreciate that and work with it.

CEN: What are your hopes for your team seeing they did so well last year any chance of them repeating or doing better?

M-RM:
We’ll definitely have a good showing overall.  The Team is made up of many parts, all pulling together.  But it helps that Hollis and Ian continue to excel, both of them recording faster times this year in the walking and running events. Ryan Pierre and Jeneen Salim have also shown marked improvement with Jeneen trimming a total of 7 minutes off her 2009 times in the three events.
We also had a lot of first timers this year and it was great seeing team members going back and helping them to finish in style!  That’s true team spirit.

CEN: O.K. Maria thanks for time, it a pleasure sharing this time with you and getting your views and perspective on things health and fitness and CariFin.

M-RM:
Thank you.  It’s been a pleasure, as always.

This week in interviews

Marina and Kim

I have done interviews with three people from Republic Bank Limited and it was totally awesome.

In the first case on Tuesday march 23, 2010 at Republic Bank Park Street I came face to face with the first and second winners of the Step on the Step competition put on by the HR department for the staff at Republic Bank – Park Street.

I was really amazed by the fact that such a simple idea, one that didn’t need the usual high injection of funds to have it started or keep it going, or the outside resources of coaches and trainers to be involved to have it succeed, that it catched on so easily .

To think about it, a simple built in infrastructure like the stairs, transformed a normal daily activity into a buzz, a competition, something that would have a strong influence with the staff and people at RBL Park Street branch.

Sitting and listening to Marina Gordon and Kim Ngui it was an eye opener in a world where gadgets and equipment are the order of the day to do the smallest of things like opening a can to sending a message to a colleague a few cubicles away in the same office.

They were passionate about the idea of being motivated in their very own workplace, encourage by friends and other co-workers and being able to reap the benefits of fitness while on the job.

The long tail effect of this is that because of this competition they now get the notoriety and respect from their peers. They now become the subject of discussion when they pass or are seen, pleasant comments come their way and they look upon as leaders in fitness, even as heroes in their space.

They were confident and committed not just to using the step but to the idea of personal responsibility to their fitness.

On Wednesday March 24, 2010 it was down to Republic Bank – Long Circular Mall and I met and interviewed Wendy Hinds-France for the CariFin personality of the Month. I was surprise very early to learn that she was in the first ever CariFin cross country event, when it was known as the Banker’s Cross Country.
This interview had a lot of revelations in terms of her achievements in netball and basket basketball.

When asked how she feels she would rank in the top 10 among the women she was quite dismissive, by saying top 3 actually. She even mentioned that the time clocked for the winning position of the female One Lap Savannah race was the vicinity 18 minutes and she was aiming to post a better time. She is actually aiming to challenge the number one spot in the women’s category.

So uneasy I would say is the head that wears the crown. So all the ladies look out for Wendy Hinds-France of Republic Bank Limited doing something in the 18 minutes range and if the winning time isn’t step up significantly we could very well see someone else wearing the crown for the women’s category.