Tania Waldron-Gooden takes charge

Utilising project-management practices to effectively coordinate deals or demonstrating the ability to lead a diverse team of professionals to new levels of success in a highly competitive and fast-paced environment were the furthest things from Tania Waldron-Gooden's mind while growing up in St Andrew.

"I was brought up in a nuclear family with two siblings who all attended church regularly, as my mother firmly believed that the belief in a higher being is a must. Being the eldest of three kids, from an early age, I had acquired a sense of responsibility, leadership, and management skills, especially when my parents were not present, as I had to take charge," shared the 37-year-old. Despite not having any plans for working in the financial sector, she was poised to excel.

As a matter of fact, she wanted to become a scientist. "I always wanted to become a scientist, hence my enrolment in pure and applied sciences at the university level. I also became a Padi certified scuba diver because of my curiosity about the world under the sea, with the intention of becoming a dive master and seeking a career that involved diving."

But she admitted, "The sciences have always been a passion of mine. So despite the fact that I did not follow through with the path I had envisioned, there are many similarities in the application of scientific methodologies to getting things done."

Waldron-Gooden has climbed the rungs of success in short order as she entered the working world as a junior geologist in 2003, and within a year she was a pension funds and portfolio officer. Three years later, she joined the Mayberry team as a management trainee, and after six months she was a special projects/business development manager. And the rest they say is history. The upward movement continued so it is no surprise that today she is a senior vice-president, corporate and retail financing, research and special projects.

Besides her business portfolio at Mayberry, she is also director and mentor of Derrimon Trading Limited, mentor of Caribbean Flavours and Fragrances, director of Main Event Entertainment Group Limited, business readiness evaluator at the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship, and lecturer at the University of Technology and the Jamaica Institute of Management.

With such an outstanding resume it led Flair to ask how does one view success? "One is not truly successful until they have taught others to be," she stated confidently.

Married to Rickardo Gooden, with a seven-year-old son, William, sees herself in five years "advising and assisting many entrepreneurs to raise capital. It is my aim to become an entrepreneur myself. I also intend to acquire my PHD."

Leading such a hectic professional life, Waldron-Gooden balances work and family life with family activities. "Movie nights, zoo trips, introducing William to music of the '60s, '70s, '80s and 90s- ensuring that he knows artists such as Ben E King, Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, Beres Hammond to name a few, are planned for the weekends and are followed strictly because both my husband and I are in banking which takes up most of our time during the week. Also, Rickardo and I plan date nights for at least once per month where it's just us."

And how does she relax? "Listening to music, reading, watching Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and swimming."

Before ending the brief chat with Flair, Waldron-Gooden advised youths to "keep focused as there lies success in any field chosen or acquired. Do not be afraid to open closed doors and explore what initially may cause anxiety."

Before returning to her hectic schedule, she thanked her mother who taught her that in the face of adversity there lies opportunities. "It is for you to make the best of those opportunities. And I also grateful for my family's constant support.

randy.bowman@gleanerjm.com