My name is Conrad David Richardson. I am 53 years old. I work for the largest telecom organisation in Sint Maarten, named Sint Maarten Telecommunications Company, based in the Dutch Caribbean. I am currently employed as Procurement and General Affairs Officer. In addition, I am an entrepreneur serving as a Statutory Director for the Kool 97.1 FM broadcasting station. In my role as one of the company's managing partners, I oversee all the finances.

The Integrated Doctorate of Business Administration is a highly progressive programme. The coursework allowed me to solidify my knowledge of diverse applied management models at a pace that suits me. The programme awards a dual degree, viz., a Doctorate of Business Administration paired with a Master of Internal Business Administration.

I firmly believe that the IDBA programme will elevate my career trajectory. I aspire to emerge as the CEO of a thriving business. With the highest qualification in business administration, I will stand out, and it would allow me to crack the most coveted positions.

Moving forward, I would like to deepen my knowledge about digital innovation and business transformation. This will equip me with the tools and an opportunity to understand how I can leverage digital technologies to drive business growth. The cutting-edge concepts of digital transformation will empower me to develop expertise in improving business processes and optimizing operations at large.

My next career step is to leverage my newly acquired knowledge in my current role and personal endeavours to boost productivity, increase efficiency, and achieve long-term sustainability.

My academic journey prepared me to assume the role of Supervisory Board of Directors of the largest utility company based in Sint Maarten. I was privileged to oversee several strategic functions and was appointed as Vice Chairman, the Audit Committee's Chairman, and member of the Recruitment Committee.

The time I planned and accomplished a challenging goal was completing my Master’s Degree in project management successfully from Kaplan University.

I believe the essential personal attributes vital to achieving success in any field are strong leadership skills, self-motivation, time management, integrity, networking, relationship building, and problem-solving acumen.

The time I risked my comfort zone was after the disastrous Hurricane Irma, a category five hurricane that devastated the country. At that moment, I was the lead in charge of reestablishing the company, overseeing the procurement processes, managing finances, and working closely with international insurers to restore connectivity.

The book I recommend as a must read is “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. The book is a bestseller, written and published in 1937.

My dream job is to be the CEO of the Sint Maarten Telecommunication Company. This has always been a dream job for me. As a teenager in Sint Maarten, my mentor was the Director of the Company and the Minister of Telecommunications. The experience of being around them and visiting the office left a lasting impression on me.

My message to professionals beginning their careers is to continue to learn in whatever field they choose and master that skill set. Continuous learning is critical for career growth and adaptability, considering today’s fast-paced work environment.