Introducing: Charlene Pedro, Chief Engagement Officer of Conventus Consultinc

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An entrepreneur is an individual who creates a new business, bearing most of the risks and enjoying most of the rewards.?The process of setting up a business?is known as entrepreneurship. The entrepreneur is commonly seen as an innovator, a source of new ideas, goods, services, and business/or procedures (source: www.investopedia.com)

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Introduction

Today we'll be sitting down for a chat with Charlene Pedro.

Charlene is a Corporate Trainer, Personal Development Trainer and Coach, HR consultant, Inspirational Speaker and Writer, with over 20 years' experience in Human Resource Management.

In essence, she's a being on a mission to help persons evolve into their better self and live fuller lives, both personally and professionally.?

Q. What events led you to this path and how long have you been in business?

A. I am the poster girl for the accidental entrepreneur fraternity. Just over ten years ago, my CEO called me into his office to advertise an internal vacancy. As head of HR that was my job, but to my surprise, it was my job that I had to advertise. I was advised to apply for the job and was found “not suitably qualified”. After some torturous months, I was terminated.

On the day I was terminated, someone said that they had a client who’s looking for an HR consultant.?

I remember saying that I was free since I have no plans. The following Tuesday I met with the client, who remains with me today. Our relationship has since evolved into friendship. Owning my business was never in my plans. That company’s rejection was really God’s redirection. My vocation has found me. I continue to walk in faith and build my business on faith.

Q. How did you come up with the name for your business?

A. ?I was searching for a suitable name and my cousin suggested that I use a Latin name because his business has a Latin name. So I did some research and found “Conventus” which means coming together, meeting for a particular purpose. It was perfect for the vision of building relationships with my clients ?

Q. Who has been your biggest loudest cheerleader on your journey?

A. “De Man” has always been my #1 cheerleader, even before we got married. It’s the simple things that counts, like packing my car when I’m going out to a training assignment, purchasing a mouse for me when mine started to give sone trouble, sometimes even driving me to a training assignment if he’s available.

Never once did he suggest that I go back into the corporate world.?

In addition to my husband, my sisters and friends have also been very supportive of my journey.

Q. What is the one biggest challenge you have faced so far and how did you overcome it?

A. Managing my business on the backend, while working the actual business has been one of my biggest challenges. I was so wrapped up in delivering my service to clients that I neglected running the business.

Having a passion and being great at what you do are not enough to have a successful business.

You must step away to plan for success, listen to your clients and implement sales strategies as well as have a marketing plan. I have now implemented a dedicated CEO’S day where I focus solely and totally on the business of the business.

Q. Did the pandemic affect your business in anyway i.e. did you have to implement a Plan B due to Covid-19?

A. Most of my clients did not invest in any employee development programmes during Covid. This meant a sharp decrease in income for my business. My objective during the pandemic was simply to stay in the game because this too shall pass.

I began offering virtual training in-house and a few new clients hired my services. I also offered public enrolment training programmes so that anyone who was interested could join up. This paid the bills. Now that the economy has reopened, we’re still standing booked and blessed.

Q. What are your top 3 goals for the future?

A. My top three (3) goals for the future would be to:

1. Launch my first book entitled “Journey to Me - A Guided Journal”. This was based on the Mastery of Me programme and will be an e-book initially, which guides the reader on their quest to become their best self through thought-provoking writings and exercises

2. Create on-line on-demand programmes. The goal here is to be available to persons who couldn’t participate in our in-person programmes.

3.Build out my training team to include other corporate trainers who are aligned with my brand. The objective here is to deliver to more clients and expand into the Caribbean countries.??

Q. Name one thing that you currently do to go above and beyond your clients’/customers’ expectations.

A.Our most requested service is training. As an HR consultant, I provide guidance to clients that goes beyond the training because training is not a plaster for all sores and most definitely not a stand-alone intervention. ?To support the transfer of learning and depending on the type of programme, we will also offer complimentary coaching for our clients.

Q. What was the best advice you ever received and who gave it to you?

A. Many years ago, a VP at my last employer asked me “Charlene why are you here?”. What she was really telling me, in an ever so subtle way, is that I had outgrown the company.

Q. How do you spend your free time?

A. Anyone who knows me knows I’m always in my garden. This is where I’m reminded that everything has its season, to trust the process, and regardless of what’s happening around me God is in charge. I also enjoy interior designing, especially patio design, where I can incorporate bright colours and unusual pieces. On Saturdays I hit the road with my accountability partners and go hiking.

Q. What is something most people do not know about you?

A. Gosh! I’m a free spirit! Like that time when I rode around the entire island of Tobago on a motorcycle in one day! Of course I was a pillion rider hanging on for dear life but one day I’ll ride by myself.

Q. What advice would you offer to anyone thinking of becoming a full-time entrepreneur?

A. First I’ll say that everyone does not need to be a full-time entrepreneur. In this life, we get to decide what success looks like. For those who are thinking about it you must be realistic and practical.

1. Get your finances in order. Save some money to carry you through.

2. Research your market and your ideal customer who will be willing to pay you for what you’re offering. What problem are you solving? Is your solution a painkiller or a vitamin? Find the people who need your solution as a painkiller. ?

3. Work on your mindset to develop a growth mindset. Your mindset determines your success. “Whether you think you can or think you can’t. you’re right-Henry Ford

4. Invest time in building relationships and your personal brand. Most people buy from you not your business

Q. You also found time to create a workshop - what led to its creation?

A. As the pandemic hit in March 2020, it was a dark mental space looking at the updates on television daily as they counted the number of deaths. I thought if this is how I felt, then my friends and other folks must be feeling the same way. So I asked myself ‘how can I help?”

I decided to design a series of training programmes called Thrive in Crisis which was offered online for free.

At the end of the series some women reached out to me and wanted to continue working with me to achieve their goal. These women had the audacity to pursue their goals amid a world pandemic! I then designed a programme to meet their needs and so Mastery of Me was born.

Mastery of Me is a blend of masterminds and masterclasses founded on self-leadership. This research-backed programme provides a roadmap and accountability for mid-career women who have ticked all the boxes yet want more out of life. The next season kicks off on 8 October 2022.

Q. What services do you offer your clients?

A. We offer services in Training and Development, Performance Management,

Recruitment, and Support for HR Projects.

Some of our Training Solutions include:

• Supervisor Skills
• Authentic Leadership
• Team Building
• Emotional Intelligence
• Performance Management
• Key Performance Indicators & Performance Standards
• Creative Problem Solving
• Customer Service

Q. Where will potential customers go to find you?

A. You can find out more about me and my services on www.conventusconsultinc.com and www.charlenepedro.com.

Of course they can connect with me right here on Linkedin, where many of my clients found me.

We can't wait to share your entrepreneurial story of Grit, Grind & Growth!

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