[News & Media] Social Media Conference 2023 shaping the digital landscape in Suriname

The Social Media Conference Suriname 2023, which took place from October 23 to 25, has come to a close. This annual conference is dedicated to exploring the latest developments in the field of Social Media in Suriname, the Caribbean, and around the world. Since its inaugural edition in 2017, the conference has consistently expanded in terms of the number of sessions, speakers, and participants, attracting professionals and enthusiasts from South America, North America, and Europe. The topics covered at the conference encompass a wide spectrum, ranging from Social Media platforms to their integration with various aspects of online marketing, traditional marketing, mobile and app development, e-commerce, and emerging markets. Attendees come from diverse backgrounds, including marketing, PR, and communication professionals, corporate junior and senior management, small and medium business owners, students, media professionals, and social media enthusiasts. According to Anvit Ramlakhan, who led the panel discussion on digital transformation, key themes were explored that have the potential to shape the digital landscape in Suriname. See his key takeaways here: Access to Fast Internet & Integrated Digital Payment Platform: The emphasis was placed on improving internet and payment infrastructure throughout Suriname, ensuring that everyone has access to fast internet and seamless payment services, representing the first step towards an inclusive digital future! Digital Literacy Programs: Empowering individuals with digital skills was a highlighted priority. We called for the establishment of comprehensive digital literacy programs in schools, community centers, and workplaces to bridge the digital divide. Local Content Creation: We recognized the importance of preserving our rich culture and traditions in the online sphere. There is a significant need for collective efforts to promote the creation of authentic Surinamese content, preserving our heritage and sharing our stories with the world. E-commerce and Support for SMEs: Supporting small and medium-sized businesses was a central theme. Efforts should be made to develop e-commerce platforms and provide resources to help them thrive online! Government Engagement on Social Media: Active encouragement of government engagement on social media platforms was emphasized as a way to promote transparency and efficient communication. Collaborative efforts can build trust and effectively address public concerns. ️ Cybersecurity & Privacy Measures: Strong emphasis was placed on protecting our digital space. Advocating for robust cybersecurity measures was widespread, with the aim of ensuring a safe online environment for all users. ️ The conclusion of the Social Media Conference Suriname marks the end of a successful gathering of minds and ideas dedicated to the ever-evolving world of social media. With each passing year, this conference has grown in significance and influence, fostering connections and knowledge exchange across borders. As we move forward, we carry with us the valuable insights and innovative strategies discussed during this event. These takeaways have the potential to bring about positive transformations in the realm of social media and digital advancement in Suriname and beyond. We eagerly anticipate the continued growth and success of this conference as we collectively shape the future of social media in an increasingly connected world. Sources: Anvit Ramlakhan, Social Media ConferenceSR & www.socialmedia.sr   OneShot International  Suriname (+597)8205555 | USA +1(323)3642608 Email: info@courses.oneshotinternational.com | Website: www.oneshot.sr Join our International Business Network CLICK HERE The Digital Business Accelerator – Every Opportunity!

OneShot International LLC is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Arrow Business Academy, the learning platform, which now enables us to provide you with OneShot Learning. This exciting development marks a significant milestone for OneShot, as we proudly introduce OneShot Learning—a beacon of cutting-edge digital business solutions, cultivating an environment of continuous societal impact. Our strategic decision to fully integrate Arrow Business Academy in OneShot stems from our evolving mission, aimed at assisting over 1000 entrepreneurs from developing countries in expanding their businesses on a global scale by 2030.  Key highlights of this transformation include: New Identity: Arrow Business Academy is rebranded as OneShot Learning, encapsulating the essence of rapid learning and continuous progress while upholding our unwavering commitment to quality. Enhanced Learning: OneShot Learning enhances the digital training capabilities, offering local and global instructors (and learners) access to a tailored platform. Updated Platform: The Arrow platform has been rejuvenated to reflect the transition to OneShot Learning, accessible at https://courses.oneshotinternational.com/learning/ Improved User Experience: We have overhauled our user interface to optimize navigation and make the learning experience even more user-friendly and efficient. International Partnerships: Being an international company, OneShot envisions forging strong international learning platform partnerships in the short term, providing extensive opportunities for instructors to join our community. OneShot remains unwavering in its dedication to fostering excellence in digital business acceleration, supporting individuals and organizations in their international growth journey. While we move forward, all existing contracts, course enrollments, and partnerships with Arrow Business Academy will seamlessly transition to OneShot Learning, ensuring no disruption in services or course access. We encourage you to log into the upgraded learning environment at https://courses.oneshotinternational.com/learning/ . Stay tuned for more thrilling developments as we continue this journey towards greater international heights. For additional information, please contact our Digital Learning Coordinator, Ms. Chevelly Plet BSc. at Chevelly@archer.sr or WhatsApp (597)7425555. Source: OneShot International LLC. OneShot International Suriname: (597)8205555 | USA +1(323)3642608 | Learning: (597)7425555 Email: info@courses.oneshotinternational.com | Website: https://courses.oneshotinternational.com  Join the OneShot Business Network HERE

Childhood of Enrico “Rico” Bommel Born and raised in Suriname, Paramaribo is where it all started for Enrico “Rico” Bommel. Born on June 25, 1987, Enrico Bommel came into this world and spent most of his childhood in Kasabaholo. Rico enjoyed his childhood playing with friends from his neighborhood in the ‘80s when there was no fancy technological way of spending your time, than with each other having real fun and making memories. He enjoyed a lot of love during his childhood, especially from his grandmother who was the backbone in supporting him and the family. Growing up in a one-parent household, became more challenging when the backbone who was supporting the family, the grandmother of Rico, left to live in the USA, Miami, and suddenly became sick and had to go through surgery. This was a very challenging period for Rico, because not only did he miss his grandmother, but he was also worried about her and on top of it all the support she was providing also came to an end. This had a tremendous impact on his family. In some instances, he also had to choose between getting food or paying bills which also led him to drop out of school. The lifestyle he was used to, changed tremendously and that triggered the growth mindset even more and he started searching for a solution to support himself and the family. As an early school drop-out, Rico started to use his talents to come to places where he knew he would meet certain people he wanted to share a seat at the table with and network to find growth opportunities. He started his dancing career in various dance groups and later continued with rap. Working in Starzz Discotheek for approximately six years provided the opportunity to meet people with a growth mindset and men whom he looked up to and who are now his friends and business partners. Leaving Suriname to go live in the US in 2011 to create a better life, started with a Marble business. The aim was to import marble from Brazil to the US, but this did not stay for long, since it was very challenging Rico started doing business in Real Estate and built the Hot Sauce company Su Yum Foods together with his wife and her parents as equal partners. His Impact Embarking on a journey into the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, Rico has not only reshaped his lifestyle and mindset through business, but left an indelible mark on the business landscape, demonstrating the profound impact consistency can have on innovation, growth, and societal change. From manually producing 120 bottles an hour with the whole family, Su Yum Food now produces more than 2000 bottles of hot sauce in one hour using machines. Having a great clientele in the USA is one of the greatest achievements, wherein influencers such as ‘David’s Been Here’ became an ambassador for Hot Sauce. Su Yum Food also has a market at restaurants that are cooking with their marinade. As a Suriname company based in the USA, Su Yum Food works exclusively with raw ingredients from Suriname without additives. This company is the first and largest certified Suriname Hot Sauce company doing business in the US. Su Yum Growth comes with its challenges. The challenges Su Yum Foods faces are the prices of the import of raw ingredients from Suriname, due to inflation and economic challenges. And the volume of orders that are increasing. The company has put its strategy into place and is working towards solving these challenges of the volume by the end of January 2024. That this dynamic company is on the rise is noticeable looking at the growth of the company in the past years. Closing Remarks from Rico Rico shares that his focus is on small businesses and young entrepreneurs. To reach the top one has to be consistent and have love in their heart. There is no reason to hate and or be negative towards each other. Even through the challenges, there is enough room for everyone at the top. To reach the top entrepreneurs should be aware of their priorities and what they spend their time on. Be sure to follow the right people who inspire and eventually mentor you to become better. Ensure a healthy environment where love and grants are strongly present. Follow people and organizations who are already at the top and provide a platform/help for others to grow such as Rico himself, OneShot International, and others. Be positive, talk positive, and represent positivity in your lifestyle and in your products or services. Find the drive within and make your dreams come true. Entrepreneur’s Impact Entrepreneur’s Impact is the weekly go-to source for entrepreneurial impactful stories, insights, and inspiration powered by OneShot International. Whether you’re seeking expert advice, exploring business stories, or looking for a dose of inspiration to get started with your business idea or grow an established business, our blog is here to inform and engage. Join us every week as we delve into fascinating stories, lessons learned, and valuable tips with the entrepreneurs who are making a great impact. Get ready to embark on a journey of knowledge and discovery with us! In the weekly editions of the Entrepreneurs Impact, we will dive together into the story of Entrepreneurs and CEOs of businesses that embark on sustainable solutions for local and global problems. Weekly blogs will be published in the rubrics Entrepreneur Impact, Ideas & Opinions, and News & Media.  Before we wrap up, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to you, our incredible OneShot International community. Without your dedication to making the world a better place, our mission would remain just a dream. Stay tuned for our next Entrepreneur Story next Sunday, same time, same place, different story.   In the meantime, if you want to Start & Grow Your Own Business Join our program here: https://courses.oneshotinternational.com/investment-acceleration/, visit the digital platform here www.oneshot.sr, and join the International community of entrepreneurs making an impact.

Childhood of Shellen Arga In the quiet hours of September 30, 1998, a spark ignited within the Arga household. Little did they know, the arrival of the baby girl, Shellen marked the inception of a creative force that would leave an indelible impact on the entrepreneurial landscape. As the creativity is already in her name; the combination of Shirley and Allen – Shellen.  Born from a pastor/teacher father and an accountant mother, Shellen’s upbringing in a disciplined environment set the stage for a life characterized by balance and structure. Shellen’s journey unfolds like a captivating novel, weaving through different chapters of creativity, self-discovery, and entrepreneurship. From her early years in the area of Bennie’s Park in Suriname to her current endeavors as a Business student at UNASAT, her story is one of resilience and passion. As a Christian, Shellen found comfort and peace in books during her teenage years, waiting for her father in the library of CCS. Little did she know that her love for storytelling would find its roots during an English class in high school, where Role Play became the spark for her creative endeavors. Shellen’s journey through different career paths, from radiology to tourism, reflects the common struggle of creative minds searching for their true calling. Yet, her path took a decisive turn when she ventured into ICT at UNASAT, a choice that would shape her future in unexpected ways, or so she thought. During a family vacation, her father’s camera became a gateway to the world of videography is where it began for Shellen. The joy of recording and editing videos sparked a creative flame, leading her to pursue courses in Adobe and Colors, laying the foundation for her future endeavors. The turning point came when Shellen was fighting corporate depression. She stated that an 8 to 4 job didn’t fit her creative soul. For a few months, she felt like the routine of the job drained her tremendously. After evaluation and asking several questions to herself, she realized that she still had a life ahead of her and that working in routine was not what she wanted for the rest of her life. She was seeking for her purpose and her heart was at capturing people’s personal stories in a creative way which made her happy. Her Impact Mentorship played a crucial role in Shellen’s entrepreneurial story. From her first job at Vurge Media to her second at SIB Signs and Designs, mentors guided her through the intricacies of editing, social skills, and networking. These experiences laid the groundwork for her leap into entrepreneurship. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Shellen dared to dream. With fear and insecurities, she dared to step out of her comfort zone. Armed with determination and support from her mentor, and then employer, she founded her own company in May 2020, delving into the visual industry without the necessary equipment. The initial challenges only fueled her drive and belief to succeed. Shellen’s entrepreneurial journey is marked by personal projects like “A Woman Like Me,” “10 Things Before 20,” and “Ten Jobs Before 21.” These endeavors not only showcased her talent but aimed to inspire others to step out of their comfort zones and make a meaningful impact. Her upcoming documentary, set to launch in 2025, visualizes the journey of a Javanese young woman representing her culture. Shellen Arga Productions God and the people around her are the ones who helped Shellen grow as a person and her business. Shellen Arga Productions started the first year by hiring camera gear to be able to do projects. Thanks to the support of her parents, especially her mother who helped develop the discipline of saving money, prayers, and her commitment she was able to pursue her goals and growth in business. The first year of entrepreneurship brought challenges and unbalanced moments, but Shellen persevered. She took all the projects she could to grow her clientele. At first, her target group consisted of everyone who offered projects. As long as it fitted into her agenda, she would take it. The target group changed over the years. As she started with her projects for clients, she did more testimonials and meaningful projects except for weddings, parties, and after-movies. She started her business without any equipment. In the first year, she hired equipment to work. That motivated her to save up to buy her own laptop and camera gear. From taking every project possible to build up her portfolio and guarantee an income, Shellen is now taking on projects that are meaningful to her. She puts quality over quantity. Storytelling is what she does mainly with her business and where her heart lies. Lessons Learned Being an entrepreneur can be very challenging. Valuable lessons Shellen learned were the determination from hiring equipment to the nuances of teamwork. Having a team to work with and directing them is also one of the many lessons learned. Especially with the difference in vision. It can be hard to clearly explain the vision of projects with other creative minds, especially to keep a certain quality. Sometimes the growth could be compared to a moving train. Shellen didn’t start with a business plan or the usual way to start a business, so sometimes she had to take a step back and realize where she was, and what she wanted and then make a decision. Another challenge Shellen faced, in the beginning, was sharing her price for clients with the fear of losing them. That resulted in not knowing exactly what projects to accept and which not. As Shellen looks back at her journey, her heart lies in scriptwriting. Capturing testimonials is one of the meaningful projects she embraces. A recent milestone she reached was her first international project in Miami with Lili’s Foundation. Closing Remarks from Shellen Shellen’s message to aspiring entrepreneurs echoes with wisdom. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship, self-care, and perseverance. In the face of economic challenges, she urges young entrepreneurs to stay focused on their goals, pray,