ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — When St Elizabeth native Kenesha Thomas from a tender age helped her mother sell clothes almost daily after school, she was shaping her entrepreneurial journey to becoming a dominant business figure in this south-central town.

Thomas, 35, grew up in Rose Hall (near Munro College) in St Elizabeth.

“My mother was a businesswoman, so she used to sell clothes and other items. She walked and sold them. I got entrepreneurship and basic business skills from her. After leaving school some days, I would go on the road with her some times in the evening,” she shared.

“When I was growing up. I said I wanted to be a manager of a bank, so I always wrote that down,” she added.

But her journey took a different path to now operating stores in the fast-growing town of Junction, St Elizabeth.

Along the way Thomas got experience managing a company.

“While working there I started selling clothes and people would come and support me. Eventually, I rented a space and started selling the clothes from there. I decided that I wasn’t going to leave my job, because I was sure of my pay. Then I got another location and expanded into phones and phone accessories,” she said.

Eventually, Thomas saw that she needed to pursue her vision fully and focused on building her business, Junction Variety Store.

She also created the Junction Business Expo, which last December hosted its fourth annual staging at Roye’s Shopping Centre.

Over the years, the expo has gained support from financial institutions focusing on providing services for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

“I was shocked at how many people were interested and were willing to come on board to share their ideas,” said Thomas.

She pointed to issues faced by some women in business.

“In terms of being a woman in business, I think it is harder than being a man, because in Jamaica most men do business with each other and they are not as receptive towards doing business with women,” she said while adding that women are also victims of harassment and unwanted advances in doing business.

“So it is not easy to get networking and links, you really have to push hard and be really serious,” added Thomas.

Her advice to women is to believe in their dreams, despite challenges.

“If you have a dream or you have a plan just follow through, it is not going to be easy, but you just have to stick to your plan, stay focused, and follow through, because sometimes you won’t have a clue. Things just don’t work like how you expect. The journey of business is not one where you can tell how much money you will make tomorrow or next week, it is a whole journey,” she said.

“You have to plan, if you are going to start a business even if you don’t have any money, have a plan. Write down what you want to do, everything will fall in place,” added Thomas.