We had the good fortune of connecting with Genieve Hanley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Genieve, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
As a creative, I admit I get bored easily. It’s second nature for me to constantly, wholeheartedly crave and jump in to new, exciting experiences and in the process, hopefully acquire some new knowledge and skills. I was told very early on in my career by a good-intentions employer who picked up on this trait, that I should find and focus on just one thing and be great at it. While I appreciate the traditional advice to develop a level of expertise and excellence with your talent, I totally object to the idea that this is a singular sort of pursuit – that one thing, and one thing alone is your professional destiny. Any millennial, I am sure, will agree that especially in today’s rapidly shifting world, the more skills you have, even if you’re only at amateur level with some of them, the better aligned you are for success, growth, independence and resilience. Therefore, I remain in relentless pursuit of expanding my skills base and discovering and nurturing my talentS – yes, that’s talent with a capital ‘S’ at the end.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I live life for a living. My career from the onset has always been a direct representation of my mindset, passions, growth and desires over the years, and I’ve always had a knack for turning my lifestyle and current circumstances into something profitable.

With an initial desire to follow in my awesome parents’ footsteps, I started out as a teenager in retail, helping out in my grandmother’s store which eventually became my mother’s – a sort of family heirloom. Then I shifted into banking, like my father, after I graduated school.

Around that time I fell in love with pageantry, an extension of my unwavering love for the performing arts, specifically dance, which I had been training in since I was ten. I was crowned Miss St. Kitts in 2002 and Miss Caribbean Tourism the following year. These titles and their ambassadorial duties sparked my love for travel, events, patriotism and branding.

I went on to pursue a degree in Arts Management from London South Bank University in the UK that struck a good balance between the wild creative and the stern professional in me. I gained more professional experience in London during my studies, working for theatre and market research companies, specifically. I even worked with Nike Women at one point, as a dance facilitator.

When I returned home, to St. Kitts, I was so inspired by my opportunities, that I opened my own performing arts education organization, LEAP, which to this day is the largest of its kind in the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis. I also started two marketing firms – ACE Management & Consultancy (which focuses on branding for artists) and Nomadik Marketing (a digital marketing firm).

Aside from my entrepreneurial endeavors, I’ve also over the past decade and a half gotten the opportunity to work for amazing brands locally and regionally, in Marketing, Sales & Event Management including Marriott, Sunlinc, Digicel, Hyatt and The University of the West Indies. Most recently, I started my own regional food and travel blog, Caribbean Barefoot Journeys.

As you probably picked up, I’m all about fluidity and diversity. I am excited by challenges and I enjoy evolving, stepping out of my comfort zone – not being boxed in. I thrive when I’m wearing many different hats. I’m always coming up with new ways to innovate and convert things that make me happy into a possible career choice. I’m a ‘when the door closes, jump through the window’ kind of person – highly ambitious and always up to something.

However, time has taught me that hard work does have to be balanced with play. Over the years I’ve experienced many periods of unhealthy burnout with everything I pursue and juggle, and I’ve learned to invest in self-care and rejuvenation as much as I invest in the work. I now describe myself as a “hardworking professional, expert at relaxing”.

As a full-time single mother, on top of everything, I’ve learnt that I’m pretty much limitless. That I can have the thriving career and thriving personal life too. One doesn’t have to forsake the other. Life truly is about balance.

With my continued commitment to grow in every way, it is my hope that I can teach others along the way to be relentless and fearless, bold and balanced, in the pursuit of both their personal and professional dreams and desires. They go hand in hand.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
St. Kitts & Nevis is a unique twin island paradise that offers a beautiful balance between tranquil and laid back settings, and bustling and adventurous ones, to any visitor.

I’d prove this to my friend firstly by recommending she stays at a super-memorable place like The Hermitage Inn in Nevis – a deviation from your typical hotel or resort stay, with adorable, cozy gingerbread style private cottages spread out across a stunning, serene gardens.

Then we’d conquer all my favorite Nevisian hotspots for eats and drinks, like The Gin Trap, Sunshine’s, Chrishi Beach Club, Yubrenta’s, On The Dune & Turtle Time. It’s a close contest, but I would admit Nevis does edge out St. Kitts when it comes to dining and lounging experiences.

However, the entertainment prize goes to the latter, so while in St. Kitts we’d be sure to do some zip lining, a mountain-side ATV adventure, ride aboard the Island Railway (an informative, scenic train ride around the coast) and do some shopping at Port Zante, in the heart of town. We’d also have to get a fish soup at some point from Buddies Beach Hut (the best!), sushi from Rituals and drinks on the dock at Fisherman’s Village at Park Hyatt. At some point we’d also squeeze in a catamaran cruise between both islands.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate my shoutout to my seven year old daughter, Zendi. She is the most profound source of joy, drive and inspiration for me, every tick of the clock.

Website: http://www.genievehanley.com/

Website: www.caribbeanbarefootjourneys.com 

Instagram: @caribbeanbarefootjourneys

Twitter: @cbjourneys

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanBarefootJourneys

Other: LEAP – www.leapskn.com @leapskn (Instagram & Facebook)

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