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Cory Belfon wants to be legendary. This has always been his personal and professional mantra. As the head of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in a Government Ministry, he champions the use of digital technologies to improve the way services are offered to internal and external clients. In his short time, he has delivered many firsts that only existed as wishes for decades. He is happy that now, especially given the current COVID-19 situation, he is able to rewire minds to believe in an overarching ideal and attain success via digital transformation. This is what this 35-year-old, game-changer told MENtions about his journey:

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I like to consider myself as a South boy, although I spent my formative years in Chaguanas and El Dorado. My single parent mother worked hard to ensure that the family was taken care of, a regular West Indian narrative it seems. My upbringing was tough but it was punctuated with sporadic happy memories. There were difficult times, due to the financial challenges of living in a single mother-led household with siblings. Sometimes, we had little to eat. I remember having few toys and material possessions. These things were not a priority at the time.

My mother taught me when I was in primary school. To this day, I remember when I was disciplined in front of the entire school as I was told that I “must set and be an example for others to follow”. These are some of the unforgettable moments that children whose parents teach them, tend to have.

I took advantage of education early on as I believed (and still do to this day) that it is the main path to future success. After primary school (Enterprise Gov’t), I passed Common Entrance for my first choice, St. Mary’s College. During secondary school, my mother migrated to the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) so I completed my secondary studies there. That was an amazing experience as it provided me with the opportunity to travel and experience the wonderful cultures of Jamaica and Cuba during that time.

“Quite often, support is found in the unlikeliest of places”

In addition to strategizing and developing personal goals, it is important to have support that can help you to continuously progress. I received some support from my immediate family and friends but the most extensive support I received was from my wife’s family. Not everyone that claims to support you, actually does. In fact, those you think may not – may actually do. Quite often, support is found in the unlikeliest of places. We should accept that and embrace it.

“Structured mentorship is important”

While I had support from friends and family, I think structured mentorship is important. Many persons always say in hindsight, “I wish someone told me this or that years ago”. This is why I am happy to be participating in this movement because many people are seeking guidance. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough mentors who are willing to actually mentor. Yes, mentorship takes effort, which is why many would shy away from mentorship programmes. The absence of mentors is further compounded by the fact that men in general, are conditioned by society to be “macho” and not appear to need help. This is a situation that we should change.

“Retrenchment was my growth period”

Thus far, my professional life has been rewarding. I have been fortunate to have worked in varied industries and gained extensive experience by delivering multiple projects with my peers for the last 15 years. One sore point during my journey was when I was retrenched after 4 ½ years as the Snr. Systems Analyst in a company. For many, retrenchment is a challenge but my mentality and attitude in adverse situations allowed me to view these challenges as opportunities. Things happen in life for reasons we cannot comprehend but it is oftentimes for the best.

“Be legendary!”

I believe systemic change in the public sector is attainable. Challenging what exists and rebuilding it block by block takes sustained effort and talent but creating and moulding a high-performance project team from the ground up and instilling a delivery mindset, are always satisfying. Rewiring minds to believe in an overarching ideal to attain success via digital transformation is an experience that isn’t really attempted nor successfully done. I am part of this change and I look forward to the benefits that the end users will derive.

“There is always a path to enlightenment”

To that young man:

If you are at a block or feel confused, don’t be despondent. Others have experienced blocks before and they overcame the hurdle. You do not have to stumble through that confusion alone. There is always a path one can take to enlightenment. Start by calming your mind and eliminating distractions. Then, assess where you are, your goals and identify the steps you think will enable you to achieve those goals. Also, don’t sit, waiting for help: that is a mistake many make. Oh and lastly, continuously invest in your education, it always pays.

Cory is a graduate of London Metropolitan University, The UWI and Anglia Ruskin University. He is the Director, ICT at the Ministry of Education, Trinidad and Tobago.