Annika Rowe making it count

THROUGHOUT HER lifetime, University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica alumna, Annika Simone Rowe, has displayed her commitment to making her experiences, expertise and life count. This has led her to engage in a number of pursuits which have earned her recognition at home and abroad.

Everyone searches for significance and meaning in life and Rowe found purpose through her faith in Jesus Christ from early in life at 15 years old. Thirty years later, with her Christian commitment being her driving force and inspiration, she has received several accolades including that of published author.

Twenty years ago, at 26 years old, she launched an award-winning non-profit company. The mission of the non-profit was to transform low-income communities using the arts, business, technology and education. One of the major projects of the non-profit was a para-educational camp for inner-city children held in collaboration with UTech’s Students’ Union.

“I was recognised for the fundraising efforts of my non-profit for this project which spanned nearly 10 years of involvement. Among other recognitions for my non-profit work was a capacity-building grant award from the Development Bank of Jamaica,” Rowe said.

After serving nearly 25 years in the fields of education and training and a few years in the Jamaican financial sector, she later pivoted into independent consulting when economic tides turned and affected the job market after the pandemic.

Rowe then submitted an application to the University of Geneva Switzerland, Geneva Finance Research Institute (GFRI) Masters of Advanced Studies in Finance. This application was submitted on the basis of her personal portfolio as a consultant.

“I was offered a partial scholarship as the only Jamaican and Caribbean national offered a place in the programme’s history. My motivation for applying to this programme is that Switzerland has one of the world’s leading financial sectors and this programme will strengthen my natural gift in the numeric subject of finance,” Rowe said.

As a born-again believer, Rowe believes it is part of her Christian stewardship to ‘study to show herself approved’ and to make the best of every opportunity afforded her. GFRI is ranked number one in Europe and forum globally for research in finance.

“The Master of Advance Studies programme in finance at GFRI offers a module in philanthropy which promises to strengthen my intrinsic interest in philanthropic giving as evidenced from my work in the regional non-profit sector,” she said.

When asked what was one challenge she had to overcome, she shared that she went through a brief period of her life when her business and personal operations were negatively targeted. Among other things, she experienced an email hacking incident that could have negatively impacted business operations or could have caused other negative effects.

“With God’s grace I was able to pick up the pieces and continue building my personal vision and brand. I later found out that many women and entrepreneurs face similar challenges globally and so I hope from my experience other women will have the courage to keep on believing in themselves, push past challenges and keep their standards high,” Rowe said.

About her scholarship at GFRI, Rowe said she is elated for the chance to represent her beloved country, and by extension the Caribbean on the global stage.

“Jamaica is not just a sprinting powerhouse or reggae and entertainment mecca, but also a country that produces many academics. As God provides the funding, I look forward to representing Jamaica in the area of finance GFRI,” she said.

To this accomplished woman, making it count entails recognising the importance of Jesus Christ being the centre of all life. Through Christ’s empowerment, one can make both good and bad experiences count for something beautiful that one can grow through and use to help others.