This Week We Feature Young Professional Desiree’ A. Wheatley
Trying to convince this young professional to put aside her shyness of the spotlight was worth the while since as soon as the nut was cracked a still slightly rough put priceless gem of a Virgin Islander was revealed.
Meet 24-year-old Young Professional Desiree A. Wheatley, who is employed in the financial service industry.
Ms Wheatley is a Senior Corporate Administrator at TMF (BVI) Ltd and has been at the company since October 2007 when she started as a Corporate Administrator.
Our Young Professional also juggles work and academic studies and still finds time to promote entertainment events through her company- Platinum Promotions. She also has serious plans to develop her talent for drawing and add architecture to her many trades and owning her own architectural company.
But before we explain how our Young Professional plans to make all her ambitions a reality we shall return to her main job which is at TMF (BVI) Ltd, one of the leading trust companies in the Virgin Islands and recognised worldwide.
Ms Wheatley’s role at TMF includes helping clients to incorporate companies, giving advice to clients, preparing and providing them with corporate documents as well as organising for legal and registry documents, amongst other things.
Our Young Professional is an all rounder and has worked in different units within the company including in the Jersey Unit where the focus is on companies within the Jersey jurisdiction; the Asian Unit; the Guernsey/Geneva Unit and most recently the unit referred to as Rest of the World where the focus is on clients all over the world, rather than a particular jurisdiction.
Commenting on her experience at TMF, Ms Wheatley said it has been both enjoyable and interesting and she has learned a lot throughout the years there. Working at TMF has also reinforced what Ms Wheatley’s mother had taught her and that is there is no short cut to success but it entails hard work and determination.
Ms Wheatley no doubt takes much pride and joy in her work and said her greatest satisfaction is feeling the joy of a satisfied client. “It gives me a wonderful feeling when I can provide a service and at the end of that service the client can express how happy they are for what it is they receive and the level of service it was provided with. It is something that I enjoy doing so it motivates me to do my best.”
Your interpersonal skill is critical to succeeding in the financial service industry, along with your understanding of the industry and your focus on the task at hand. However, interpersonal skills she says was not always her strongest area. Before TMF, Ms Wheatley said she worked at Scotia Bank and also at First Caribbean but was in the accounting department. “While at TMF and dealing with clients my interpersonal skills have increased tremendously.”
A student of the then BVI High School, Ms Wheatley left for Clarkston High School in Atlanta Georgia, USA in 2003 and graduated a year later with honours. From there she went to Georgia State University where she started out majoring in Business, however, due to the birth of her son, she took a break from studies and returned to the Virgin Islands and has since been attending the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College where she is pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Business with a concentration in Finance. She intends to complete the Bachelor’s Degree and has been awarded a scholarship to do so.
We asked Ms Wheatley if she had seen herself in her current line of work while growing up. “No I didn’t”, she instantly replied followed by a giggle. “Growing up I wanted to be a pediatrician. When I was in primary school I thought about that a lot because of my love for children. However throughout the years I quickly learned that not every child had angelic qualities or was well mannered. There was a little category of rude, temper throwing, disgusting and disrespectful kids and it changed my mind a bit from being a pediatrician. I thought well maybe that was not a good idea!”
Having a talent for sketching and designing, Ms Wheatley then decided that she wanted to be an architect. “It is still in the making. I am happy in the field [Financial Service Industry] that I am in now and I can see myself going a lot further there but I would also like to study architecture. It can probably be something I can do on the side. If I can have my own architectural firm one day and still be able to work in a Financial Service Industry it would make me even happier. I am young so I have time on my hands to achieve this.” Ms Wheatley has also not put aside her love for interior decorating and sees this as forming a part of her business plans along with the architectural firm, providing both services under one roof.
Speaking of future, there was nearly not a future for Ms Wheatley a month ago as a routine surgery gone wrong saw her on a life support machine for some 4 days. She has been off the job for some eight weeks as a result but returns on Monday November 19, 2012.
“It was scary, it was confusing and very emotional. I went to have a simple procedure done but had complications during the surgery and as a result I woke up in the ICU not knowing or understanding what really happened. I am thankful that my family was there to watch over me and provide the support and comfort I needed.”
Ms Wheatley revealed that the experience opened up her eyes to many things in life that she had previously overlooked. “It made me appreciate a lot more the support and love that you receive from family and friends. It opened my eyes to certain things in my life that I should change, whether I thought about it before or thought I had time to do it. It made me realise that I may not have time to do it. The change needs to come about now.”
One of these changes, Ms Wheatley, said is to show more love and care for people around her. As a result she intends to find the time to promote non-profit events to aid persons or organisations in need of certain assistance.
It is at this stage that we are proud to say that our Young Professional is also an events promoter and is the owner of Platinum Promotions, which has been organising entertainment events for a couple years. One of the main events of Platinum Promotions is Seductive Saturdays, which has enjoyed some success at the various venues held including Bat Cave, Bottoms Up and Club Diplomat.
“I think that it has been going pretty well and that is something else that I enjoy. It’s the same feeling I get when I satisfy my clients at work, to plan a function and see that people enjoy themselves... I enjoy the planning aspect of it."
Ms Wheatley noted, however, that being a female promoter has its challenges. “Some people feel that they can take advantage of you and they will try to work their head around you but it is something that I am prepared for.”
Our Young Professional related that her mother, Medita Wheatley, has been her biggest inspiration. “There are many people who have encouraged and inspired me but she is my biggest inspiration, along with my son."
Ms Wheatley advises youth to keep the focus on their goals as it is the challenge she also faces having to carry the load of work, studies as well as the activities of promoting and being a mother. “It can be hard, I can admit that. There are times when you may feel a lot of pressure but at the end of the day you have to remain focussed on your goals. “I shake it off, I pray about it and I keep pushing.”
Our Young Professional also had special advice for young women like herself. “I see a lot of the young ladies are now having kids at a very young age, that is something I went through as well, but if it hasn’t happened to any of them as yet I would encourage them to go to school, build their foundation and do the things they want to do before getting involved with that. But for those of them, who already have a child or is about to have a child, they should not limit themselves in any way. Please stick to your dreams and work towards them. Always try to better yourself in every way possible to build a better life for yourself and your children. Although it will be challenging it also helps when you have positive people in your life who care about you and are also able to give you the help and encouragement needed to go ahead and achieve great things.”
Ms Wheatley also encourages young women, who may have dropped out of school due to pregnancy, to not stagnate themselves but to develop themselves academically.
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28 Responses to “This Week We Feature Young Professional Desiree’ A. Wheatley”
To my cousin Dez, I applaud you for all that you have acheived and i am praying for future success. Continue to strive for excellence and i pray for God's continued blessing on your life and your son... LOVE YA!!