Interview of Nigel G. Salina - An International Consultant, Philanthropist, Public Speaker, Entrepreneur

0:01 This is Silicon Valley Tech, Behind The Scenes, a podcast hosted by Shawn Flynn and Sunil S Ranka. Here's where we talk to the real heroes to find out how decisions are made and how they're executed to create the thriving businesses of tomorrow. I think it's time now for those countries to start working together, building relationships, having closer ties. So let's say, for instance, the countries in South America, India, Africa. I think it's a great time now for those countries that were not the world powers in the past or are not the world power at present to start really working towards building, having stronger ties, sorry, and also building stronger relationships. Because that's where the future is really, if you look at India, Africa, China, those could emerge in market. And that was Nigel Salina, who we're proud to introduce. On today's show, we talk about the adoption of new technology. Is there both private and public support for changes? In Nigel's home country of Trinidad and Tobago, where are the future trends in technology? And his involvement with United Nations operations all over the world and much more.

1:19 So let's start the episode. Enjoy. Nigel, welcome to the Silicon Valley Tech podcast with your host, Sunil S Ranka and Shawn Flynn, myself. Now. We're very excited to have you a guest on our show. We've known you for years now. In fact, you know, we spent time in your home country, Trinidad and Tobago. You and Sunil were just joking about the sport called cricket with many of our audience probably has no idea what that is. You know, for our audience at home, could you give us a little background on who you are, what you've accomplished and things you're, you're working on right now? Yes. Thank you, Shawn. Thank you so much for having me on the program. Really appreciate, you know bringing me on this program today. So just to give you a little background, I am. An international consultant, philanthropist, public speaker, and many other titles, and my background really is in social work. I started off my career in social work with one of the leading charities in the Caribbean, and then I got recruited to work with one of the larger insurance companies in the Caribbean and then the largest insurance company in the Caribbean. They recruited me and I became their top producer. I then became a board member and I was then asked to become the chairman. The board of the board is a large insurance company and I was pretty much the head of the board of the insurance company.

2:34 And we were operating in 34 countries in every continent, except Antarctica. Wow. Nigel, I mean, this journey is pretty exciting, but you know, with your home country, Trinidad and Tobago, what do you see as some of the future trends in technology? We just came out of an election and both political parties, we have two main political parties in Trinidad. And they. up maybe about close to 50% of the population, voting population, support these two political parties. If you read their plans, which they referred to as their manifestos, actually both talked a lot of planning. In their manifestos and future plans, you saw a lot of technology. They were both saying that they were going to take Trinidad and Tobago along the path of technology, along the path about fully digitized country. Now, when they're saying fully digitized country and the next step in technology, I mean, what does that mean exactly? Where is it currently and where does it want to go? I would say we are a little behind the curve in terms of if you look at countries like Africa, for instance, like India. Well, not countries. Africa is a continent. India, Africa, you are seeing where the fintech and a lot of different parts of technology, they're way more developed than we are. You look at a country in Europe like Estonia, which is known as the...

4:02 I would say the model or the benchmark for digitization. We are behind the curve. However, I think we could leapfrog in many ways because of the fact that we are a small state. A small state is not as difficult. Once you have the will and having that will and then moving forward with plans and programs, I think you could really leapfrog the rest of the world. I think we are behind. However, it would not take us long if we have the government, private sector... Civil society, all working together to move towards technology and using technology for not only for the government, but across the board with regards to the country. This is a perfect segue, Nigel, where we are talking about the future trends of technology. You've been a leader in the space and the area, which is by the World Economic Forum is going to be the most upcoming part of the world, which is Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, and a lot of larger companies have done that. What are your thoughts on that? I think we have done a lot of investment into that part of the world. With the adoption of the new technology, is this both private and public sector support for the changes? What do you see the future with the new leadership coming in? I would say both private and public. For instance, one of our largest chambers, the Manufacturers Association, they are now adopting Industry 4.2. They're moving towards that. Private sector, there's been a drive towards...

5:33 I mentioned Industry 4.2, robotics, RPAs, a lot of different new technologies. Some of those technologies may not be new for the developed world, but for us as the developing world, certainly that, the RPAs et cetera, they are all new technologies. We are adopting those technologies. A lot of the companies are adopting them. In terms of the governments, if you look, I'll go beyond Trinidad for just a little bit. I'll go to Canada for just a few minutes. I'm going to Canada for just a little bit. In terms of countries in the Eastern Caribbean, they are now moving towards full digitalization. So they're working with the World Bank and other multilateral organizations to take them to that place of full digitalization." I just want to pipe in real quick. I'm not sure if our audience knows this, but right now, you are working with Sunil here and bringing in robotic process automation technology to parts of the Caribbean. Can you share a little bit about the progress and how's that going? So I think there are two areas really. One would be in the private sector and the public sector. It's always efficient. So I'm not saying that the public sector is not efficient, but with the private sector, because private sector, they're driven by profits. It's much easier and more efficient to work with the private sector. However, public sector is also moving towards the whole area of technology. So I think what we are planning to do is to really work first with the private and the private sector, and then to move on towards working with the public sector. So the plan is twofold, private and public. But first, working with the private sector, then moving towards working with the public sector, there are a lot of opportunities at the end of the day, because I was indicating we're a little behind the curve. Yeah. So Nigel, I mean, whatever we have done together, right from the way you are holding up the technology summit, the way you're holding

7:33 up the technology series with the different leaders of the parts, I'm very excited about the work, what you are bringing to that part of the world for the community. You mentioned your involvement in Africa. Do you see a lot of opportunity there for the tech companies? And if so, what are the different areas, what you envision? Yeah, I would say, in terms of the RPAs with me, there's so much, Sunil, that you bring to the table in terms of these services, in terms of the products. And I think what we're be useful at this time, in my opinion, is to expose more and more of these corporations, these countries, to some of the technology that, you know, you in Silicon Valley would take for granted. Because, you know Silicon Valley, you have so much going on in terms of technologies for so many years, since the 70s, after the 70s it really exploded. So we are now behind the curve, and I think more and more we expose companies, we expose the various countries, and especially the small island developing states. I think they would adopt this quickly, because we are now, as I referred to it, technology is the great equalizer, in my opinion, across the world. Because we see what happened in Africa, with their mobile technology. So you talked about technology, you talked about the changing culture, you talked about the behind the curve, so many different things. Knowing Trinidad tobacco and Sean, you talked about cricket, that's an integral part of it. So at one point in time, for our listeners, Sunil, I really never recovered from that I talked about Roti when you went there

9:37 so that's an integral part of Indian culture and as I'm talking to more and more people there are a lot of Hinduism there's a lot of religion there's a lots of Indian influence you have grown up with so many different cultures and you have experience working with so many cultures right from Africa, UK, you headed company with billions of dollars in revenue how does the internal decision process differ from one area or one culture to another one? very interesting interesting question, Sunil we just had an election and what you see is some of the old ingrained parts of the culture that divides us you would see it rearing its head around like an election period however, by and large in Trinidad and Tobago we live peacefully you have many different cultures people coming from different countries and different cultures but certainly in terms of us living together as a community as one people that is one of the gifts that we have in Trinidad and Tobago although we have many different cultures so for instance, you would be familiar with this Sunil because of where you're from in terms of Diwali it's a celebration that the Hindu community they would celebrate in Trinidad however, all races, all religions take part in that festival and it's similar to when it takes place which is the Muslim holiday then for Christmas all religions, all cultures take part in the festival then for Christmas, all religions, and all cultures take a part in that festivl and we celebrate it and we come together so by and large we have not only learned to coexist but we've also learned to live in unity and our watchword in Trinidad actually our watchword, sorry discipline, production, and tolerance we have learned to live with each other in harmony and unity and we continue to grow and develop as one people although we have our differences and we come from different backgrounds, different cultures and that is not only for Trinidad Trinidad, if you look at throughout the Caribbean and the small island developing states, it's

11:40 something that I think throughout the Caribbean, we are proud of. Speaking of harmony and unity and everyone getting along, I mean, right now there's all these trade agreements, there's disruption in the supply chain, the world economy is being shaken up a little bit. With all this happening right now, do you see any positive outcomes, potential positive outcomes in the future? Well, you know, a lot of people have been talking. So I will kind of go off track a bit, but I'll come back. We're talking about COVID-19 and how that took the world, how we are now, you know, in terms of that entire pandemic, the pandemic, sorry, been experiencing such disruption. However, I think there's so many opportunities in that. And similar to what you're talking about with regards to trade. Now in trade, we would normally, our trade agreements would be with the north. And I've been an advocate. So trade. So in other words, all the countries that are in the south, I think it's time now for those countries to start working together, building relationships, having closer ties. So let's say, for instance, the countries in South America, India, Africa, I think it's a great time now for those countries that were not the world powers in the past or are not the world power at present to start really working towards building, having stronger ties, sorry.

13:04 And also building stronger relationship, because that's where the future is really, if you look at India, Africa, China, those could emerge in market. I think it's important for those emerging markets to build strong relationships and ties. Stig Brodersen Speaking of Africa, I mean, most of our audience, I'm guessing it's not too familiar with what's happening there right now. What countries or areas of tech are we really seeing explosive growth? Amit Bhandari So I'm not sure if you saw this earlier in the year. Stig Brobersen Yeah. Amit Bhandari Yes. But Jack Dorsey had made a decision to go to Nigeria for six months. And the reason he made that decision, well, the board had other ideas. The reason he made a decision, and so many of the other tech companies are investing in Africa, it's simply because there are opportunities there. I can never forget in 2000, The Economist, the magazine, did a cover story, and they referred to Africa as the failed continent. Ten years after, they changed that to Africa rising. And the reason for that is more and more countries in Africa, the middle class, they're growing. And because of that middle class growing, and you would find that they have much, a lot more disposable income. Not only do we have the middle class growing but we also have population growth.

14:21 And because of that, you're seeing more and more the demographics, there's a shift. So those countries are coming into wealth. And because of that, there are opportunities there, hence the reason why so many countries are investing in Africa. As a matter of fact, Africa is one of the most developed countries in the world. As a matter of fact, China made a decision years ago to invest over $500 billion in Africa in new investments. Robert Leonard So that $500 billion, how is that being distributed? How much of that has already been allocated? If you have any numbers or information, that would be? Sunil Ranka I don't have to read the numbers off the top of my head, but I'll give you some examples. You had a lot of investments in infrastructure. You also had investments in energy, in mining, etc. And Dangote, who is the, you know, one of the biggest investors in the world, he's the one who's the richest man in Africa. He is just, he's right now commissioning a $15 billion petrochemical complex. Let me just repeat that, a $15-billion petrochemical complex. Robert Leonard So, Nigel, if right now we got to wrap up, anyone wants to find out more information about you, what you're working on? And in fact, do you want to talk a little bit about an event coming up that you're organizing and the people that are on the panel with you, and, yeah, just more information on how they can find out about it?

15:38 Nigel Miller So, in terms of that event, it's James Lurie. James was the first black consultant, the number one consulting firm in the world, which is McKinsey. He was recruited in 1968. And James became an advocate for McKinsey to employ more black and minorities. And by the year 1999, they had over a hundred black consultants in McKinsey, and James then went on to become a senior advisor at the Boston Consulting Group. And he also has his own company, consulting company. He's an author. He's a philanthropist, an entrepreneur. You know, I could give you the list of descriptions for James. So, he just wrote a new book, Change Agent, and he's doing the Caribbean and African launch of that book. So, James will be in two interactive panels, one with business leaders. So, we have, like, the person who owns the large minority retailing company in the world, and the other person who is the business leader. So, he's going to be in the business leaders. And he's going to be the business leader, and he is going to be the person who is the business leader in the world. Robert Leonard We have Jervis Warner, who is the president and CEO of the large group in Trinidad. We also have Camille Wardrop Allen, who is a NASA rocket scientist. Sir David Agee, who was named in Time 100 most influential persons in 2017. Barrington Irvin, who was the youngest and first black person to fly the world solo.

16:56 I can't remember the other speakers, but we have quite a lineup. And that takes place on Thursday. Trey Lockerbie So, Nigel, with all this happening and everything that you're working on, for people to stay up to date, what is the best way for them to find out what you're working on and get in contact with you? Nigel Salina Well, there are two ways. They certainly could go on our website, the Global Business Leadership website. Contact me via my email address, NigelSalina at gmail.com. And it's not Salina, not an S at the end. So, it's very simple, NigelSalina at g mail.com. Robert Leonard Thank you so much, Nigel, for your time today. And it has been a great pleasure. And we are looking for forward for working with you more. Thank you. Nigel Salina Thank you all. Thanks very much. Trey Lockerbie Thank you for listening to Silicon Valley Tech Behind the Scenes. To find out more, contact the team, or to be a guest on the show, visit our website at siliconvalleytechpodcast.com. We look forward to hearing from you. And remember to support the show by leaving a review to encourage us to keep creating great content like this.