It makes no sense moving forward unless we all know where we are going and have a plan in place to do it together. (Pictures by Risée Chaderton-Ames)

Stephen Worme is chief marketing officer of the Barbados Light & Power Company Limited.

Q: Are you where you've always wanted to be?

A: I would say I am happy where I am today
– I have a wonderful wife, my four children are growing into fine young men and women, I have some of the best family, friends and work colleagues, and I enjoy what I do here at Light
& Power. Also, I am happy spiritually. However, there have been many challenges along the way and I am sure there are many more challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Q: What is your biggest professional challenge?

A: I am still trying to come to grips with my change from engineering, a profession that I love and have been trained in, to the area of marketing and corporate communications, which is an area that I am very excited about and I really enjoy. Time management is a big issue for me as well, as I would like to be more available to staff and to customers.

Q: What is your biggest life challenge?

A: To find the right balance between my home life, work life, spiritual life, community service and social life, all very important. I also find parenting to be both a tremendous and intriguing challenge. While we spend a lot of time at school learning math, English and so on, we don't do much on parenting – one of the most important jobs we have to face. I guess many of the things we do prepare us for this, but I don't think many of us are adequately prepared when the time comes.

Q: When you look to the future, what do you see?

A: I see a very exciting future, one with many challenges and opportunities. However, we need to change how we look at things. We need to stop viewing challenges as problems and instead try to make them into opportunities. This is not easy to do, but whoever said life is going to be easy? We have to put our trust in God and have faith that he will guide us to do the right things – but we need to follow his guidance.

Q: What is your favourite pastime?

A: My wife would probably say work. However,
I cherish the time I spend with my family and friends. I still play football at masters' level, despite my limited football skills and increasing age.

Q: What is your favourite meal?

A: I love fried chicken and a hot fried flying fish cutter (with pepper sauce) – not good for the cholesterol. However, overall I would say a good chicken or beef curry – West Indian style – in a roti or with rice.

Q: On Saturday nights where are you
likely to be?

A: My Saturday night usually starts with mass at St Dominic's Church or sometimes at St Patrick's Cathedral. I would then either get together with friends, preferably at my house, sipping a few
Banks beers or having a quiet evening at home
with my family. However, I do love a good party from time to time.

Q: What upsets you the most?

A: When I see people doing things without any consideration for others or the environment, like when they throw things out of the car, when they are using the road, when they are serving customers or when they show disrespect in front of others.

Q: What is your guiding philosophy?

A: If you do the right thing you will get the right result – it may take some time but you need
to persevere.

Q: If you had a chance to manage Barbados
for a day, what would you do?

A: A day isn't a long time, so all I would be able to do is set the environment for what needs to be done. I would put things in place for setting a clear direction and strong values for the country. I would require all ministers to involve all stakeholders in their areas of responsibility – people like business associations, employee representatives, religious organisations, service clubs, sporting associations and so on – and make them responsible for developing a strategic plan for their portfolios.

It makes no sense moving forward unless we all know where we are going and have a plan in place to do it together.