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OceanStyleMagazine: Woman Of Influence - Wynell Gregorio
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Aug 5, 2008, 10:48
Wynell Gregorio, Marketing Manager for CLICO Colonial Life Insurance Company Limited, describes herself in a nutshell: "Lover of life, effervescent, compassionate, focused."
From her office at the company's headquarters in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, she has the monumental responsibility of steering the marketing efforts of CLICO: the Caribbean’s largest insurance company and the core enterprise of entrepreneur Lawrence Duprey's tremendous Caribbean expansion.
She's been married for two years to a fellow marketer, a man she describes as a kindred spirit, Ramon Ricardo Gregorio. Though the two had been on the periphery of each other's lives for years, Wynell says "the fire caught at good old UWI [University of the West Indies]." The Gregorios have no children yet, however, with two such demanding careers, balancing work and family life is still a challenge. "It's my elusive goal," say Gregorio. "Only recently I've made a strong decision to have some more balance, especially for family and health."
After receiving her undergraduate degree in PR from the University of West Indies, Wynell secured a Masters in Communications from the London Metropolitan University. She got her start in insurance by, essentially, seizing the day: "There was an opportunity and I grasped it with absolutely no regrets."
She travels quite a bit for both work and pleasure. Vacations find her throughout the Caribbean - Antigua being her favorite island: "I love the quaint feeling of the town...Colonial remnants mixed with tourist flair." the US, the UK, and Europe.
"My best experience though would be Barcelona, Spain,: says Wynell. "I could walk up and down [the main street] La Rambla over and over, taking in the sights and sounds. I love the spirit of the Spanish people; I think they have quite a Trini vibe about them."
Describe your typical day at CLICO?
Someone described it aptly as "there’s never a dull moment." You're always trying to understand where the time went in the day. My typical day starts at 6am and I actually get most of my (mentally demanding) work done between then and 9am when the office is fully populated. A great portion of the day involves working with the regional CLICO territories, and as a Marketer it's very exciting to understand the nuances of different cultures and languages...
What are the greatest challenges you face in your role at CLICO?
I would say time. CLICO is such a vibrant and dynamic company that there are just so many projects, all exciting at the same time. The challenge is to always stay ahead of the wave. Keeps me on my toes.
What gives you the most satisfaction?
Seeing a project come to fruition from a tiny idea that once seemed so elusive.
What would you like to be remembered most for, your legacy?
My contribution to my field - Marketing and Communications - both professionally and academically (I've been lecturing the Communications programme at UWI).
Who has been your most important role model/influence?
My parents. They taught me about humility, love for life and people. These lessons are precious and timeless.
What's your ideal way to have some "me" time?
My head in a great novel almost in trance... totally locking out all the noise of everyday life...letting myself really get immersed in the characters in the story. Right now I'm reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
How often do you go shopping?
Every weekend, whether it is to get items for the house like groceries or indulge in my shoe fetish.
What's your favorite store?
Ann Taylor, just because I always get something that I like, that fits well.
What's your most recent purchase?
A very lovely yet practical brown pair of (work) shoes from Naturalizer. I'm that kind of female -functional when it comes to clothing. I know myself and I must be comfortable. I'm a realist I don't like very high heels so I always try to get pumps, sandals. I'm also known to have quite a few brightly colored sneakers.
Tell us three things you always have in your pocketbook.
Medicine bag (I've been described as a walking pharmacy...guess the girl guide in me never left), my cell phone which is almost permanently attached to my ear (a Marketer never has a quiet moment) and a small notebook for ideas that come when you least expect it. Hope I didn't disappoint the image purists, but I did say, I'm functional.
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