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More than 50 players took to the courts on Friday, 25 September, for Connect by Nova’s pickleball tournament, raising nearly US$10,000 to support the organisation’s career development work in the Cayman Islands. 

Connect provides free career guidance, training and practical support to help people explore their options, prepare for work and access meaningful opportunities in the Cayman job market. In 2025, it supported 839 people through its programmes and services. Proceeds from the tournament will help Connect continue that work and extend its outreach to more students and job seekers across Cayman, from school workshops and one-to-one guidance to support in accessing work experience and employment opportunities. 

“Friday was a wonderful reminder of what our community can achieve when people come together,” said Jasmine Zerjal, Connect volunteer Board member and lead organiser of the tournament. “We’re grateful to every sponsor, raffle donor and player who helped us raise these funds. Their support means Connect can reach more people with the guidance and opportunities that can make a real difference to their futures.” 

This year, 13 organisations participated in the programme, including Wheaton, RSM, CML/Nova, Jacques Scott, Walkers, Mourant, BDO, KPMG, Moore, Campbells, Cayman Finance, Enterprise Cayman, and Deloitte. 

The afternoon brought local teams together for friendly competition in support of a shared goal. Congratulations to the team from Cayman Enterprise City, who took home the tournament trophy. 

Connect extends its thanks to event sponsors Wheaton, Jacques Scott, BDO, four+, and Signus for making the tournament possible; to the local businesses that generously donated raffle prizes; and to every player who spent their Friday afternoon on the courts. 

About Connect by Nova
Connect by Nova is a not-for-profit organisation providing free career development advice and support to Caymanians and the wider Cayman community. Through individual guidance, training, school engagement and partnerships with employers, Connect helps people take their next steps towards education, work experience and employment. 

As a new school year gets underway, Connect is encouraging schools across the Cayman Islands to take advantage of free student development workshops designed to prepare young people for success in education, internships, and future careers.

Connect recently kicked off its school engagement programme with a time management workshop for this year’s prefects at John Gray High School. The session focused on helping students balance the demands of prefect responsibilities, extracurricular activities, academic commitments, and personal goals through effective planning and organizational skills.

“Starting the school year with the prefects at John Gray High School was a fantastic opportunity to discuss a skill that impacts every area of student life: time management,” said Giannie McLaughlin, Development Manager at Connect. “Many students are balancing academics, leadership responsibilities, extracurricular activities, and preparing for their future careers. Our goal is to equip them with practical tools they can use immediately while helping them develop the confidence and professional skills they’ll need for internships, university, and the workplace. Last year, we connected with more than 2,000 students through workshops, career fairs, training sessions, and presentations, and we’re excited to build on that success this year.”

“We are especially grateful to Wheaton Precious Metals for making this work possible. Their sponsorship is not simply funding a programme. It’s creating opportunities for students across the Cayman Islands to access career development, employability training, and life skills education that can have a lasting impact on their futures. We encourage schools to reach out and take advantage of these workshops so that even more students can benefit from this incredible investment.”

The workshop marks the first school presentation of the academic year and builds on the momentum of Connect’s outreach efforts over the past year. Through workshops, career fairs, training sessions, and presentations, Connect engaged with more than 2,000 students across the Cayman Islands, helping young people prepare for internships, university, and the world of work.

This outreach would only be possible through the generous sponsorship of Wheaton Precious Metals, whose support of Connect’s schools outreach programme is helping to equip Caymanian students with the practical skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to succeed beyond the classroom. Through this investment, Wheaton is expanding access to career readiness and personal development opportunities for students across the islands, ensuring that more young people are prepared for the opportunities and challenges of their future careers.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Wheaton Precious Metals, Connect is able to offer these workshops to schools across the islands at no cost.

Throughout the year, students participated in sessions covering topics such as resume writing, interview preparation, professional communication, personal branding, workplace readiness, and how to make the most of internship opportunities. Workshops are designed to equip students with the practical skills, confidence, and knowledge needed to successfully navigate their transition from school to higher education and the workforce.

As schools plan activities and enrichment opportunities for the year ahead, Connect is inviting administrators, teachers, and career guidance teams to partner with the organization to deliver workshops tailored to their students’ needs. Sessions can be customized to support students preparing for internships, university, first jobs, and long-term career success.

Following the positive response from schools and students last year, Connect looks forward to reaching even more young people during the upcoming academic year and continuing its mission of preparing Cayman’s future workforce for success.

Schools interested in arranging a workshop are encouraged to contact the Connect team to discuss available topics and scheduling opportunities by reaching out to our team at info@connectbynova.org.

Connect is proud to celebrate the success of three Caymanian candidates who recently gained valuable work experience opportunities through our partnership with global corporate service provider Ascentium, formerly Harneys Fiduciary.

At Connect, our mission is to bridge the gap between Caymanians seeking experience and organizations looking to invest in local talent. Through the support of our sponsors and employer partners, we continue to create meaningful opportunities that help individuals build confidence, develop professional skills, and advance their careers.

From Work Experience to Full-Time Employment
One of the standout success stories is Jahnelle Wood, who approached Connect after completing her Business Administration degree at the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) and was seeking her very first professional work experience opportunity.

Through Connect’s partnership with Ascentium, Jahnelle was placed within the company’s Corporate Administration team, where she quickly demonstrated professionalism, dedication, and a strong work ethic. Her performance impressed the team so much that Ascentium offered her a full-time position within their Corporate Administration department.

Jahnelle’s journey is a powerful example of how access to practical experience can open doors to long-term employment.

Supporting Future Legal Professionals
Connect also worked with Jennikeila Benito, who came to us seeking her first administrative work experience opportunity.

Jennikeila earned an Associate Degree in Social Sciences from UCCI before continuing her education at the Truman Bodden Law School, where she is currently pursuing her legal studies. Given her interest in Corporate Administration as a potential area of legal practice after graduation, Connect was able to match her with a work experience opportunity at Ascentium.

The placement provided Jennikeila with valuable exposure to the corporate environment and allowed her to gain firsthand experience in a field closely aligned with her future career aspirations.

Creating Opportunities for Students
Another success story is Darren Cranston, a student at St. Ignatius Catholic School.
Darren first learned about Connect through career presentations delivered at St. Ignatius by the Connect team. These sessions were made possible through the generous support of Wheaton Precious Metals, whose sponsorship allows Connect to engage directly with students and introduce them to career development opportunities.

Following one of these presentations, Darren contacted Connect to express his interest in gaining summer work experience. Through our partnership with Ascentium, we were able to connect him with a placement that provided valuable workplace exposure and professional development opportunities.

The Power of Partnership
These success stories demonstrate what can be achieved when educational institutions, employers, sponsors, and community organizations work together to invest in the future of Caymanian talent.

Beyond connecting candidates with opportunities, Connect works closely with each individual to understand their career goals, identify suitable placements, and prepare them for success in the workplace. Development Manager Giannie McLaughlin worked one-on-one with Jahnelle, Jennikeila, and Darren throughout the process, providing guidance, career support, and ongoing encouragement to help them make the most of their opportunities. This personalized approach is a key part of Connect’s mission to ensure Caymanians are not only connected with employers but are also equipped to thrive in professional environments.

We extend our sincere thanks to Ascentium for partnering with Connect and providing meaningful work experience opportunities for these candidates. We would also like to recognize Rotary Sunset for supporting these placements through its Earn and Learn programme. By providing participating students and young professionals with a stipend during their work experience, Rotary Sunset helped alleviate the financial burden on employers, making it easier for organizations like Ascentium to invest in developing local talent.

Finally, we thank all of our sponsors and supporters whose contributions allow Connect to work one-on-one with candidates and facilitate these opportunities at no cost to the candidates or connecting organisations. Their investment helps create pathways to employment, supports career exploration, and strengthens the future workforce of the Cayman Islands.

Building Cayman’s Future Workforce
The success of Jahnelle, Jennikeila, and Darren demonstrates the impact that can be achieved when employers, sponsors, and community organizations come together with a shared goal of developing Caymanian talent.

By creating access to work experience opportunities, these partnerships are helping young Caymanians gain practical skills, build confidence, grow professional networks, and take important steps toward achieving their career aspirations.

Be Part of the Solution
Connect remains committed to connecting Caymanians with opportunities that help them succeed. If you would like to support this mission through sponsorship or donations, we invite you to get involved.

To learn more about how you can help create opportunities for Caymanians, visit our Get Involved section or contact the Connect team at info@connectbynova.org. Together, we can create more opportunities, build stronger career pathways, and invest in the future of Caymanian talent.

Connect, the not-for-profit founded by Nova Recruitment, that supports the Cayman community to achieve career success, proudly partnered with Clifton Hunter High School (CHHS) last month for a successful two-day clothing drive that provided over 300 pieces of professional attire to Year 10 students preparing for their one-week work experience.

Held on the CHHS campus, the drive supported more than 58 students as they selected workplace-ready outfits, helping to ease the transition from classroom to corporate. Two dedicated team members from Connect, career consultant Giannie McLaughlin and board member Hannah Jackson, were on site assisting students with confidence and care.

“It wasn’t just fitting clothes, it was an educational experience for them,” said Sharon Thompson, Deputy Principal at CHHS. “That’s part of the learning that we want them to have, so thank you, Connect by Nova, for bridging that gap between the school and the workplace.”

“I watched with delight and excitement as I saw Ms. Giannie and Ms. Hannah interact with the students,” added Villence Buchanan, Principal of CHHS. “They helped each student find their best and most stylish work clothes, making it all so easy. This initiative helps both students and their parents, and we’re thankful to Connect by Nova for making it happen.”

On behalf of Connect, Giannie expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed:

“We’re so pleased to have played a part in supporting these young students at such an important stage in their growth. At Connect, we recognise that not everyone has access to workplace suitable clothing, so not only was this a charitable effort but also an education piece around workplace expectations, which is crucial for this age group. A huge thank-you to everyone who donated clothing and helped make this drive possible.”

This initiative marks another step in Connect ongoing commitment to empowering Cayman’s youth and supporting pathways to meaningful employment and personal development.

Connect is proud to have partnered with Workforce Opportunities & Residency Cayman (WORC) and His Majesty’s Prison Cayman Islands (HMPCI) recently, to host a transformative two-day resume writing workshop. This initiative aimed to equip individuals with the tools and skills needed to re-enter the workforce and take the next step in their career journeys.

The workshop provided hands-on training in crafting professional resumes that highlight the participants’ strengths and experience. This support is a crucial first step in empowering individuals to overcome barriers and achieve their career goals. We are hopeful that this event marks the beginning of a continued partnership with WORC and HMPCI, helping more individuals in the Cayman Islands unlock their potential and secure meaningful employment in the future.

“We are excited to have worked alongside WORC and HMPCI on this initiative,” said Gemma Henry, Chair of Connect. “Empowering individuals to thrive in the workforce is at the core of our mission, and this workshop is just the beginning. We look forward to building on this momentum to support even more individuals in their career development.”

The session was led by Giannie McLaughlin, PHRi, Career Consultant at Connect, and saw participation from key individuals including Derick Johnson of HMPCI and Denise Myers from WORC. Together, they helped participants strengthen their resumes and improve their job readiness, taking a step toward better employment outcomes.

“This workshop was about making a real difference—one resume at a time,” said McLaughlin, reflecting on the positive impact the event had on attendees.

This collaboration highlights Connect’s dedication to bridging the gap between talent and employment opportunities, fostering meaningful connections and professional development to help individuals in the Cayman Islands succeed.

For more information on Connect initiatives or to get involved in future programs, please visit https://connect.nova.ky or contact giannie.mclaughlin@nova.ky.

100 Women in Finance and Connect by Nova have created a strategic partnership to provide bespoke career sessions to GirlForce 100 mentees as part of their entry into the workforce. Covering key topics to assist pre-career students with key life decisions about education and career, curated webinars will be offered to the mentees on resume writing, interview skills and avoiding burnout in an ever evolving talent market. 

“At Connect by Nova, we want to empower students with the knowledge and competitive edge they need to achieve the best possible outcomes” adds Hannah Jackson, Co-Founder at Connect by Nova. 

Co-Chair of GirlForce 100 and CEO of Rampd.Consulting Kelly Sage said “We are delighted to work with Connect by Nova to help strength our offering to the mentees of GirlForce 100. The lessons learnt in these sessions will promote them further on their career path and ensure that they are well equipped to embrace the opportunities that come their way.” 

Offered virtually to participating registrants, each webinar will be focused on a particular career focused topic and be tailored to the needs of the GirlForce 100 mentees. 

100 Women in Finance is a global organisation committed to gender equity in finance by promoting diversity, raising visibility, and empowering women to find their personal path to success. It connects women at every career stage, including pre-career, to a global network of people and resources. The organisation’s mission is to strengthen the global finance industry by empowering women to achieve their professional potential at each career stage. It operates under a guiding principle that it calls Vision 30/40. It is the goal for women to occupy 30% of investment team and executive leadership roles by 2040. 

GirlForce100 is a strategic community partnership between 100WF and the Cayman Islands Ministry of Education, and provides support, educational guidance and opportunity to young women aged 13-25 years old, attending local educational institutions in the Cayman Islands. GirlForce100 pairs local 100WF members with young women who have indicated an interest in any career in the finance industry and have demonstrated notable potential meriting their placement. Through mentorship, the programme supports mentees in the development and progression of their career paths leading them to success. Now in its eighth year, a previous impact study on the programme found that throughout the programme, mentees experienced increased confidence levels, better school attendance and had more understanding of future career opportunities.  

If you or someone you know would be interested in becoming part of GirlForce 100 please email Florence Jones at florence@100women.org to learn more. Follow-us on Instagram @girlforce100cayman.  

A non-profit by Nova Recruitment, Connect by Nova is committed to supporting individuals in the Cayman Islands to achieve career success. To learn more about Connect by Nova, get involved, or become a sponsor, reach out ot the team at connect@nova.ky or visit their website, www.connect.nova.ky 

Grace Christian Academy’s students receive career advice with the launch of their College Prep Club in partnership with Connect by Nova. 

West Bay, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (April 2023) – Connect by Nova, a local provider in career development and work readiness resources, has partnered with Grace Christian Academy to launch a new after-school college prep club for Year 11 students. This new partnership between Connect by Nova and Grace Christian Academy will provide tailored 1-on-1 support for each Year 11 student to help them prepare for university applications and the workforce.  

Grace Christian Academy is the first high school to adopt Connect by Nova’s ‘College Prep Club’ after-school programme, catered to students, ensuring they are ready to enter the world of further education and ultimately enter the workplace.  

The after-school club meets every two weeks, with the students discussing their dream jobs and Connect’s career services team providing bespoke advice on searching for work experience/internships suitable for those roles. In the first group of students, aged 16-18, a diverse list of career interests was identified:    

• Biomedical Engineering  
• Cyber Security 
• Real Estate 
• Human Resources 
• Marketing 
• Pilot 
• Counsellor/Psychologist 

During Connect by Nova’s College Prep Club, students can access various resources, including college application guides, workshops in resume writing, interview skills, and work ethics/etiquette.   

One-on-one support is provided by Connect by Nova’s experienced Career Services team.  The students receive guidance and feedback on their applications, personal statements, and resumes. Opportunities to suit their career aspirations are selected from Connect by Nova’s extensive knowledge of local scholarships, internships and graduate positions available through their sponsors. 

“We are thrilled to have partnered with Grace Christian Academy and launched this new after-school college prep club,” said Hannah Jackson, Co-Founder of Connect by Nova. “We believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, and this club provides them with the resources and support they need to do just that.” 

During the second week of College Prep Club, the students worked on their resumes and, with Connect by Nova’s partners within the private and public sectors, are working to secure three-week internships in the fields discussed by the students and their career counsellors.   

“We are excited to offer our Year 11 students this valuable resource,” said Mrs Elizabeth Connolly, Secondary Teacher at Grace Christian Academy. “We believe that the College Prep Club will help our students succeed in their university applications and future careers. We want to thank Mrs Jackson and Ms McLaughlin for their continuous time and efforts. The support for these sessions was customised based on the needs of each student. It’s been great to witness the students express themselves and become more eager, week by week, to meet with the Connect team!” 

The College Prep Club program runs throughout the 2022/23 Academic year. To learn more about Connect by Nova, become a sponsor or get involved, head to www.connect.nova.ky today. 

The career services team at Connect by Nova is committed to supporting students in the Cayman Islands to achieve career success. The core mission at Connect is to deliver high-quality and professional careers, employment, and training advice to the community in partnership with the Cayman Islands Government and private sector corporate sponsors. 

Enterprise Cayman and Connect by Nova have partnered to deliver a series of webinars designed to help job seekers and summer interns achieve career success. 

George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (2 February 2023) – A brand new series of free webinars are now available for job seekers in the Cayman Islands thanks to two non-profit organisations, Enterprise Cayman and Connect by Nova, who have teamed up to support individuals in the Cayman Islands achieve career success. The webinar series runs in parallel with the Enterprise Cayman summer internship programme and the free series of online workshops have been designed to help jobseekers position themselves for new and innovative careers that are currently being created amongst hundreds of companies now set up within the Cayman Enterprise City special economic zones.

“With so many jobseekers competing for opportunities, the jobs market has never been more competitive and standing out is harder than ever,” said Connect by Nova Co-founder and workshop instructor Hannah Jackson. “That’s why we’re offering accessible career advice and training opportunities through community partnerships with organisations like Enterprise Cayman who support individuals seeking dynamic careers.

2023 Workshops include

• 8 March 2023 – Resume Writing with Connect by Nova online at 12 noon.
• 12 April 2023 – Foundations of Interviewing with Connect by Nova online at 12 noon. 
• 10 May 2023 – Make the most out of your Internship with Connect by Nova online at 12 noon. 
• 14 June 2023 – Financial Literacy with Minu Mark online at 12 noon. 
• 12 July 2023 – Networking 101 with Connect by Nova online at 12 noon. 
• 9 August 2023 – LinkedIn Optimization with Connect by Nova online at 12 noon.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Connect by Nova and be able to expand our offerings at Enterprise Cayman,” said Alyssa Manderson, Enterprise Cayman Programme & Events Coordinator. “Webinar leaders will provide participants with the tools and confidence required to achieve professional career goals and secure significant connections within their chosen industry sectors. We encourage all job seekers and career changers in Cayman to attend.”

The deadline to apply to the Enterprise Cayman summer internship programme is 11 April 2023. Manderson notes, “many internship placements have successfully led to full-time jobs within the Cayman Enterprise City special economic zones. The programme is an excellent opportunity to grow professional networks and gain hands-on experience with global knowledge and technology companies.”

 For information on upcoming training sessions and the Enterprise Cayman internship programme please visit www.enterprisecayman.ky. For enquiries email innovate@enterprisecayman.ky.

Connect by Nova has become an incredible resource for the Cayman Community. A resource for Caymanians who are unemployed, underemployed, and those looking to develop themselves further across our three islands.

The team at Connect by Nova celebrated their first year of operations in March, which was a year of working with Caymanian candidates on their careers, conducting numerous one-to-one career advice & development sessions, all the while helping individuals that were underemployed reach their full potential.  In celebration of these triumphs, the team held their inaugural impact day which was a vital end-of year review and impact event that brought together government officials, executives, and relevant Ministry members, alongside the team at WORC, to learn more about their work during the first year and provide invaluable feedback and ideas, which helped the Connect by Nova team create their goals for 2022.

“After a year full of triumphs, we are excited to announce that Connect by Nova has now been granted their NPO status” Hannah Jackson, Co-Founder and Careers Services Manager proudly stated. “This will allow Connect by Nova to help more individuals in the community reach the career success they deserve.  The NPO status will also emphasise our commitment to grow with the help of the private and public sectors. A special thanks to one of our sponsors, Ogier, whose commitment to Connect by Nova was integral to us reaching the NPO status”.

Chairperson, Karen Kersey commented “I am excited to serve as Chair for Connect by Nova because of all the good work that is being done to serve as the bridge between Caymanians and the public, private and educational sectors.  There is a lot of need out there and a lot of good talent, so to help bring all parts together to find the win-win-win-win, feels really important, for us as Caymanians and for the health of our jurisdiction.”

Connect by Nova’s numbers speak for themselves with 946 individuals having received career guidance from the Connect team and 108 individuals receiving one-to-one career advancement training sessions within our community. Furthermore, Connect by Nova has helped individuals secure and prepare for 173 interviews across 19 industries resulting in 26 individuals securing full-time employment, 16 individuals securing an internship, work experience, or part-time roles, plus 9 individuals securing a place at university / further education.

Hannah Jackson commented that “the team and Advisory Board at Connect by Nova are looking forward to an exciting and eventful year ahead” adding that they had just finalized their new goals for 2022 and are excited to share just a few.

Goal #1 – Formalize an Industry-Expert Mentor Program

Goal #2 – Place 50% more candidates as we did last year with a real target of getting more of the unemployed into employment.

Goal #3 – Integration with Education Institutions to provide Careers Guidance and Work Readiness Resources

“Our small team has achieved outstanding results in the short time between Connect by Nova’s initial inception in September 2020 to the launching of our career services in March 2021 to now in 2022.” Co-Founder & Director of the Advisory Board, Louise Reed stated. “The impact of the pandemic is not over, especially for those trying to enter the workforce for the first time or those that remain displaced by changing industry environments.  I hope our commitment to the local community shines a light on the importance of our mission here at Connect by Nova.”

Click here to view Connect by Nova’s Impact Report as presented at the Inaugural Impact Day in October 2021: https://connectbynova.org/annual-report/

Without the generous support of the community, Connect by Nova would not be able to reach the vast majority of those in need of their services. Supporting Connect by Nova makes it possible for the organisation to continue to provide timely resources, training, and support to individuals, enabling Caymanians and all in the Cayman community to achieve career success.

If you believe in creating a better future for the people that Connect by Nova work with, please reach out to their team by email at connect@nova.ky to see how you can help or how your organisation can become a sponsor.

Together we can help our community to achieve career success.