This interview features Chanele Coates, an HR professional working for the government of Jamaica. She discusses the current state of HR in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region, which she describes as being 10-15 years behind North America and Europe in terms of digitization and modernization.

Key points from the conversation include:

• HR systems in Jamaica are still largely administrative and paper-based, with limited adoption of HR management information systems.
• Cost is a major barrier to implementing modern HR technology, as most systems are priced in US dollars, making them expensive for local businesses.
• There's significant resistance to AI among older HR professionals who see it as a threat rather than a tool, particularly among Boomers and older Gen X managers.
• The workplace culture in Jamaica still carries some colonial legacies, with hierarchical management styles that younger generations are increasingly rejecting.
• Brain drain is a significant issue, with talented young Jamaicans leaving for better opportunities abroad due to low salaries, poor management, and limited career advancement.
• The government is working to address these challenges through infrastructure improvements, free vocational training, and efforts to attract foreign investment.
• Chanele's personal mission is to modernize HR in Jamaica, help it become more strategic, and demonstrate its potential to develop human capital rather than just serve administrative functions.