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From teaching kids to surf, to running music festivals and working as a freelance brand and marketing consultant, Linzi Hawkin has experienced the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. For the last three years she has been teaching start ups, entrepreneurs and non-profits how to build their brands.
Her latest project, SUPKids, is an educational program for children, teaching sustainability, water safety and stand up paddleboarding.
Here are the five things she would change about Jersey...
‘To do good, you actually have to do something’ - Yvon Chouinard, Founder Patagonia.
Pictured: If you are not happy with something, take a leap of faith and try and change it.
It’s far too easy to sit back and complain about the things you’re not happy about. I've lived overseas and I travel a lot with my work, and so often come home and hear people complaining about Jersey life. I think sometimes it takes a different perspective to recognise that actually we’re pretty damn lucky here, and if you care deeply about something, then you have the power to make a difference. Whether that’s supporting the new skatepark, or cleaning up our beaches - if you want to see change, then do something about it!
We’re surrounded by ocean. For many of us, spending time in the sea is part of our daily life. But regardless of whether you’re a surfer, a swimmer, a paddler or just someone who loves to spend time at the beach, we’re all connected to the water.
Pictured: "As islanders, the ocean is part of our identity," says Linzi.
Ocean literacy is an understanding of the ocean’s influence on you and your influence on the ocean. For me, that means learning to respect it from an early age - in regards to water safety and also from an environmental perspective. It’s something I believe should be integrated into educational curriculum. As islanders, the ocean is part of our identity.
Take a moment to recognise just how insanely lucky we are to live here. Sure, we have our problems to deal with, but the majority of us are incredibly privileged.
Pictured: Linzi's advice to islanders include hiking and breathing in the clean air.
Don’t take it for granted. Head to the beach after work and watch the sunset. Go eat incredible local food made with love. Hike the north coast and breathe in the clean air. Jersey is a pretty epic place to live.
It still amazes me that we’re so fixated on careers within the finance industry. We’re not telling enough young people the stories of all the incredible creatives here, or the entrepreneurs who are running amazing businesses, or the jobs that don’t rely on you sitting behind a desk from nine to five. It breaks my heart to see students coming back to Jersey with a super interesting degree or phenomenal work/travel experience and thinking that their only option is to go work in a bank.
Pictured: Creativity and non-traditional careers should be encouraged according to Linzi who says she grew up feeling like she did't fit in the "right box."
I grew up feeling like I didn’t fit into the right box. I didn’t want to be a banker/doctor/lawyer/teacher and so no one really knew what to do with me. I was lucky enough to have parents who recognised that I probably wasn’t going to choose a traditional career and who supported me on that journey, but I think there’s a lot more we can do to show kids that there are so many pathways into work that feels purposeful, impactful & fun!
The momentum on Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Coastlines campaign is really exciting. We have an opportunity in Jersey to become a leader in this space, to become a ‘best practice’ example of what happens when a community comes together to create change. The ocean plays a vital role in sustaining life and we need to ensure that everyone understands the impact that plastics are having.
Video: An area representative of Surfers Against Sewage, Linzi believes that islanders can become the best 'case-study' to show other communities how to cut-down on plastic.
This isn’t simply about cleaning beaches, it’s about connecting the dots and changing our behaviour. This links back to my point on taking action - Don’t become one of those people who just blames big corporations or politicians for the problem. Choose to be part of the solution.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not those of the Bailiwick Express.
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