Only one word came to mind as I sat down to chat with CEO of Engine Room Brand House, Tishan Wade Lee: EFFERVESCENT, It was refreshing to witness her enthusiasm and energy as she spoke about her journey and the many accomplishments garnered throughout her work life. One can easily see how she succeeded in the various environments that were lucky to have her as a part of their team. How does she do it? Let me give you a small hint… her mother, her mentors and her associations. She speaks passionately about energy and how real it is to her and so she protects her space at all costs, she speaks about her work ethics – the no no’s for her and how all of this has translated into Engine Room having been on the scene for a little over a year yet has made a name for itself and has far exceeded her expectations.
EARLY YEARS
As a child, I don’t think anyone thought I would have become a marketer. I was a talker and seen as the ‘village lawyer’ because of taking on the issues of others and defending their rights. So, my childhood pointed towards the study of Law but as soon as I realised how many years of school was required, I threw it out as an option.
Tishan grew up in Kingston under the nurturing of a single mom whom she describes as the hardest working woman she has ever seen. Little wonder working hard was her way of life from early which makes it hard for her to identify with individuals who slack off on the job. She was also privy to her mother’s creativity of turning what others considered as garbage into a work of art. To cement this point she quickly introduces me to the extraordinary desk that occupies space in her modest yet nicely furnished office.
The desk was simply superb made from an old mahogany door and the frame of an older type sewing machine with glass placed on top. Incidentally all the desks that occupy Engine Room are made in the same fashion.
One of the highlights of her journey is the fact that she and her mom went to Queens College in New York together. Her mom pursued her masters and Tishan her undergraduate studies. Being with her mom at college solidified the fact that it is never too late to accomplish whatever you need to and no matter the turns and curves that life dishes out you can be great if you put in the work. She values her mother’s advice of “say yes to opportunity then figure it out but do not let it pass you by” and she sees it playing out in her life.
Tishan describes herself as being more risk averse than her mom. Even if she sees an opportunity she may not readily jump. This is because as a mother herself she needs to ensure that the decisions she make will benefit her children. As much as she knew she would be good at entrepreneurship and having a 5 year goal to move away from corporate it took her much longer but she does not regret it. She knew what her vision for her children entailed and the exposure she wanted to give them so despite being an entrepreneur at heart she had to make sure the time was right. As she puts it, children did not ask to be here and so as parents we must ensure that we give them whatever will make them flourish as individuals, until they can take care of themselves.
She makes no apology when she describes her career journey as awesome and blessed. At 36 she now runs Engine Room Brand House.
Many opportunities were presented that she strongly attributes to her work ethic and the relationships and bridges that she has built. She notes that you can be good at what you do but if you are difficult to work with then that will go against you. This is something she became aware of very early.
The harmonious relationships that you build are paramount to your success. She shares that strategic alliances formed while working will carry you, when nurtured. People view the word strategic as negative when it is not.
It is really just being smart. You have to be deliberate about aspects of your career in order to move to where you want to. Don’t sit back and wait on a promotion that is not coming – go ask for it. Do what is required to make your efforts more noticeable to get you the promotion. I see it too often, especially with women. We do not ask for what we know we deserve because we feel unworthy or too bold. Meanwhile, men ask for what they want every day.
After college she worked at Neiman Marcus which she describes as good training ground. She interacted with all types of personalities and attitudes and developed the ability to deal with the peculiarities of some members of the upper echelon, which was good for her.
Shortly after, she returned to Jamaica and landed a job at Prime Sports (Jamaica) Limited. Early into the role, she realized it was not a good fit. You cannot be on a job and constantly complain about it – something she speaks out against. She believes you should give your all until you are able to leave; you also never know who is watching.
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