Learning Before Leading: How I Built What Didn’t Exist

By Natifa Alexander Romero, Founder of Caribé Fashion Specialist (CFS)

(small.news) — Over the past several years, I’ve had the privilege of working within the modelling and creative industry of Trinidad and Tobago—an industry rich with culture, passion, and raw talent.

My introduction, however, was far from glamorous. Like many who start locally, I entered with excitement but little understanding of the industry’s structure or expectations.

My early experiences involved small shoots, promotional work, and navigating castings where confidence mattered just as much as appearance. Very quickly, I realized something was missing: there was little standardisation, limited professional training, and intense competition for the few reputable agencies that existed.

Becoming Part of the Solution

I often remember my father saying, “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.” From my mom’s living room, with just TTD $1,500, I began my journey. Some people took me seriously. Many didn’t. But what mattered most was that I knew where I wanted to go. I started with the vision and worked backwards.

I wanted to build an agency that would change Caribbean modelling—one that offered proper training and professional management.

The real question was: How?

Learning Before Leading

In the beginning, learning meant teaching myself. I studied online training videos to understand international standards while bringing in local professional models to help train others. I watched closely, learned from them, and honed my own skills along the way.

I also enrolled in a business management diploma at the University of the West Indies and completed short courses in cosmetology, interior design, and image consultancy. But I knew textbooks could only take me so far. I needed knowledge you don’t get in a classroom.

Seeking Knowledge Beyond the Classroom

I interviewed two people who profoundly shaped my thinking. The first was the most successful businessman I knew at the time—the owner of a notable financial company. The second was someone whose career closely aligned with my vision: the owner of Coco Velvet International and then Head of the Fashion Institute at the University of Trinidad and Tobago.

I conducted surveys with the general public and industry stakeholders to understand why models traditionally failed in their careers and what the public truly knew—or misunderstood—about the industry. From this research, I developed programs, services, and events designed to close those gaps.

Growth Through Experimentation

As my business grew, I continued learning, adjusting, and pivoting when necessary. I moved from gathering information to applying it. Each success built confidence. Each failure taught me what not to do, what to start earlier, and what to leave out next time.

I treated the process like an experiment. No one had approached the industry this way before, and being the first meant making the mistakes for everyone else—a reality that came with fear and self-doubt.

Challenging Fear and Redefining Success

There were many moments when I wanted to give up. I told myself I didn’t have the social standing, experience, or business knowledge to make it work. I questioned whether it would ever make financial sense.

But every time a trainee achieved their goal through my training and support, I learned to challenge those thoughts. I reminded myself not to measure my journey against other people’s standards. I was building something from nothing—no startup capital, learning as I went.

Building Forward, Not Backward

This part of my journey is what brought me this far. It taught me how to learn from my industry and from myself. It has been a journey of discovery, growth, and continuous learning.

The challenges taught me discipline. The opportunities allowed me to evolve. And as I continue to grow, my commitment remains the same: to keep learning, keep contributing, and help set a higher standard for those coming after me.

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