From Miami To Haiti, Christherson Jeanty Invites The Haitian Diaspora To Build And Create Jobs In Haiti

Christherson Jeanty has recently launched some exciting business establishments in Haiti. He is an advocate of servant leadership and believes in helping from the ground-up. What inspires him was a desire to help other people –especially his own. He is an experienced professional with an academic background in Economics and International Affairs, and is currently working in big-data. After several trips to Haiti to visit family and friends, he decided to open HaiPro –and some other ventures.

What inspired you to move to Haiti?

I was 29 going on to 30 and had a midlife crisis. I question myself about what I wanted to do. I had just finished paying my students loans, and I was in a stage where I could step away and experience something different. I was working in big-data for an airline company; then I started making frequent trips to Haiti to visit family and friends and engaging with people.

I have always wanted to create jobs for Haitians. I have experience in staffing from the states. I contacted my business connections and realized there was a need to hire people who were unemployed. The focus was to find qualified candidates and to get them employed.

Tell us about your business.

It has not been an easy road. However, I am moving in the right direction. I have always known I wanted to be in Haiti, though all my family is here. My cousins and aunts are in Haiti, that kind of serve as a cushion for my move.

I started working with larger companies for staffing services. I used my network to connect with qualified candidates. The staffing agencies used to charge the employees, but I have changed that by imposing a fee on the companies instead.

I recently met another Haitian-American who was working as a digital nomad. We started doing some research. I created HaiPro, a digital freelance agency where you can find qualified employees to do some digital work. HaiPro does cost centers and BPO work. Currently, we have three companies that we provide our services to. Our employees have an exceptional English background.

Hence, these past few weeks, I started moving a bit away from the staffing business, as I have realized that hiring practices tend to be unethical in Haiti.

Therefore, I am working on other things. I have recently launched bookhaiti.com where individuals can book tours directly from the site.

How do you manage your professional and business life?

I work about 60 to 70 hours a week. I still work full-time but still needs to provide guidance to my employees. Luckily, I have some great employees who can follow communicated processes.

What can Millennials expect when they want to move to Haiti?

Annou Pale seeJeanty is my YouTube Channel where I specifically explain to Haitian millennials whatever they can do when they think about moving or establishing businesses in Haiti. This YouTube Series covers various topics. For instance, there is a video on Annou Pale playlist where I discuss the process for business registration and some other relevant practices. I also bring some experts to speak on various topics.

What is your most significant success since your arrival in Haiti?

I now have a lifestyle that I’ve always dreamed of. I’ve always wanted to give people jobs and create something in Haiti. Although it is not always about money; thus, I want to leave a legacy behind that would benefit Haitian and to also leave something for my family. Just being here, in Haiti, being comfortable, this is hands-down the most significant success though things are still stressful.

What goals are you assigning for yourself this year?

Be able to endure the political-social crisis in Haiti. Companies still need their work to be done. Once this instability is over, I will put some redundant protocols in place for my businesses. For instance, buying a motorcycle where my driver can go pick up the employees from home to work will ensure that there is no downtime.

I want to keep growing and meet with some investors onboard to grow the business. I have been in business for a while and can show that I have surmounted the challenges. I’m ready to move forward with some financial boost.

I also want to focus on App Development. Now I am spending times on building apps, and then I can hire people to work in that field and build better, well-renowned software development.

Do you have any final words of encouragement for Haitian millennials aspiring to move to Haiti?

I just want folks to know that the future of Haiti is in the hands of the Haitian’s diaspora. It has always been, we were only involved in the opposite ways using outdated practices that don’t seem to work anymore. So, don’t be mad when retail stores and companies are run by foreigners in Haiti.

The question is why don’t you (Haitians) come to Haiti and meet with other Haitian millennials to come up with something? Why aren’t you building businesses? Haiti a jealous mistress, she wants attention. Don’t just create the company, but also stay there to protect and run your business. Engage in Haiti from a perspective of: what is my background and how can I use my knowledge to serve the Haitian community?  Think about the agricultural industry, manufacturing (textile). Purchase grains from the local markets, process it, and make cereals and sell it to the machann.

Just think about how to bring jobs in Haiti and make a profit from it. Create values and build businesses that generate a profit. Definitely follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Coffee or tea?

Coffee in the morning. Evening you’d find me with a cup of chamomile tea (or possibly some rhum cocktail)