The question is still asked and answered from diverse points of view whether or not a woman should hold a position of supreme authority in an establishment where men are subservient to her.
Some ask even in this modern dispensation whether a woman should be a practicing professional, a career person or whether her place is in the home or raising children.
The performance of women in the business environment certainly makes a case for them being out there. In fact, women can now ask and justifiably so, what would the world of business and professionals be without us?
While their focus, level headedness and ability to make sound decisions are certainly qualities suitable for the bringing up of the new generation they are without doubt also key ingredients for the successful functioning of the business and administrative environment.
Mrs. Karlene Williams-Belfon surely embodies the emergence of the gentler sex on the professional landscape and their relentlessly increasing prominence (I say so reluctantly being male) which is feared by some men as a takeover of the world of business.
Mrs. Belfon is the Marketing Supervisor, Geo. F. Huggins G’da. Ltd. Distribution Division and seems to effortlessly negotiate the delicate and fragile balancing act between being an attentive and dedicated wife and mother as well as an effective and successful business executive.
For most of us (men included) Williams-Belfon’s daily routine would prove to be quite a handful but she smiles at it and makes it look like all in a day’s work. Well it is, isn’t it?
Check this out. On a daily basis her job entails meeting with merchandisers & salesmen, ensuring that orders are dispatched in a timely manner, placing orders from foreign suppliers, interacting with customers in the retail trade as well as the hotel and restaurant industry.
Does she find the diversity of duties challenging or the weight of the responsibility daunting?
A true business person, she sees as the greatest challenge satisfying every customer. -Williams-Belfon is quite aware that in a business such as the one she works for the customers are always right, for they’re the reason for the business and sometimes it is a challenge to ensure that they are all happy.
Certainly as the main link between the supplier and the retailer, the energetic lady also has to possess considerable ability in communication and ensuring that what one sends is what the other wants.
As far as the suppliers are concerned she said each one is different and therefore their different needs has to be taken into consideration. Some may want emphasis placed in the supermarkets and grocery shops; others may want that placement and distribution in the hotel and restaurant sector while still others will want focus placed on the small shops that are characteristic of our local community.
In order to effectively meet all these expectations she said one has to plan properly, be aware of the competing products on the market and know what customers would need at different times of the year so that focus can be placed on different products at the times when they tend to be more in demand.
The marketing supervisor was asked how she is able to promote her products as superior to similar products offered by the competition. Her response was one of someone who doesn’t do something and hope for the best but knows how to go about ensuring the best results.
She indicated many times your product and that of the competitor’s are no different in the way they function but what she and the company but what is most important for us that of the brand awareness.
In supporting their brands she said factors that have to be taken into consideration include, how well the supermarket is stocked, what the customer likes about a particular product, how to give back to the customers. They have to determine whether customers just like working with Huggins Distribution based on the quality of service they get, the fact that their orders arrive on time and those are the things that would build the brand name.
The success is therefore not usually achieved by having a better product or lower prices because these thing vary from time to time but in the support service that the company gives to its products and how the customers feel about the product, whether it is good for them, whether it is healthy to use and whether it performs it’s advertised function.
How does Geo. F. Huggins Distribution Division build brand awareness in the local market? By a number of methods Williams-Belfon said, sampling and promotions, happy hours, sponsoring various activities like the St. Mark’s Festival, Men from the Mainland Parang Band. In addition there is advertising through the media.
For the lady herself she likes getting involved in community activities because she gets to interact with the people who use the products and by community she means either the village, the parish or even where the boys hang out on the blocks or at the nightclub.
In these types of activities one gets to talk about the product with the customer, encouraging them to try the product and you get feedback and this is crucial in the sales and distribution of any product.
According to the supervisor, the salesmen and merchandisers are the key contact persons out there interacting with the retailer and the consumer and are therefore significant in getting the company’s message and brand of service out there to the public.
They must augment the occasional sell sheets that are distributed on various products and also the advertising.  
Proudly said, Huggins has been in this business for a very long time and has created loyalty for their products and a reputation for bringing in new products.
Delivery service, dispatching of orders also help in making the company prominent among its competitors. The company also tries to be able to supply goods on time at all times, but there are times when they have no control over the late arrival of certain goods.
As is to be expected the female professional has her goals already set as far as her responsibilities are concerned. She explained, she loves food and wines therefore her goal will be to always ensure that the company has adequate products and that people always know what they are purchasing, what it is good for and what it can do for them. She wants to know that people can always enjoy food and drink responsibly stressing that the company is adamant that alcohol is for adults and when advertising alcoholic drinks makes it clear that children should not drink. No mixed messages are sent.
From first encounter it is clear that Williams-Belfon is an outgoing person who loves to meet and interact with people and this helps her with being successful at her job.
Being successful in her domestic life? She has what she described as an excellent support system with her husband (one point for us men) and her family. Her son who is just under 1 year old is also a free spirited young fellow and can stay with anyone.
So the lady has become skilled at managing both lives even bringing her son to the office with her at times doing her work while he enjoys himself.
Mrs. Williams –Belfon five years at the company now and full of confidence that it is a mutually beneficial arrangement. She has through her performance put to rest questions as to whether a woman should occupy the position that she does.
Williams-Belfon attended the St. Joseph Convent St. George’s from where she went on to TAMCC to pursue hospitality management as well as an associate degree in general studies and graduated as valedictorian.
She admits that it was difficult doing a double major because back then it was set up so that a person only did one area of study.
On completing college Williams-Belfon went on to teach Food and Nutrition at the St. John’s Christian Secondary School and then to the Trinidad and Tobago Hotel and Tourism Institute and studied Culinary Management, (“I love food” with a laugh).
This is the training which has led to her occupying her present position because it allows her to be in the industry and support the industry that she enjoys.
The outgoing Roman Catholic lady loves the family spirit at her workplace. She loves her job and wouldn’t mind being in it for a very long time.
In the little spare time that she has she participates in shopping, reads, plans events and loves to bake.
Favorite food- cheesecake.