Melissa Powell: Winner of the 2024 Great Companies International Women Entrepreneur Award

Name: Melissa Powell

Business Name: Pocmi, Inc.

Location: Kingston, Jamaica (Company is registered in USA)

Establishment (Year): 2016

Category: Employment Activities

Profession/ Specialty: HR and Immigration Technology

Website: https://www.pocmi.com/

Social Media: Linkedin

Company Detail:

In the rapidly evolving world of work, labor migration will be a central pivot. Imagine businesses worldwide hemorrhaging trillions of dollars, not because of flawed products, but simply because they can't access the right talent when they need it. Moreover, they're paying a premium to scout, shift, and assimilate these talents. Enter Pocmi, shorthand for Piece Of Cake Migration.

Pocmi is not just another hiring platform; it is shaping the category of effortless global labor migration. The unique SaaS marketplace amalgamates selection, relocation, and integration. The outcome? A whopping 60% cost-saving for companies on international hiring, ensuring they secure the right talent to drive revenue.

With retention in mind from the start, Pocmi seamlessly links businesses with the vast diaspora of talent: from the hundreds of millions of aspirational global movers and the 33% of expatriates seeking to return home, to top-tier professionals in need of repositioning. The current cohort of candidates represents over 40 countries. In a world where local hiring, remote teams, and up skilling strategies fall short, Pocmi steps in as the holistic labor migration technology solution for businesses, employees, and even regulatory bodies.

Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage:

Considering retention from the start, Pocmi connects in-demand skills to migrating people globally - cutting out local-only noise or funnels into single countries saving 60% time and costs. Additionally, Melissa Powell has become a trusted individual in the migration space, so those who know about her use not only the platform but also contact her for additional consultation services.

Challenges Faced During the Journey:

Over the past two decades, Melissa Powell has faced a myriad of challenges that have tested her resilience and determination. Her journey included moving to foreign countries twice, each time adapting to new cultures and environments - once being in a recession in a foreign country in an industry that had collapsed where her work permit depended on it to boom. Returning home brought its own set of difficulties, especially as she ventured into starting multiple businesses. Some of these endeavors failed, and she encountered typical startup challenges, including losing almost $100,000 to developers who didn't deliver on their promises, dealing with mentors and others who ran off with her ideas, or partners who tried to take advantage of her ability to work in any capacity.

Alongside these professional setbacks, Melissa Powell experienced personal struggles such as heartbreaks and mental health issues, all amidst the backdrop of a global pandemic and the inevitable process of aging. Despite these numerous obstacles, her clear sense of purpose has been her guiding light. It's hard not to continue when driven by a compelling vision. She allows herself recovery time but always has in mind to assess and move forward. This purpose has propelled her forward, constantly reminding her of the importance of persevering, no matter the setbacks.

Advice for Women Entrepreneurs:

Melissa Powell's advice to young women who want to be entrepreneurs or already are is to always keep focus on their why. If that why changes, they have to reassess their path and quickly correct. It will be difficult but put things in place that will help them to quickly shift their mental space when taken advantage of or treated unfairly. Pick battles wisely, always with the end goal in mind, as not all battles are meant to be fought by them. And lastly, their womanhood is a superpower that people will try to dim, never do that.