Ashley Bean /’02 The entrepreneur By Helen Jardine WHEN SALTUS GRADUATE AshleyBean,25, completedherlastuniversitydegree,sheplannedto movebacktoBermudatopursueacareerinmusic. Buttheentrepreneursaidshecouldn’tletagolden opportunitygobywhenit“landedinherlap”early lastyear. “MymotherrantheoldBeesKneesstoreandat thetime,wesawhowdismalthetouristindustry waslookingonFrontStreet,”Beanexplains.“So wedecidedtomakeachange. I’vealwayshadaninterestinnutritionand takingcareofmybody,andovertimeI’vedonea lotofresearch.MyfamilyandIthoughtitwouldbe amazingtobeabletoprovideaservicethatwould keepBermudianshealthy.” AndsothevegetariancaféJuice’n’Beanswas born.Thepopulareatery,whichopeneddoorson August1,2009,sellshealthysmoothies,baked goods,coffeesandhotvegetarianlunches. Theyhiredacheftomakecookedmeals,and decidedtocarryfresh-bakedgoodsmadebythe BarefootBakerandBouquetGarni.“We’retrying tostayonthehealthyside,”saysBean.“The smoothieshavenoaddedsugarandthemilk smoothiesaremadewithsoymilkasthedefault, althoughyoucanaskforskimmilk.Wedon’tuse anyfrozenfruit—itisallfresh—andwedon’tuse high-fructosecornsyrup.” Customerscanadd‘boosters’tocombateverythingfromhangoversandheartdiseasetothe commoncold. BeanrunsthecaféwithhermotherAnjulaBean andstep-fatherBaljitSaini. “OnethingIdon’tworryaboutinmyjobis back-uphelp,”Beanexplains.“Moneyisimportant, ofcourse,butwemaketakingcareofourfamily unitthemainpriority.” BeansaysshelearnedtheimportanceofteamworkfromhertimeatSaltus. “AtSaltus,Iwasheavilyintothearts,”shesaid. “Iwasinvolvedinmanymusic,dramaandsports programmes.Iplayedthefluteandsanginthe Schoolbandandchoir,playedbasketball,football S A LT U S M A G A Z I N E andmanyotherteamsports.Alotofmysocialskills camefrominteractionsIhadintheafter-school programmes.Saltustaughtmehowtobeapartofa team—andateamisexactlywhatIamworkingin nowwiththefamilybusiness.” BeangraduatedfromSaltusin2002,whenshe wenttostudysociologyandmusicatYorkuniversity, Toronto,graduatingwithtwoseparateBachelor’s degrees.“IfIdidn’tgothroughtheSGYprogramme atSaltus,goingtouniversityprobablywouldhave beenahugejumpforme,asittaughtmealotabout time-management.” Beansaidseveralteachersmadea“hugeimpact” onherduringhertimeatSaltus,includingHeadof SGYJonBeard,economicsteacherHermanSmith, andmusicteachersLisaMauleandRuthHenderson. “IfIwasn’tdoingthis,Iwouldbeasinginggirl onthestage,”Beansaid.“Myplansweretocome backtoBermudaandimmersemyselfinthemusic culturehere—whichSaltushadpreparedmeso wellfor.ButIcan’tdobothrightnow.Iamvery dedicatedtothecaféandamthekindofperson who,ifIcommittosomething,Idon’tdropoutor doithalf-heartedly.” Ashley Bean with mother and colleague Anjula ‘Saltus taught me how to be part of a team’ 43 CHARLES ANDERSON