In this episode of "Getting to the Top," Martha Miller, CEO of National Rums of Jamaica, shares her inspiring journey as the first female CEO in Jamaica's rum industry. Martha discusses how she broke barriers in a male-dominated field, overcame challenges, and built a career spanning various industries. She highlights her passion for learning, leading with compassion, and her commitment to empowering her team. Discover how Martha’s leadership, rooted in resilience, passion, and curiosity,...

On Episode 81 of Getting to the Top!, Diane Edwards, shares her impressive leadership journey and insights on authenticity in business. Currently leading the Professional Services Unit at the Mona School of Business & Management, Edwards discusses her focus on growing the consultancy into an internationally recognized partner for both businesses and governments. In just one year, she introduced 8 new courses, announced a key partnership with the Digital Marketing Institute, and expanded...

Join us in this inspiring episode as we sit down with Nneka Chiazor, a 20-year veteran of the telecommunications industry, and the Market Vice President for Hampton Roads at Cox Communications. Nneka leads a team of over 1300 individuals, delivering exceptional service to more than 300,000 customers. Starting her career as a robotics programmer, Nneka’s journey has been marked by leadership excellence, a deep commitment to strategic growth, and a passion for inclusion within the workplace....

On Episode 79 of *Getting to the Top!*, Dr. Cleanne Gabriel shares insights from her two books and the importance of supporting small entrepreneurs in the renewable energy sector. Racquel and Dr. Gabriel dive into leadership, communication, and the science challenges within climate action, emphasizing the need for skills beyond just scientific knowledge. Dr. Gabriel also reflects on her non-traditional education and career journey across different countries, highlighting the importance of...

On Episode 78 of "Getting to the Top!", I had the honour to chat with Dr. Najiba Benabess, an esteemed leader in business education and the Dean of the School of Business at Elizabethtown College. With a Ph.D. in Economics and extensive executive experience, Dr. Benabess shares her insights on the evolving role of business education, her groundbreaking book "Irreplaceable Human Intelligence: Surpassing AI Outreach", and her award-winning leadership. From earning the prestigious “Dean of the...

In this powerful episode, I sat down with Anya Ayoung-Chee for an in-depth conversation on a range of personal and professional topics. Anya shares her journey from Miss Universe to Project Runway champion and how she's empowering Caribbean creatives through ventures like Wildflower. The discussion takes a heartfelt turn as we reflect on the profound impact of loss and grief, sharing how these experiences have transformed our perspectives on life, relationships, and self-awareness. Anya’s...

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Amal Yusuf, General Manager of ACS Field Support at Delta Air Lines, as we share personal and professional journeys. In this episode, Amal discusses her incredible path from Somalia to her leadership role at Delta, where she manages initiatives for a 30,000-member team. Discover how she overcame challenges of adaptation, financial adversity, and systemic inequities, using resilience to thrive. Amal also dives into her passion for empowering women...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Rachel Welch-Phillips, a trailblazing attorney and Head of Legal & Compliance of the banking sector at the ANSA McAL Group. With a career spanning international law firms and senior executive roles, Rachel’s journey is one of resilience, adaptation, and empowerment. 🌍 Growing up as a diplomat’s daughter, Rachel faced the challenges of being an expat, overcoming bullying, and navigating the complexities of being the only black person in her...

Join me in an inspiring discussion with Victoria Miles and Isabella da Costa Mendes, co-CEOs of Impact A Global, as they share insights on career achievements, founding their venture, and the power of diversity in leadership. They delve into challenges for women in fund management, the transformative potential of Impact Aid, and invaluable career advice. Discover the benefits of collaboration in leadership and subscribe for more career insights! 🎙️✨...

Welcome to "Getting to the Top!" where we explore the journeys of exceptional leaders and their climb to success. In today's episode, we sit down with Anna-Alisa Goindoo, an accomplished Sales and Marketing professional with over two decades of experience spanning various industries. From her roots in Psychology at the University of the West Indies to her strategic pursuits at Anglia Ruskin University, culminating in an MBA specializing in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Anna-Alisa has...

Join us as we dive deep into the transformative insights of Susan Colantuono, an inveterate traveler and internationally renowned author, consultant, and speaker. Discover the four keys that have revolutionized women’s leadership development, bridging the gender gap at the top. From the Missing 33% in career success to PIE Mentoring, Susan’s wisdom will elevate your business savvy, leadership skills, and career trajectory. Don’t miss this episode featuring a pioneer in leadership...

Discover the inspiring journey of Chalana McFarland, a 2021 Presidential Executive Clemency Recipient, as she shares her incredible story on "Getting to the Top!" Join me in exploring her path from a first-time offender serving 17 years in federal custody to becoming a vocal advocate for criminal justice and prison reform. Chalana, a former law practitioner, honors graduate of Florida A&M University, and author of the upcoming book "Collateral Consequences," offers unique insights. In...

Sacha Thompson is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Customer Experience Company Ltd. (EXCO), a company she started in 2018 based on her passion for and understanding of the importance of customer experience, as a key differentiator and growth driver for businesses. At EXCO, Sacha and the team, work with companies to transform the customer experience, using proven tools and methodologies to drive customer-led growth. In January 2017, she stepped down as CEO of Digicel to assume the Chairmanship...

Karen Sack is a co-founder and Executive Director of the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), a unique multi-sector collaboration between the private sector, governments, and civil society designed to build resilience in regions and communities most vulnerable to ocean risk. This involves pioneering finance and insurance products that incentivize investment in nature-based solutions. Previously, she served as CEO of Ocean Unite, a non-profit co-founded in 2015 by herself, Sir...

Helen Gradstein is the Regional Digital Finance Specialist and representative covering the Eastern Caribbean for the United Nations Capital Development Fund, based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. She is an expert in digital finance and financial inclusion and is passionate about ensuring that financial inclusion policies and programmes protect consumers, empower women, and support financial capability, with experience as a Financial Sector Specialist in the World Bank's Financial...

Karen McDonald Gayle is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) a regional umbrella environmental fund that uses a flexible structure to facilitate innovative solutions and consolidate regional conservation impacts. Karen is a Jamaican national with over 25 years of experience in civil society participation, public sector policy development, and project design, Karen is a regional Conservation Trust Fund (CTF) management expert. She has served on...

Dr. Auliana Poon is the Managing Director and Chief Strategist of Leve-Global – cooperatively elevating Tourism, Trade and Lives. She is a trained Economist, management consultant, and strategist with a focus on sustainable and responsible tourism, climate adaptation, and sustainable economic development. She has a proven ability to liaise responsibly with senior officials of the government and social partners globally, with her extensive experience conducting economic assessments and sector...

Solange Govia has established a remarkable reputation over the last 10 years, bringing quality products to the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival scene, wholesome cultural experiences, and outstanding service shaped by the TRIBE Family. Sculpting her distinctive jewelry design style into creations tailored for the confident diva-masquerader, Solange Govia crafts fantasies that align with current trends and cater to the needs and aspirations of her clients, who drive her insatiable desire to ensure...

Rueanna Haynes is an international climate law and governance specialist, with over a decade of experience in the UN Climate process and a TEDx 2020 speaker. A former Trinidad and Tobago diplomat, Rueanna has negotiated for the Caribbean Community as well as the Alliance of Small Island States, including in the development of sustainable development goals. At present, she is the Senior Legal Adviser at Climate Analytics and the Director of the Climate Analytics Caribbean office in...

Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy is the Regional Manager for the Caribbean at the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF). Dr. Richards-Kennedy has over 25 years of experience in multilateral negotiations, development management, and international finance. Her diverse experience includes forging strategic partnerships, leading multi-disciplinary teams, and marshaling resources for the successful execution of projects in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America, and the...

Cathe Reams serves as a strategist and program manager responsible for designing, managing, and measuring an integrated communications program and supporting campaigns to raise awareness and engagement on Siemens' sustainability agenda and environmental goals. She drives the overall corporate brand and reputation in the U.S. and develops communications strategies to demonstrate the company's leadership in sustainability. Reams also works to highlight the status of Siemens' achievement of...

Antoinette Vermilye is a passionate advocate who explores the intricate connections between the ocean, plastics, gender, and overfishing, with a keen focus on addressing social injustice, human health, and environmental concerns. Her impactful work includes: 1. Collaborating with migrant refugees from Africa to understand how EU subsidies for EU fisheries affect migration patterns from Africa. 2. Co-founding a Twitter campaign aimed at empowering citizens to engage with airlines regarding...

Sue Reynolds (@carminemedia) is a certified Executive Coach with a degree in Organizational Leadership and over twenty years of corporate and non-profit leadership experience. Sue specializes in corporate, nonprofit, and small business digital marketing, as well as coaching and empowering women to succeed in the workplace. She is a speaker and trainer on business, social media marketing, and leadership. She's also the author of the book "Leadership Linguistics" and the creator of the...

Susan Boyea is the Vice President of Group Insurance at Sagicor Life Inc. She oversees the strategic and operational aspects of the company's Group Insurance business, focusing on innovation, business value, and customer experience. With over 25 years of experience in Insurance and Financial Services, Susan modernized the Information Technology division into a world-class Shared Services IT Unit that serves 16 Caribbean territories. Later, she led the strategic relationship between...