Island Woman Podcast

MSME Development Specialist Shauna Marshall wants Caribbean small business owners to take their businesses seriously. She shared this on the Island Woman podcast with Dianne N Squires, noting the massive contribution these businesses make to Caribbean economies. Her “Business & Bites” event, initiated in Barbados four years ago to celebrate MSME Day, has now grown into a full-fledged MSME ecos...

This week’s episode of the Island Woman Podcast with Dianne N Squires features Dr. Shindale Seale, Founder and CEO of SEADE Coaching and Consulting, as she unpacks her CEEDS™ framework (Cultural Equity and Economic Development Strategy).  There’s a real cost to the good, bad and in-between behaviours organisations accept, and Dr. Seale calculates that cost in dollars and cents. She breaks down how...

Twelve years running a successful marketing agency from Barbados taught Christina Hunte a lot not only about marketing but about the mindset, money moves and systems needed to stay successful. It’s no wonder other entrepreneurs kept asking her for tips. Today, she has turned that demand into a full-fledged business coaching business - Dream Builders Institute. It’s not the first pivot she’s made o...

The skin is a dynamic ecosystem and what we see as breakouts or other issues are signals from elsewhere in the body and mind, says Simply Ashyara, a skincare formulator and Founder of House of Ash. She discusses her formulation process, blending science, art and culture and examples of the multi-purpose, multi-sensory, pro-planet products created by House of Ash with Dianne N Squires on the Island...

Not only are Caribbean islands picturesque locations for international films, they are ripe for development of a thriving International Film and TV industry based in the Caribbean. Kerri Birch, Co-founder of 13 Degrees North Productions, shares why she’s living her dream in an industry with yet few players in the Caribbean with Dianne N Squires on this episode of the Island Woman Podcast. She also...

Caribbean women pursuing their professional goals on the global stage carry both the distinction and the burden of representation, coming from cultures where excellence is the standard.  While striving to be exceptional is vital, protecting your peace and mental health is paramount for sustainable success. Jackie Chambers de Freitas, a 20-year tech executive and current Salesforce VP of AI Deliver...

You may be the “expert” in the room, but if you practice poor communication habits, you may never be listened to or taken seriously. Island Woman and Founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting, Dianne Squires, shares 3 communication habits experts can practice daily to elevate their voice and build authority in this week’s episode of the Island Woman podcast. ------- After 16 years in marketing commun...

True authority means knowing when to stop doing the work long enough to fix the leadership infrastructure behind it. Island Woman and Founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting, Dianne Squires shares a transparent look behind her recent "fallow season"—a necessary period of stopping, and recalibrating when the old ways of operating simply stopped working. ---------- I’m back with a new seaso...

Podcasting is an excellent way for Caribbean women to find, shape, and use their voices on the global stage. But podcast burnout can come quickly without planning for expected or unexpected realities. Dianne Squires of the Island Woman Podcast and Mialisa Garnes of the Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast, with over 70 episodes between them, talk about podcast burnout, how it happens, how to avo...

As many Caribbean women cross milestones of 35, 40, and 50, we start to wonder if we've outgrown the career roles we once worked hard to attain. We assess how we can continue to maximise our economic impact while protecting our wellbeing. With regional pensions under threat and the risk of noncommunicable diseases rising as we age, we have to get honest about our work, aging and our Caribbean...

Learn why intentional growth doesn't have to be chaotic as I share lessons for Caribbean entrepreneurs on building business efficiency through the power of discomfort. In this unscripted episode of the Island Woman Podcast, I’m looking back at 2025 to unpack a hard truth: big ambition does not require a complicated life. It requires the courage to do simple, often uncomfortable things. From mo...

From my late Father's timeless advice on stopping self-doubt to the vulnerability of asking for help, I share how I’m building my 'keep going' muscle. Whether you call it perseverance , consistency, or 'stick-to-it-ive-ness,' it is a must-have for Caribbean women in leadership . And I’m sharing my candid tips in this unscripted episode of the Island Woman podcast.  00:00 – The...

My conversations with Caribbean women founders leaders and experts have been fuel for my BIG and simple life, where big ambition and wellness converge. In this episode, I recap some of those conversations that relate to leadership, pay equity and economic power for Caribbean women.  Key moments:  00:00 Embracing a Big and Simple Life 01:28 Women’s Economic Impact in the Caribbean 02:29 The Power o...

As women, we hear a lot about "breaking the glass ceiling" – that constant pushing up against external boundaries to leadership. But what about when we, for whatever reasons, refuse to explore the edge of those boundaries? How do we elevate ourselves to top leadership and finally move beyond the "sticky floor" of junior and middle management? In this episode, I chat with the po...

Is it possible to be fiercely ambitious without sacrificing your soul? In this episode, I sit down with Kimalene Regis, founder of Kimalene Regis & Co (KRC), a marketing and project management powerhouse based in Grenada. We explore the reality of Caribbean women and leadership, moving beyond the highlight reels to discuss the "heavy" seasons of entrepreneurship and why "wanting...

I was honoured to spend this episode chatting with Antiguan Megan Samuel-Fields, who is a woman on a mission to improve financial wellness for Caribbean people. As a certified public accountant (CPA), Attorney-at-Law, PhD candidate, life coach and the CEO of Samuel-Fields Consulting, her plate is full, and her passion for making every second and every cent count is unmistakable.   This episode con...

This week on the Island Woman Podcast, I’m thrilled to bring you a powerful conversation with the wonderful Karin Wilson Edmonds , the founder of Bloom , a thriving online wellness membership specifically for women over 40. Karin, who joins us from Jamaica, perfectly embodies our season's mandate: exploring how Caribbean women can maximise their contribution to regional economic development wh...

I’m thrilled to share this conversation with a woman who is the absolute embodiment of purpose-driven leadership: Anushka Varsha Sonai . Anuskha joins us from Suriname, where she is driving digital transformation across the region as the President of Creative Tech Hub Caribbean and the American Chamber of Commerce, Suriname . I have been impressed and inspired by her since we first met, and her ac...

Caribbean woman entrepreneur Karen Philip, Founder of Kainos Caribbean Consulting and a respected social development specialist, is my guest on this week’s episode. Karen shares her journey and the mission behind Kainos, which is to help non-governmental organisations "Do Good Better" through better systems, better measurement of impact and better grant writing - otherwise known as strat...

On this week’s episode, I chat with my best friend of 30 years, Kim C. Butcher , founder of Okoye by Kim and a powerhouse Caribbean entrepreneur, cultural strategist, and festival producer. We talk about how Kim blends sustainable fashion, cultural storytelling, and entrepreneurship to create impact for Caribbean women. We explore: The story behind VEX Money and the Catch Mi Hand Grant – products...

This season on the Island Woman podcast, I’m talking to Caribbean women founders, industry experts and thought leaders about how we can make maximum economic impact and protect our health and wellbeing.  Joining me in the season premiere is Tanja Gittens, chartered accountant, global nomad, budget guru and author of the book “Living Loud on a Budget: Authentic Financial Living”.  Tanja has officia...

We’ve reached the end of Season 2 of the Island Woman Podcast , and what a season it’s been. From the cultural power of breadfruit and the structure behind successful side hustles, to the surprising ways Caribbean women are shaping wellness and wealth, this season has been a celebration of our stories, our brilliance, and our potential . In this final episode, I share 5 of my favourite moments fro...

Are you a Caribbean woman expert, founder, or creative ready to be more visible without the overwhelm? This episode is your roadmap to strategic visibility that builds credibility, authority, and high-value opportunities. We explore what really counts when it comes to visibility: focusing on 2–3 core pillars that define what you want to be known for. Learn how thought leadership can amplify your a...

Is it possible to be penalised for being successful? And does it happen more often to women? In this episode, I explore the “success penalty”, when achievements that should open doors end up creating backlash, especially for Caribbean women leaders. We discuss research on intentional invisibility, real-life experiences of female leaders, and how to navigate these challenges without shrinking yours...

What does it take to market women’s health and wellness in the Caribbean? My guest, Mialisa Garnes, has built a niche agency that bridges the gap between women looking for care and the professionals providing it. From her own journey into motherhood, she saw how little awareness there was around issues like midlife health and postnatal care, and she decided to do something about it. In this episod...