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 Delivery and Transformation, breaks down the cost and benefit of corporate leadership with Dianne Squires, founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting (DNSC), on this episode of the Island Woman podcast.

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Jackie Chambers de Freitas is deliberate about using her voice and visibility as a tech leader to encourage other women to aspire to higher levels of achievement in the space. And she does so while acknowledging that the cost of leadership can be high and attention to mental health must be intentional. I soaked up her wisdom and straightforward approach in our conversation on this week’s episode. She was transparent about being mindful of her own mental health, having seen it affect members of her family. We also explored how she’s applied her agile methodology philosophy to her personal life and how women over 45 can embrace inevitable shifts in their careers and the power of AI. 

Timestamps

00:00 – Shaping corporate identity: Your internal Compass over External Expectations

00:08 – Introducing Jackie Chambers de Freitas 

00:52 – Island Woman Podcast Intro 

02:08 – 3 Survival Tips for Women Navigating the Global Corporate C-Suite 

03:16 – Caribbean Heritage: Jackie’s Roots 

04:54 – The Importance of Visibility as a “Unicorn” leader 

07:59 – Prioritising Mental Health for Caribbean Women Striving for Excellence 

08:49 – Setting Boundaries, Protecting Your Peace: Balancing the Importance and the Cost of Visibility 

10:23 – Agile Philosophy and AI Transformation: Iterative Change at Speed 

14:22 – Applying Agile Philosophy to Personal Life Goals 

17:03 – Experiencing Joy as a Woman in STEM  (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) 

20:08 – The “Boon and Burden” of being a Unicorn 

22:19 – The Strength of a Caribbean Value System for Playing Big as a Unicorn

24:20 – Jackie rates herself on the Ambition/Wellbeing Scale 

28:58 – Navigating Inevitable Career Shifts in the World of AI: Leaning into Personal Brand Development for Women Over 45 

31:27 – Embracing AI Skills, Broadening Career Horizons for Women Over 45 

Get In Touch

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Connect with Dianne

LinkedIn: @Dianne N Squires 

linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132

Email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com

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Connect with Jackie Chambers de Freitas

LinkedIn: @Jackie Chambers de Freitas

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-defreitas/

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Dianne N. Squires is a Strategic Communications leader, Founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting (DNSC), and host of the Island Woman Podcast. Through DNSC, her work centres on elevating voice, visibility and impact for Caribbean changemakers.