Author

Stepping didn’t appear out of nowhere — its roots trace back to African rhythm, percussive dance, and communal storytelling traditions carried through the African diaspora.

In this episode, we sit down with C. Brian Williams, founder of Step Afrika!, to explore how he helped connect African cultural traditions with African American fraternity and sorority stepping to create a performance company now seen around the world.

After spending time in Southern Africa, Williams began researching how African movement, rhythm, and storytelling traditions connect to stepping culture in the United States. That research became Step Afrika!, now one of the world’s premier dance companies and Washington DC’s official Cultural Ambassador.

Today, Step Afrika! tours globally, performs across Africa and beyond, and teaches young people how dance preserves history, identity, and community.

This episode explores culture, entrepreneurship, African heritage, and how reconnecting with our roots can build something powerful for future generations.

––Music Credits–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

RIDDIM | Afrobeat Library | Music For Content Creators
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm9_E41jmVA
Creative Commons — Attribution – CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Affiliated YouTube channel | https://www.youtube.com/c/KaseemBada

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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 of Everyday Leadership: Why you should never underestimate your role, regardless of your official job title. – Kim Butcher, Cultural Strategist & Founder of Okoye by Kim
04:24 A Vision for Total Development: Reframing women’s empowerment as a mission for an entire productive population – Anuskha Varsha Sonai, President Creative Tech Hub Caribbean
07:54 Valuing Invisible Labour: The urgent case for better compensation packages for women in the development sector – Karen Philip, Founder, Kainos Caribbean Consulting
11:33 Breaking the “Sticky Floor” and getting to the top – Racquel Moses, CEO, Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator and Global Ambassador for Race to Zero and Race to Resilience
15:10 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action
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Related Episodes:
🦋 VEX Money to Caribbean Legacy: Kim C. Butcher, Okoye by Kim Founder | Island Woman Podcast
https://youtu.be/0jcXTP16GeA

🦋 Doing Good Better: How Women Lead Caribbean Social Impact with Karen Philip | Island Woman Podcast
https://youtu.be/9P0GMHNP0A4

🦋 Anuskha Varsha Sonai: Women, Alliances, Talent, Tech for Caribbean Growth | Island Woman Podcast
​​https://youtu.be/PbPt1cW9a4o

🦋 Why Not You? Racquel Moses on Getting off the Sticky Floor in Leadership | Island Woman Podcast
https://youtu.be/HXfY66A0UeQ
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#IslandWomanpodcast #Caribbeanwomenleaders #economicpower #womeneconomicempowerment

Kimalene Regis: Be Unapologetic About Wanting More in Business🌿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 powerhouse that is Racquel Moses. As a global ambassador for the UN-backed Race to Zero and Race to Resilience campaigns and CEO of the Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator, Racquel is a visionary redefining economic empowerment in the Caribbean. But beyond the global accolades, we dive deep into the grit and heart it takes to lead. From the “survival kit” every woman needs to the tough but necessary decisions that prioritise family over a paycheck, this conversation is a masterclass in Caribbean women and leadership.

We explore how to grow your ambition, build a village that sustains you, and why “ridiculous” ideas are often the ones most worth pursuing. If you are ready to stop shrinking and start scaling, this episode is your invitation to grow bigger.

In this episode, we explore:
🌿The CEO Survival Kit: Why practical habits and hydration are the foundations of Caribbean resilience and lifestyle.
🌿Breaking the “Sticky Floor”: Moving beyond the glass ceiling to address the internal and systemic traps that hold women back.
🌿Leading for the Future: How sustainable living in the Caribbean isn’t just an ideal—it’s a multi-billion dollar investment opportunity.
🌿The Power of the Village: Navigating the intersection of high-level career demands and the deep roots of Caribbean culture and community.

Episode Timestamps
00:00 – Meet Racquel Moses: Global Ambassador and Climate Catalyst.
02:11 – The CEO Survival Kit: 3 essentials for the Caribbean woman leader.
05:30 – Getting to the Top: Why gender equity makes business sense
08:32 – The Sticky Floor vs. The Glass Ceiling: How to reclaim your ambition.
12:15 – Hard Decisions: Prioritising family, education, and the “village.”
18:53 – Funding the Future: Connecting philanthropy to Caribbean innovation for climate adaptation.
24:09 – The Scale of Wellbeing: Rhythms, sleep hygiene, and the 12/10 ambition.
29:31 – “Why Not You?” – Final advice for the aspiring Caribbean leader.

Keep Listening to Island Woman
If you enjoyed this deep dive into leadership and resilience, check out these episodes:
Kimalene Regis: Be Unapologetic About Wanting More in Business – https://youtu.be/1anzsFD–S8?si=L7bh1pxYnahwBtJt –
Build Wealth: Financial Literacy Strategy | Megan Samuel-Fields – https://youtu.be/bY5WBmgYeKU?si=ifAZCn-jKvlA4CQY – Caribbean Women

Connect with Us
Follow Racquel Moses:
Instagram & TikTok: @RacMoses
Web: Caribbeanaccelerator.org

Connect with Dianne
LinkedIn: Dianne N Squires
website: diannensquires.com

Join the Island Woman Community:
Subscribe for more stories of grounded, global Caribbean women.

Is it possible to be fiercely ambitious without sacrificing your soul? In this episode, I chat 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 more” is a radical act of self-care.

Kimalene shares her journey from a high-impact corporate role to building a remote-first agency that serves the regional financial sector – all while navigating the complexities of motherhood and personal fulfilment. From her “Rose-Colored Glasses” planner to her survival kit for the Caribbean entrepreneur, this conversation is a masterclass in Caribbean resilience and lifestyle.

Join us as we discuss how to build a business that honours your well-being, the power of economic empowerment in the Caribbean, and why you should never shrink to make others comfortable.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Kimalene Regis and Her Journey
06:35 Creating a Survival Kit for Caribbean Women Entrepreneurs
12:20 Catalyst for Entrepreneurship: Kimalene’s Journey
17:44 The Importance of In-Person Events for Women
23:22 Balancing Ambition and Well-Being
29:04 Final Advice for Women Entrepreneurs
33:31 Podcast outro.mp4

🔗Connect with Kimalene:
Website: kimaleneregisconsulting.com
LinkedIn: Kimalene Regis

🔗Connect with Dianne:
Website: diannensquires.com
LinkedIn: Dianne Squires N Squires

#IslandWomanpodcast #Caribbeanwomeninbusiness #Grenada #womeneconomicempowerment #Caribbeanwomenleaders