Author

This episode takes you through my personal experience covering the GUBA Awards Barbados 2025. I walk you through the Trade and Investment Conference, the GUBA Award Show, and the moments that stood out to me throughout the weekend. I also reflect on what it means to reach one year and fifty episodes of Behind the Mic, and how the growth, the lessons, and the gratitude from this season continue to shape the show.

Featured Quote:

“I have to actually acknowledge that I’m living through history right now, presently right in front of me.” – Wize Grazette

Chapters:

01:27 GUBA Awards Recap
05:05 Snippet of Lady Dentaa’s Opening Remarks at the Trade and Investment Conference
06:51 Wize Shares Thanks
08:22 Introducing REVOLT Art Fair: The Limited Podcast Series

Credits:
Hosted by Wize Grazette
Edited by Storytime Studios

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 accomplishments speak for themselves—from winning the prestigious Anthony Sabga Caribbean Excellence Award to receiving a nomination for the Women in Tech Global Leadership Award.

In this episode, we uncover an essential blueprint for true Caribbean economic development, a plan that must be led by Women, Alliances, Talent, and Technology.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Anushka Varsha Sonai
02:54 The Caribbean Survival Kit for Women Entrepreneurs
07:23 The Role of Women in Shaping the Caribbean’s Future
12:38 The Importance of Competence and Ambition
20:41 Anushka’s Journey Beyond Leadership
24:45 Balancing Ambition and Well-being
30:18 Creative Tech Hub: A New Business Model

🔑 The Blueprint for Caribbean Growth
Anushka reveals her unique vision for how women can maximise their contribution to regional economic development while still maintaining a purpose-driven vision for their own wellbeing.

Women as Drivers: Anushka strongly asserts that women are not beneficiaries of development; they are the drivers of economic expansion. She shares compelling data that links the development of women to 30% less poverty in the region.

Talent Retention & Brain Drain: We discuss her core mission to create “better futures” at home to halt the flow of people leaving the Caribbean, ensuring our talent is retained to build sustainable businesses.

Alliances over Division: She shares a unique call to action for Caribbean leaders, emphasising the need to move from “playing the victim card” to “speaking from strength” by actively building powerful alliances and an inclusive private sector ecosystem.

From Consumptive to Productive: Learn how Creative Tech Hub is leveraging technology and workforce development to strategically pivot the region from a consumer-based economy to a productive, digital-first industry.
If you’re interested in genuine Caribbean leadership, women in tech, or the strategy behind regional development, this episode is your roadmap.

📲 Connect with Anushka & Creative Tech Hub Caribbean
Creative Tech Hub Caribbean: creativetechhub.online
Connect with Anushka: (Search for Anushka Varsha Sonai on LinkedIn)

If this episode inspired you to think bigger about Caribbean development, please:

👉🏾Like this video, Subscribe to the Island Woman podcast channel
👉🏾Share this blueprint with a friend! Let’s build a stronger Caribbean together.

#CaribbeanGrowth #WomenInLeadership #DigitalTransformation #TalentRetention #EconomicExpansion #IslandWomanPodcast #CaribbeanWomen

Sober Soldiers, for this Sunlight Raise The Bar edition, we tapped in with K.Keed; one of the rawest, most fearless young voices shaping the new wave of SA hip hop.

We got into her journey, her sound, the courage it takes to stand out, and the hunger that’s been pushing her forward from day one. She spoke on growth and what it means to build your own lane while still showing love to the culture.

It’s a conversation packed with honesty, ambition, and real “raise the bar” energy. Tap in and witness the rise.

https://www.sunlight.co.za/raise-the-bar.html