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From postnatal incontinence to midlife health challenges, Caribbean women are often navigating wellness issues in silence. In this episode of the Island Woman Podcast, I sit down with Barbadian entrepreneur Mialisa Garnes, founder of The Wellness Growth Agency and host of the Wellness & Growth Journeys podcast. Mialisa shares how her own experience as a new mother over 35 inspired her to carve out a niche in health and wellness marketing, building trust, community, and visibility for women-centered clinics, coaches, and practitioners.

📌 Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
02:38 – 3 essentials for a Caribbean woman entrepreneur’s survival kit
04:36 – Why choosing a niche in a small market works
07:09 – Mialisa’s personal reasons for choosing the health and wellness niche
12:09 – How marketing bridges the knowledge gap in the health and wellness sector
15:47 – Essential marketing for new health and wellness businesses on a budget
23:11 – Why starting the Wellness Growth Podcast was important
28:33 – An alarming issue in women’s health and wellness in the Caribbean

We talk about:
🌺 Why marketing women’s health in the Caribbean requires sensitivity and education
🌺 How Caribbean women can stop “settling” and put our health first
🌺 What small wellness businesses should prioritize when starting digital marketing
🌺 The importance of showing up, telling your story, and bridging the gap between care providers and women seeking support

If you’re an entrepreneur, wellness professional, or simply a Caribbean woman curious about how we can take better care of ourselves, this conversation will spark ideas and inspiration.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to the Island Woman Podcast for more stories at the crossroads of Caribbean culture, women’s voices, and holistic living.

#IslandWomanPodcast #CaribbeanWomen #WomensHealth #CaribbeanEntrepreneurs #HolisticWellness

In this inspiring episode of Afronomics, we sit down with Ambassador Waleed Shamsid-Deen — Special Envoy for Sierra Leone, CEO of Supreme Foods, author, and advocate for Africa–diaspora unity. From raising $1.5M during COVID to founding the Supreme Family Foundation, Ambassador Waleed brings a wealth of experience and vision for Africa’s future.

Topics include:

✅Why travel changes how we see peace and service
✅Tracing African ancestry & the power of identity
✅Global capital, Saudi investments, and Africa’s wealth transfer
✅How African Americans can tap into resources to bridge the gap
✅Leveraging nonprofits, supply chains & billion-dollar funds for change
✅Advice for first-time travelers to Africa

This conversation is about unity, ownership, and the strategies needed to build Africa’s future. Don’t miss it.

––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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From solopreneur to enterprise — how do we as Caribbean women entrepreneurs make the leap from side hustle to sustainable business?
In this episode of the Island Woman Podcast, I’m joined by Shauna Marshall, MSME development strategist and founder of SMB Consulting. We talk about what it really takes to scale our businesses with intention, structure, and vision.
📌 Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
00:52 – Percentage of women employers in the Caribbean
01:28 – Who Shauna Marshall is and what she does for MSMEs
02:50 – What’s in a Caribbean woman entrepreneur’s survival kit?
04:37 – How sustainable is the microenterprise or the side hustle for Caribbean women?
08:04 – How to overcome trading time for money in your business
10:27 – Moving from survival mode to growth mode
13:33 – Top things to do to move from solopreneur to enterprise

We also talk about the cultural challenges Caribbean women face around sales, visibility, and leadership — and how embracing these areas can transform a “small business” into a lasting legacy.

If you’re a Caribbean woman entrepreneur looking to grow beyond survival mode into holistic wealth and intentional living, this conversation is for you.
✨ Connect with Shauna Marshall & SMB Consulting:
Website: www.smbconsulting.com
LinkedIn: @Shauna Marshall

🎧 About the Island Woman Podcast
Ready to live a BIG and simple life? The Island Woman Podcast is where I share reflections from my own journey and amplify the voices and expertise of Caribbean people, especially women in leadership, entrepreneurship, and creative life. Each episode dives into the realities of growth, resilience, and visibility — from the perspective of women shaping our futures with clarity and courage.

👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more conversations that matter to Caribbean women everywhere.
#CaribbeanWomenEntrepreneurs #WomenInLeadership #MSME #IslandWomanPodcast #Visibility

Welcome back Sober Soldiers! The studio was buzzing with energy for this one, because we know it’s been a long time since we parlayed. We wasted no time and dove deep into the sneakers, and then. Then, we shifted gears to the music scene, sharing of our faves from the past few weeks. Enjoy yeah?

What if building your business was more like training for the Olympics? 🏃🏽‍♀️
In this episode, I explore how Caribbean entrepreneurs can learn from elite athletes — their systems, discipline, and mindset — to build businesses that last.

What can Caribbean entrepreneurs learn from the discipline, mindset, and systems of world-class athletes? In this episode of the Island Woman Podcast, I explore how champions like Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Julien Alfred train, recover, and maintain excellence — and how those lessons translate into building sustainable, successful businesses in the Caribbean. 🏃🏽‍♀️
We cover:
– The system of success behind elite athletes and how it applies to entrepreneurship
– Reframing setbacks as part of the long arc of growth
– Building a culture of discipline, resilience, and excellence in your business
– Caribbean-specific insights on mentorship, support systems, and enterprise-building

If you’re a Caribbean entrepreneur, freelancer, or anyone navigating the challenge of building your own enterprise, this episode offers practical inspiration and actionable ideas to help you run your business like a champion.

#Caribbeanentrepreneur #caribbeanbusiness #Caribbeantrackandfield #islandwomanpodcast #trackandbusiness #intentionalliving

Kwannette & Kwardel Lewis share how their family turned family land in Sierra Leone into Lewisville Hotel, a thriving hospitality business.

✅ Tips for managing contractors and maintaining quality abroad
✅ The importance of investing in your home country in Africa
✅ How they financed their project without outside investors
✅ Overcoming the short-term mindset in Sierra Leone
✅ The power of generational wealth and land ownership

YouTube Chapters:
0:00 Intro & Guest Background
4:23 Wahala – Speak Your Language Challenge
9:42 Africa Diaspora Roots
12:55 Growing Up Between Atlanta & Sierra Leone
20:00 Building Lewisville Boutique in Freetown
24:52 Managing Property & Maintaining Standards
36:12 Financing & Costs of African Hospitality
50:32 Tips for First-Time Travel to Africa

––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

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

What does it take to make your vision real? In this episode of the Island Woman Podcast, I share how my own vision took shape, why imagination is powerful, and what really matters when it comes to turning a dream into reality.
You’ll hear about the daily video diary practice that gave me clarity, how reflection shaped my Rooted & Ready programme, and why compounded action — the small steps done consistently — is the most important key to living the life you imagine.
✨ Inside this episode:
00:57 – How I think about vision
02:05 – The daily practice that shaped my personal vision
03:36 – Getting Rooted & Ready
04:14 – Making the vision real
05:04 – The power of compounded action

—————
If you’re a woman in leadership ready to embody your voice, presence, and power without overwhelm, explore the Rooted & Ready 3-month 1:1 programme. Email me at diannensquires@diannensquires.com for details.

🌴 The Island Woman Podcast is about cultural clarity, holistic wealth, and intentional living — rooted in the Caribbean, with a voice for the world.
👇🏽 Share your thoughts: Is having a vision important to you? How do you keep moving toward it?

Island Woman Podcast | Episode 6, Season 2
🎧 Make Your Vision Real
#CaribbeanWomen #HolisticWealth #LeadershipJourney #IslandWomanPodcast #IntentionalLiving

Not everyone will choose you — whether it’s for a project, a friendship, or a role in their life. But that doesn’t mean you’re not worthy of being chosen. In this episode, I share why choosing yourself matters, what it really looks like, and 3 small but powerful ways I’m practising it right now.

From the crowded buses of my teen years in Barbados to the lessons I’ve learned about podcasting, boundaries, and vision-setting, I explore how following your inner compass creates the space to breathe, grow, and excel.
If you’re ready to stop waiting for validation and start walking your unique path, this episode is for you.

✨ In this episode:
– Why “choosing yourself” isn’t selfish, it’s sustainable
– How a clear vision helps guide your decisions
– 3 daily practices to honour your own time and energy

A story of how not choosing myself once stalled my growth — and what I’m doing differently now

🌺 The Island Woman Podcast celebrates Caribbean women, Caribbean stories, and the pursuit of holistic wealth, rest and renewal, and intentional living.
📌 Share this episode with a friend who needs the reminder: choosing yourself is the first step toward freedom.

#chooseyourself #islandwomanpodcast #Caribbeanwomen #boundariesmatter #holisticwealth

Nanette joins The Sobering fresh off announcing her upcoming album Painfully Happy — dropping August 29th with the love-struck R&B focus track “Suddenly.” We dive into the story behind her nostalgic new single Abazali, a soulful Soweto-funk-inspired love letter to her parents, South Africa, and the sounds that raised her. She opens up about the highs, lows, and contradictions that inspired Painfully Happy, and how she’s navigating the space between joy and heartache while making music that connects across generations.

Caribbean realities are complex, from high youth unemployment to the rise of informal work, gender inequality, and climate threats. But alongside the challenges, there’s a deep well of hope, ingenuity, and resourcefulness we can tap into.

In this episode of the Island Woman Podcast, I explore how we as Caribbean people can manage distractions, stay focused, and hold onto what’s real. Drawing on insights from the Caribbean Development Bank’s Labour Market Differentials in the Caribbean study, we’ll look at three truths that can keep us grounded:

1️⃣ The power of sharing and community: from backyard produce to collective entrepreneurship.
2️⃣ Turning off the noise: and protecting your mental space in a hyper-connected world.
3️⃣ Caribbean ingenuity: the traditional practices and mindset shifts that can fuel sustainable living and a stronger future.
If you care about Caribbean resilience, sustainable living, and economic empowerment, this conversation will inspire you to see possibilities beyond the “doom and gloom.”

🎧 Listen now and share your thoughts in the comments: How do you cut through distraction and focus on what matters most?

📌 Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Caribbean reality vs distraction
01:31 – Key findings from the CDB Labour Market Study
03:10 – Reality #1: Sharing and generosity in Caribbean culture
04:50 – Reality #2: Turning off the noise
05:39 – Reality #3: Caribbean ingenuity and sustainability
07:10 – Closing thoughts and invitation to share

Caribbean Development Bank’s Labour Market Differentials in the Caribbean study – https://www.caribank.org/publications-and-resources/resource-library/publications/labour-market-differentials-caribbean-gender-age-indigeneity

🔗 Related episodes:

Health & Wellness Series with Carla Ramsay https://www.youtube.com/playlist?
list=PLl48MDCkiuOUGopfVUBzwNtoeEfIqhiga

Courageous or Crazy? Why I Chose a Big and Simple Life https://youtu.be/_ihKxkbYeSU

#islandwomanpodcast #caribbeanresilience #sustainableliving #sustainablelivingCaribbean #economicempowerment #focusandclarity