Island Woman Podcast

Hosted ByDianne N Squires

Can you build a high-impact business without sacrificing your well-being? The Island Woman Podcast is the companion for Caribbean founders and leaders who reject hustle and are ready for authority. I’m Dianne Squires, aka D-Anne, an island woman and founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting. Join me as we explore how to sharpen your voice, target your visibility, and maximise your economic Impact through the lens of a BIG and simple life™.

Anuskha Varsha Sonai: Women, Alliances, Talent, Tech for Caribbean Growth

Island Woman Podcast
Island Woman Podcast
Anuskha Varsha Sonai: Women, Alliances, Talent, Tech for Caribbean Growth
Loading
/

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

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.

  • Creative Tech Hub Caribbean: creativetechhub.online

  • Connect with Anushka: (Search for Anushka Varsha Sonai on LinkedIn)
    🔑 The Blueprint for Caribbean Growth📲 Connect with Anushka & Creative Tech Hub Caribbean

    👇 If this episode inspired you to think bigger about Caribbean development, please Like this video, Subscribe to the Island Woman podcast channel, and Share this blueprint with a friend! Let’s build a stronger Caribbean together.

About the Author
Creative Director and Founder of Indie Creative Network. Tech guy... Podcast Guy... Dad.