Take Your Caribbean Small Business Seriously | Shauna Marshall, Founder, SMB Consulting Services

Why Caribbean Women Founders & Leaders Don’t Speak Up And How to Change it | Dianne N Squires, DNSC

In this episode, Dianne Squires addresses the challenges faced by Caribbean women leaders in speaking up for themselves and their businesses. She shares five key reasons why many women hesitate to voice their opinions and expertise and offers practical advice on overcoming these barriers. The conversation emphasises the importance of self-leadership, practice, and navigating professional ethics while maintaining visibility and authority in the workplace. --------- In last week’s episode, I asked the question to Caribbean Women founders and leaders, “Why don’t we speak up for ourselves, our businesses and the impact we want to see?”  This week, I’m offering 5 answers to that question based on my personal experience as a Caribbean Founder and my interaction and work with other Caribbean women founders and leaders in business.  Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: A message to Caribbean women founders and leaders 00:34 Share Your Perspectives on Workplace Visibility and Voice   01:44 Don’t wait for permission to speak  03:43 Acknowledge that you’re ready and your insights count  05:09 Overcoming the fear of being wrong  07:07 Practice speaking up to yourself  09:45 Honouring confidentiality while sharing lessons  12:28 Outro  -------------- 🟥Share your real-life experiences of workplace visibility and voice. How has speaking up shaped your career? 👉🏾 Take the Workplace Visibility and Voice Survey: https://forms.gle/tPZGjNniFxnGWMET9 [https://forms.gle/tPZGjNniFxnGWMET9] ------------ 🟥Get 30 days of guided practice to help you sharpen your voice with your most critical audience - yourself. Join the waitlist for Executive Voice Lab™ - new cohort starting in September 2026. Once you register, we'll email you programme details and next steps.  👉🏾Sign up for the Executive Voice Lab™ Waitlist Signup - https://forms.gle/RgeHfxzvSpdpvgpW8 [https://forms.gle/RgeHfxzvSpdpvgpW8] *Please note: Being on the waitlist does not guarantee a spot and no payments are required until your place is confirmed.  ------ Connect with Island Woman  Follow the podcast, get direct access to upcoming masterclass updates, and secure private invitations for the Rooted and Ready 90-day program or the Island Woman Authority Suite by following our WhatsApp channel. 📲 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7lcdnEFeXrxlKuY31L [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7lcdnEFeXrxlKuY31L]  or email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com --------------- Connect with Dianne N Squires LinkedIn: @Dianne N Squires  linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132] Email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com [diannensquires@diannensquires.com] ------------------- Dianne N. Squires is a Strategic Communications leader, Founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting (DNSC), and host of the Island Woman Podcast. Her work centres on elevating voice, visibility and impact for Caribbean changemakers.

The Power of Voice and Visibility for Caribbean Women Entrepreneurs | Dianne N Squires, DNSC

Dianne N Squires, Founder of communications practice DNSC takes a look at her own journey, sharing insights on the importance of voice and visibility for Caribbean woman entrepreneurs - essentially, speaking up about our businesses. This episode explores personal growth, vulnerability and the significance of scaling a business while maintaining wellbeing.  ------------------ This episode, I put myself in the hot seat to answer the questions I’ve been asking Caribbean woman leaders and entrepreneurs this season. What is my core work? What motivates that work? How do I rate myself on the ambition/wellbeing scale? It was all inspired by the last episode with Shauna Marshall of SMB Consulting, who encouraged Caribbean entrepreneurs to take ourselves seriously. I asked myself, what would I do if I were taking my communications business (DNSC) seriously, and how would I use the podcast to do that? I’d do what I do for other businesses: speak up about my business! Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and episode milestone 01:00 Celebrating 45 episodes and the journey so far 03:21 The importance of taking small businesses seriously 04:17 My personal journey from independent consultant to scaling up 06:13 The big ambition: Living the big and simple life 08:09 My simple ritual: Gratitude and connection with nature 10:17 My core work: Elevating Caribbean voices globally 12:55 Women, voice, and impact in business 16:55 The rise of women-owned businesses in Barbados 18:24 The power of vulnerability and sharing personal stories 21:50 Ambition and well-being scale: Where do I stand? 23:09 Balancing ambition with well-being 25:35 How to connect with me and learn more Take the Workplace Visibility and Voice Survey What are your real experiences in the workplace? Complete the “Workplace Visibility and Voice” survey for Caribbean women or women of Caribbean descent here: https://forms.gle/Knmw4LpQwsuBQ6WHA Connect with Island Woman  Follow the podcast, get direct access to upcoming masterclass updates, and secure private invitations for the Rooted and Ready 90-day program or the Island Woman Authority Suite by following our WhatsApp channel. 📲 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7lcdnEFeXrxlKuY31L [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7lcdnEFeXrxlKuY31L]  or email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com --------------- Connect with Dianne N Squires LinkedIn: @Dianne N Squires  linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132] Email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com [diannensquires@diannensquires.com] ------------------- Dianne N. Squires is a Strategic Communications leader, Founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting (DNSC), and host of the Island Woman Podcast. Her work centres on elevating voice, visibility and impact for Caribbean changemakers. -------------------- The Island Woman podcast has been recognised by Feedspot as one of the Top 30 Island Podcasts on the web. Feedspot is an RSS Reader [https://www.feedspot.com/rss-reader] that lets you follow your favorite podcasts alongside blogs and news in one place. Check out the list here: https://podcast.feedspot.com/island_podcasts/?feed_id=8701532&_src=f2_featured_email#h8701532

Take Your Caribbean Small Business Seriously | Shauna Marshall, Founder, SMB Consulting Services

MSME Development Specialist Shauna Marshall wants Caribbean small business owners to take their businesses seriously. She shared this on the Island Woman podcast with Dianne N Squires, noting the massive contribution these businesses make to Caribbean economies. Her “Business & Bites” event, initiated in Barbados four years ago to celebrate MSME Day, has now grown into a full-fledged MSME ecosystem, which she plans to take region-wide.  -------------------------- Shauna Marshall of SMB Consulting Services has become our first repeat guest on the podcast. Her no-nonsense business advice on a season 2 episode, “From Solopreneur to Enterprise [https://youtu.be/GZGz9GtmDFg?si=oiJjoFMuW0t99gqP]”, made it one of the most watched and listened to episodes of that season. This time around, we had the chance to talk about how an event she conceptualised four years ago to celebrate MSME Day has not only a major sponsored event for the community but has transformed into an ecosystem where MSME players can connect, learn and get support. It now has the backing of major financial services company Payce Digital, which will open credit opportunities and payment systems learning to MSMEs in the Business and Bites network. Shauna has huge ambitions for her business and the Business and Bites platform, and of course we talked about how that matches up to her state of wellbeing - she’s working on that last part.  Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Shauna Marshall 03:41 Ambition and Daily Rituals 06:39 The Importance of Visibility 09:40 Creating Change Through Voice 13:07 Structural Challenges for MSMEs 18:13 Building Business and Bytes Ecosystem 23:03 Ambition and Well-Being: A Balancing Act 25:52 The Importance of Systems for Growth 29:01 MSMEs: The Backbone of Economic Growth 32:11 Taking Yourself Seriously as a Business Owner 36:00 The Power of Voice and Visibility Connect with Island Woman  Follow the podcast, get direct access to upcoming masterclass updates, and secure private invitations for the Rooted and Ready 90-day program or the Island Woman Authority Suite by following our WhatsApp channel. 📲 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7lcdnEFeXrxlKuY31L [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7lcdnEFeXrxlKuY31L]  or email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com --------------- Connect with Dianne N Squires LinkedIn: @Dianne N Squires  linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132] Email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com [diannensquires@diannensquires.com] ------------------- Connect with Shauna Marshall and SMB Consulting Services  Websites:  https://smbconsultingservices.com/ [https://smbconsultingservices.com/] https://businessandbites.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-marshall/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-marshall/] Instagram: @consultingsmb - https://www.instagram.com/consultingsmb/ Facebook.com [http://facebook.com]:  ---------------------- Dianne N. Squires is a Strategic Communications leader, Founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting (DNSC), and host of the Island Woman Podcast. Her work centres on elevating voice, visibility and impact for Caribbean changemakers. -------------------- The Island Woman podcast has been recognised by Feedspot as one of the Top 30 Island Podcasts on the web. Feedspot is an RSS Reader [https://www.feedspot.com/rss-reader] that lets you follow your favorite podcasts alongside blogs and news in one place. Check out the list here: https://podcast.feedspot.com/island_podcasts/?feed_id=8701532&_src=f2_featured_email#h8701532 #IslandWomanPodcast #Caribbeanpodcast #MSMEdevelopment #strategy #businessecosystem #Caribbeanwomanfounder #ambitionandwellbeing ‐------------

The Cost of Bad Caribbean Workplace Culture | Math, Strategy, Wellbeing | Dr. Shindale Seale

This week’s episode of the Island Woman Podcast with Dianne N Squires features Dr. Shindale Seale, Founder and CEO of SEADE Coaching and Consulting, as she unpacks her CEEDS™ framework (Cultural Equity and Economic Development Strategy).  There’s a real cost to the good, bad and in-between behaviours organisations accept, and Dr. Seale calculates that cost in dollars and cents. She breaks down how CEEDS™ helps organisations correct workplace culture in line with strategy.  But what about the cost and benefit of her big Island Woman ambition as a founder of Caribbean descent? Dr. Seale reveals the deep wellbeing work she still has to do.  --------------------- Organisations generally acknowledge that strong workplace culture lays the foundation for solid performance. But what impresses me about Dr. Shindale Seale’s work is that she actually helps organisations quantify in dollars and cents what misaligned culture costs them through her  CEEDS™ framework. She says it boils down to maths and some organisational psychology and behaviour principles but for businesses in the Caribbean, it could mean better  workplace culture and savings.  We discussed her drive, ambition and where she is on the ambition/wellbeing scale, a metric we like to use to track where guests are on the BIG and simple Life™ spectrum. After all, Caribbean women founders and leaders have to stay well to realise our big ambitions and help our communities and countries prosper.  Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Shindale Seale and Seeds Framework 06:47 Understanding Organizational Strategy and Cultural Engagement 09:59 Resistance to Change and Launching in Barbados 13:54 Overcoming Internal Resistance as a Leader 18:28 The Successful Launch of Seeds in Barbados 21:19 Quantifying Cultural Misalignment for Caribbean Businesses 22:04 Creating a 90-Day Roadmap for Business Success 23:37 Understanding the Productivity Tax in Caribbean Businesses 24:28 Tailoring Strategies for Solopreneurs and Small Businesses 26:29 The Importance of Reputation Capital 27:16 Assessing Ambition and Well-Being in Business 29:13 Balancing Ambition with Personal Well-Being 31:52 The Role of Women in Business and Community 33:47 Self-Care and Managing Anxiety in Entrepreneurship 36:34 Upcoming Events and Opportunities for Growth Connect with Island Woman  Follow the podcast, get direct access to upcoming masterclass updates, and secure private invitations for the Rooted and Ready 90-day program or the Island Woman Authority Suite by following our WhatsApp channel. 📲 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7lcdnEFeXrxlKuY31L [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7lcdnEFeXrxlKuY31L]  or email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com --------------- Connect with Dianne N Squires LinkedIn: @Dianne N Squires  linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132] Email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com [diannensquires@diannensquires.com] ------------------- Connect with Dr. Shindale Seale and Seade Coaching and Consulting  Website: https://seadecc.com/ [https://seadecc.com/] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drshindale [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drshindale/] ---------------------- Dianne N. Squires is a Strategic Communications leader, Founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting (DNSC), and host of the Island Woman Podcast. Her work centres on elevating voice, visibility and impact for Caribbean changemakers. -------------------- The Island Woman podcast has been recognised by Feedspot as one of the Top 30 Island Podcasts on the web. Check out the list here: https://podcast.feedspot.com/island_podcasts/?feed_id=8701532&_src=f2_featured_email#h8701532

Caribbean Agency Owner Turned Business Coach | Christina Hunte, Dream Builders Institute

Twelve years running a successful marketing agency from Barbados taught Christina Hunte a lot not only about marketing but about the mindset, money moves and systems needed to stay successful. It’s no wonder other entrepreneurs kept asking her for tips. Today, she has turned that demand into a full-fledged business coaching business - Dream Builders Institute. It’s not the first pivot she’s made over the years, and even as someone with more introverted than extroverted tendencies, she’s stayed visible throughout. Why? She tells Island Woman podcast host Dianne N Squires it’s because her mission to help is greater than her fear of being seen.  ---------------------------- I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Christina Hunte, Founder of the Dream Builders Institute, on this week’s episode. She founded the boutique marketing agency Kreativ Edge and made it a success, being featured as one of Barbados’ top 30 entrepreneurs under 30 along the way. Throughout her 12 years running Kreativ Edge, her business savvy, genuine social media presence and obvious attention to clients’ success attracted other entrepreneurs to her, asking for guidance. Business coaching became a “side thing” until it didn’t.  We talk about:  * Her big ambition and simple grounding practices  * Being visible and transparent while navigating career evolution  * What prompted the transition from Kreativ Edge to Dream Builders Institute * How Dream Builders Institute Helps Entrepreneurs  * Where she sits now on the Island Woman Ambition/Wellbeing scale  Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Christina Hunte 03:18 Christina's Entrepreneurial Journey 05:57 Transitioning to Business Coaching 08:14 The Role of Psychology in Business 11:18 Navigating Visibility as an Introvert 15:01 Building Trust with an Evolving Audience 17:23 The Dream Builders Institute 20:03 Program Structure and Evolution 21:44 Embracing Change and New Identities 23:44 Ambition vs. Well-being 26:52 Final Thoughts and Contact Information 28:41 Who is a fit for Dream Builders Institute 31:43 Podcast outro  Get in Touch To get direct access to upcoming masterclass updates, and secure private invitations for the Rooted and Ready 90-day program or the Island Woman Authority Suite, follow our WhatsApp channel. 📲 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7lcdnEFeXrxlKuY31L --------------- Connect with Dianne LinkedIn: @Dianne N Squires  linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132] Email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com [diannensquires@diannensquires.com] ------------------- Connect with Christina Hunte  Instagram: @IamChristinaHunte - https://www.instagram.com/iamchristinahunte/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinahunte/ Website:https://christinahunte.com/ ---------------------- 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. ---------------------