Businessuite Top 50 Business Women 2016

Businessuite Special Edition Businessuite Special Edition2

50 Most Powerful Women

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EDITORIALWOMEN IN BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT – Advancing Gender Balance In the Workplace

RANKING METHODOLOGY

SPECIAL FEATURETHE FIRST WOMEN’S CLUB - Powerful, Influential And Breaking Down Male Barriers

TOP 40 MOST POWERFUL WOMEN

SPECIAL FEATUREFINANCE AND INVESTINGFemale Entrepreneurs Carving Out Their Own Niche In Business

COVER STORY: TOP 10 MOST POWERFUL WOMEN

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Content DirectorKayla [email protected] Businessuite News Centre BNC

Publisher and Editor in ChiefAldo [email protected]

Subscription and [email protected]

Advertising [email protected]

Graphic Design and Layout Bonito [email protected]

Photo credits Sourced from the internet and contributed

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ISBN NumberISSN 0799-4427



WOMEN IN BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENTAdvancing Gender Balance In the Workplace

Promoting gender equality in the workplace is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do. A growing body of evidence shows that utilizing the skills and talents of both men and women is beneficial for enterprise bottom line results and for society in general.

The Gender Equality Model notes the following outcomes when attention is placed on workplace gender balance:

• Improved labour environment within the firm, • Better communication between management,• An increased number of women in managerial

positions increased productivity• Reduction in salary gaps and • Reduction in maternity-related discrimination.

Worldwide, female participation in the labor force participation is lower than that of men. Moreover, women often work in the informal economy and are more likely to be unpaid for their work or face significant wage gaps. The report, “Women, Work and the Economy,” published by the International Monetary Fund, highlights how this gender inequality in the work force hurts economic growth. The report reveals that closing gender gaps in the labor market would raise GDP in the United States by 5 percent, in the United Arab Emirates by 12 percent, and in Egypt by 34 percent.To advance the concept of gender balance in your workplace, consider changing the approach to daily business activities. For example:

1. Building an inclusive culture in your workplace. This can be done by developing core values that your organization adheres to and displaying them in the office prominently. Work to foster effective teaming at monthly meetings, host guest speakers on the topic of gender equality or share stats on gender-based violence to encourage dialogue.

2. Encourage staff to take the HeforShe Commitment. HeForShe is a solidarity movement for gender equality that brings together one half of humanity in support of the other half of humanity, for the benefit of all. (Learn more: heforshe.org)

3. Create diverse work groups with gender balanced leadership. This serves to nurture more productive working relationships, courageous conversations about projects and supports the upskilling of everyone in the organization. Provide equal access to opportunity and career advancement.

Further, “Investing in Women’s Employment,” published by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), confirms that better employment opportunities for women can also contribute to increased profitability and productivity in the private sector. BM

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“The economic benefits of gender equality are particularly high in rapidly aging societies, where boosting women’s labor force participation could help offset the impact of a shrinking

workforce.”

The queen represents the most powerful piece in the game of chess. She is able to move any number of squares vertically, horizontally or diagonally. If a simple, ancient game such as chess can so immediately and intimately understand the power and importance of a woman…..why then do we struggle to do so in the workplace?



The 50 Most Powerful and Influential Women in Jamaican Business for 2016

BUSINESSUITE Magazine’s annual ranking of Jamaica’s leading businesswomen provides a unique opportunity to secure an insight into the professional lives and activity of some of the most interesting and inspiring women in Jamaica’s private sector today.

How we pick the Power 50

What qualities can adequately describe a woman of power and influence on a national level? She is often described as ambitious, driven, determined, creative, a confident leader and a risk-taker. She allows her passions to order her steps, her gifts and her talents to become her own personal calling card.

Powerful and influential women are thriving in their business lives across Jamaica and so the move by the BUSINESSUITE editorial team to select, based on the format created by FORTUNE magazine editors, the 50 most powerful and influential women was truly a daunting task.

As stated, the selection process for the BUSINESSUITE list of the ’50 Most Powerful and Influential Women’ is based on a general format created and used by the editorial team of FORTUNE Magazine.

This includes:

1. The general size (Revenue, Profitability and Human Resource) and importance of the woman’s company in the Jamaican economy;

2. The health and direction of the company;

3. The arc of the woman’s career and;

4. Societal and cultural influence of the business as informed by key industry insiders and published information

It must however be noted that since BUSINESSUITE Magazine is not privy to the financial statements of some of the companies mentioned, this was not heavily factored into our final listing and placements. Readers are therefore invited to debate and discuss the names and placement of individuals.

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THE FIRST WOMEN’S CLUBPowerful, Influential and Breaking Down Male Barriers

It wasn’t until I read for the second and third time the first draft of the nominees and profiles for 2016, finally submitted by the Businessuite Editorial team that it jumped out at me; the surprising number of women on the list who were the first female in their respective positions for the first time in the organisations history.

The most significant demonstration however of a Jamaican woman breaking the proverbial marble ceiling and breaking into a male dominated area of activity is that of the Honourable Portia Simpson-Miller, who became the first female Prime Minister of Jamaica from 2006-2007. She was ranked number 81 on Forbes List of Powerful Women during that period. She was again elected Prime Minister in December of 2011.

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Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller at her first inauguration, March 30, 2006, with (left) outgoing prime minister P.J. Patterson, Kingston, Jamaica.

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Another member of the club is the late Avis Henriques who graced the earth for 91 years, and served as the first female President of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica. To date, Avis Henriques is the only female who has served as the President of the Jamaican Chamber of Commerce, and also served for a time as the President of the Associated Chambers of Commerce.

I also recalled a recent press article heralding Jamaica’s achievement as the country with the highest percentage of female managers in the world based on a published report: Women in business and management: gaining momentum / International Labour Office.

“The report underlines the fact that women’s presence in the labour market is increasingly significant for economic growth and development at both national and enterprise levels. It seeks to demonstrate the benefits that enterprises stand to gain in recognizing and supporting women’s talent.”

“As women surpass men in educational attainment in most regions, they represent an incredible talent pool and national resource. Women are running more businesses, and consumer-spending decisions are increasingly in their hands. These realities often seem to be overlooked, even though there is an intensive search for global talent and skills as economies are based increasingly on knowledge and technology.”

Niall McCarthy a contributor to Forbes magazine in an article entitled These Countries Have The Most Women In Management Positions indicated that “Jamaica is the country where you’re most likely to have a female boss. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), just under 60 percent of the Caribbean island nation’s management force is female, the highest level anywhere in the world.

Businessuite had already picked up on this trend some years ago when it published an article highlighting the growing number of females in senior marketing positions largely outnumbering the men.

The Business Case For Women In Leadership Is Compelling.

Merida L. Johns, PhD, RHIA, founder of The Monarch Center for Women’s Leadership Development in Woodstock, IL, published a report indicating that an

increasing number of studies around the world are concluding that inclusion of women in the top ranks of company leadership has a direct and positive impact on a company’s bottom line and risk management. One of the first studies to examine the effect of women’s leadership on the bottom line was the qualitative work by Morrison, White, and Van Velsor.

Her report went to show that the first empirical study that showed a strong correlation between a company’s solid record of promoting women into the executive suite and high profitability was conducted by Adler.

This study examined the practices of 215 Fortune 500 firms over a 19-year period from 1980 to 1998, analyzing longitudinal and historical performance data. Four evaluations of profitability were studied, including profits as a percent of revenues, assets, stockholders’ equity, and a firm’s competitiveness vis-à-vis its industry median counterpart. The results showed a clear correlation. Fortune 500 firms with a high number of women executives outperformed their industry median firms on all measures of profitability. The study also revealed that firms with the very best scores for promoting women were consistently more profitable than those companies whose scores were rated as good.

We expect that the membership of The First Women’s Club is going to grow in a very aggressive way over the coming months as more and more male dominated boards of directors embrace the wind of change. It’s not something to be feared but embraced as more and more Powerful, Influential women are Breaking down Male Barriers and proving that they deserve at seat at the table.

Who else should be included in the club? Send your submissions and comments to [email protected] BM

“As women surpass men in educational attainmentin most regions, they represent an incredible talent pool

and national resource.”



The Most Powerful and Influential Womenin Jamaican Business for 2016

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11. Valerie Facey, Founder and director of The Mill Press12. Michele Rollins, Chairman, Rose Hall Development 13. Marjory Kennedy, Director Jamaica Freight & Shipping Co. Ltd and Vice President The Jamaica Exporters’

Association.14. Marlene Street-Forrest, General Manager, Jamaica Stock Exchange Limited (JSE)15. M. Audrey Stewart – Hinchcliffe C.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Manpower & Maintenance Services Limited16. Donna Duncan-Scott, Group Executive Director of Culture & Leadership Development, Jamaica Money Market

Brokers (JMMB)17. Hon. Dorothy Pine-McLarty, O.J. Consultant- Myers Fletcher and Gordon (MFG)18. Hyacinth Bennett – Founder and Chairman Hydel Group Of schools19. Imani Duncan-Price Chief Group Strategy Officer JMMB Group and Government Senator20. Lisa Simone Bell Managing Director of the National Export-Import Bank of Jamaica Limited (EXIM Bank)21. Shirley Carby, Managing Director, Carlong Publishers Ltd 22. Michelle Chong, CEO Honey Bun (1982) Limited23. Nicola Madden-Greig, President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) & Group Director of

Marketing & Sales, The Courtleigh Hotel Group24. Sharon Donaldson - Managing Director, General Accident Insurance Company Limited and a Director of

Musson (Jamaica) Limited25. Dr. Rosalea Hamilton, Vice President, Development and Community Service at University of Technology, Jamaica 26. Doreen Frankson C.D., Co-founder and Managing Director of Edgechem Jamaica Ltd.27. Sandra A. C. Glasgow, Founder and Managing Director, BizTactics Limited 28. Megan Deane, Chief Executive Officer, Creditinfo Jamaica Limited29. Marilyn Burrowes, JP Principal Shareholder, co-founder, Director and Director of Marketing at Dolphin Cove Limited30. Ambassador Audrey P. Marks, B.A., M.B.A Founder and Managing Director, Paymaster Jamaica Limited31. Minna Israel, Senior Advisor to the Vice Chancellor on Resource Development, UWI32. Chorvelle Johnson - President & CEO, Proven Wealth Ltd.33. Becky Stockhausen Executive Director AMCHAM JAMAICA34. Barbara Gloudon Journalist, Playwright, Communications Consultant35. Pansy Johnson, Executive Chair Noranda Bauxite36. Marcia Forbes Ph.D. Director & Co Founder Phase 3 Productions Limited37. Novia McDonald-Whyte OD, Senior Associate Editor–Lifestyle & Social Content The Jamaica Observer38. Lorna E. Green Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Digital Transtec Limited (DTL)39. Jean Lowrie-Chin Chair Digicel Jamaica Foundation & Founder, President and CEO PRO Communications Ltd40. Grace Burnett CEO, Insurance, GK Financial Group Division41. M. Georgia Gibson-Henlin, Attorney-at-law, Henlin Gibson Henlin42. Dr. Blossom O’Meally-Nelson, Chief Operating Officer, The Aeromar Group Limited 43. Paula Kerr-Jarrett Attorney-at-law & philanthropist 44. Jacqueline Coke-Lloyd, Managing Director & Partner, Make Your Mark Consultants.45. Kay Osborne President & CEO, Kay Osborne Associates Ltd46. Lisa Lake, Chief Entrepreneurship Officer The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship47. Erica Wynter, President Young Entrepreneurs Association of Jamaica (YEA) & President and CEO C&E

Innovational Services Limited48. Yanique Page Founder & Managing Director Future Services International Limited (FSIL), Director Women’s

Business Owners49. Saffrey Brown, General Manager JNBS Foundation50. Yanique Forbes Patrick, Vice President Caribbean Central (Scotia Bank)



Female EntrepreneursCarving Out Their Own Niche In Business

‘Jamaica is open for business.’ For a phrase that’s been touted about for years, for many individuals, the meaning and reality is just hitting home. This is especially true for women who seem to be carving out their own niche in business.

Named as the Commonwealth Woman Entrepreneur of the Year at an international award ceremony in Malta late last year, Valerie Grant is one such individual. Her success so far reflects the trend identified in the recent Women in Business and Management Gaining Momentum report in which almost 60 percent of managers are women.

Valerie Grant is the founder and Managing Director of GeoTechVision, an ICT and Spatial Technologies company in Kingston Jamaica and Georgetown Guyana which is focused on delivering value through innovative solutions.

She beat three other finalists in the competition.

In presenting Grant with the accolade last November, Commonwealth Business-women’s Network (CBW) Executive Director, Arif Zaman indicated that Grant “impressed the judging panel for several reasons, including the fact that she owns and operates her business successfully internationally in a male dominated field”.

Zaman said Grant was also impressive because she “supports other female entrepreneurs helping them to see how they too can strive to be better.

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Valerie Grant



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She is always striving to innovate and she is truly passionate about what she does”.

In an interview with the Story Exchange some years ago, Grant indicated that she started GeoTech when she recognized that spatial intelligence can offer tremendous benefits to governments and businesses alike but was not being fully utilized.

She had been working for over 8 years as a geospatial analyst, government employee and Spatial Technologies consultant for a wide range of public and private organizations in the Caribbean.

Barriers to Success

Grant joins the rank of several other Jamaican women who are striving to succeed in male dominated fields. However, despite this increasing number, female entrepreneurs continue to suffer from barriers that hinder success.

At the top of that list has continues to be the issues of financing and proving that women are ‘just as good as their male counterparts’. They are hindered by the belief that in order to be considered half as good as a man; there is a need to work twice as hard. Hence, there is a need to challenge what Gerry McDaniel in a recent article identified as “the subtle social stereotypes which hold Jamaican women back in business”.

Financing Being Addressed

On the issue of funding, however, female entrepreneurs can now breathe a bit easier as this issue is being addressed. Banks have identified their own shortfalls in providing financing and are taking steps to address the issue. And the Canadian-funded Entrepreneurship Programme for Innovation in the Caribbean (EPIC) managed by the World Bank Group is also playing its part to provide financing for women. EPIC specifically recognizes the social and economic barriers for women through the Women Innovators Network in the Caribbean, WINC.

[Valerie Grant] Named as the Commonwealth Woman Entrepreneur of the Year at an international award

ceremony in Malta late last year.



Lois Lake Sherwood is an accomplished Entrepreneur and Business Executive educated at St. Andrew High School where she Studied French and Art in Haiti for 2 years at the Instituto Allende San Miguel De Allende Mexico. She is listed as having previously owned the first antique shop known as “Mahogany House” on Hope Road and with her late husband owned and operated Grace Furniture on Orange Street, Kingston. Lois is an accomplished and successful visual artist whose works have been displayed and sold at various Art Galleries. In addition to been Managing Director of Restaurant Associates Ltd, operators and franchise holders for Burger King and Popeye’s restaurants in Jamaica, she is also listed as being Managing Director of Sherbourne Ltd., Chairman, Island Homes Ltd and holds Directorship on the boards of Aerocon Construction Ltd., Pulse Investments Ltd., Caribbean Resources Ltd., and Pragma Development Ltd.

Burger King is currently the second largest fast-food franchise in Jamaica, with over 20 outlets in Jamaica. BM

Thalia Lyn is the founder and visionary entrepreneur behind the Island Grill chain of quick service restaurants, which has earned her innumerable awards, including Business Leader of the year (twice) from the Florida International University Class of 2002 and Class of 2007. She was a finalist, Ernst & Young, Caribbean Entrepreneur of the Year 2001 and Observer Business Leader in 1999. Among the many awards earned by her company are Gleaner’s Best Fast Food (3 times) and Observer’s Award Recognizing Entrepreneurship and Professional Achievement Award for Excellence.

Thalia is Chairman of the NCB Foundation, and a Director of Mustard Seed Communities, St. Patrick’s Foundation, United Way and the RC Archbishop’s Advisory Council. Lyn holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Manhattanville College, Purchase, New York, U.S.A. Lyn is also a Director of National Commercial Bank, Jamaica Trade & Invest (JAMPRO), Jamaica Macaroni Factory, Port Royal Patties, among others. In 2004, she was appointed Honorary Consul General of the Kingdom of Thailand and in 2005 awarded the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand, Commander 3rd Class.

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The Most Powerful and Influential Womenin Jamaican Business for 2016

10. Lois Sherwood, Managing Director, Restaurant Associates Ltd

9. Thalia Lyn, Founder and CEO, Island Grill

Launched in the 1990s with a single restaurant and cuisine based on the internationally famous Jamaican jerk and a livery of bright Caribbean colours, Island Grill now has a turnover estimated at more than half a billion dollars. Lyn rebranded and developed what was once Chicken Supreme into one of the most dominant and recognizable restaurant chains in the local fast food market.

There are presently over 15 Island Grill restaurants across Jamaica with additional restaurants to be opened. BM



Rita Humphries-Lewin has been at the forefront of Jamaica’s stock broking industry for over thirty-five years. One of the first women in this hemisphere to become a stockbroker, Lewin went on to become the first female Chairman of a Stock Exchange in the Caribbean leading the Jamaica Stock Exchange in this capacity in 1984 and again in 1995 to 2000. Under her tenure, she spearheaded the establishment of the Jamaica Central Securities Depository in 1998 and the development of electronic trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in January of 2000.

Lewin has also served as the Chairman of The Development Bank of Jamaica participating in the development and implementation of Jamaica’s “Highway 2000” project and the “Harmony Cove” project in Trelawny.

Founded in 1977 by Rita Humphries-Lewin, Barita Investments Limited has the distinction of being the oldest stock broking company in Jamaica. Over the past 31 years, the company has built a sound reputation for excellence in the areas of Equities Trading, Fixed

Lorna Myers became the first woman to be inducted into The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica’s (PSOJ) Hall of Fame, becoming the 20th inductee taking her place in the Hall of Fame among the finest and most celebrated businessmen in Jamaica.

Lorna and her Tony Myers founded the privately held Restaurants of Jamaica in 1975 when the family opened the first KFC restaurant in Kingston

In 1990, she became Chairman and CEO of the company working alongside her son, Mark, and later her daughters Michelle and Tina. She continued to lead Restaurants of Jamaica through rapid expansion, maintaining leadership in the industry and achieving great success for the company persevering through challenging economic times and many other obstacles,. She is responsible for the expansion of arguably Jamaica’s most popular fast food brand in Jamaica, KFC - doubling the number of KFC outlets and adding Pizza Hut to the company’s portfolio.

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8. Rita Humphries-Lewin, Founder and Chairman, The Barita Group

7. Lorna Myers – Co Founder and Chairman, Restaurants of Jamaica Limited

Restaurants of Jamaica has grown to become the franchisee for both KFC and Pizza Hut – licensed to do so by YUM!, the current international franchisor. With well over 34 KFC restaurants operating in Jamaica and growing and at least five (5) Pizza Hut restaurants also in operation in four of those parishes. Restaurants of Jamaica, currently employs over 1300 persons islandwide. BM

Income Securities, Foreign Currency Trading, Asset Management and Investment Research. The company is licensed by the Financial Services Commission, is a member of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, and a Primary Dealer and Cambio Dealer for the Bank of Jamaica.

The Barita Group is made up of Barita Investments Limited and Barita Unit Trusts Management Company Limited with a dedicated team of over seventy (70) professionals. BM



Managing Director and the driving force behind the Stewart’s Automotive Group, Diana is widely regarded as an astute businesswoman who along with her husband Richard, were jointly nominated as Outstanding Business Leaders of the Year in 2008.

In addition to her substantive roles and responsibility within the Automotive Group, Diana is a dedicated philanthropist. During her tenure as head of the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (AMCHAM), she was responsible for the building of a new and interactive police station and clinic in the community of Grants Pen, effectively changing the stereotype associated with the area from a ‘violent community’ to that of a ‘relatively peaceful model community of tolerance’. She has also served as a Director of the Board of Supervision, focusing on care for the elderly and disenfranchised, and had a stint as a committee member of the National Chest Hospital and was able to engineer the much-needed reroofing of one of the wards.

The Stewart’s Automotive Group includes Suzuki,

Jacqueline (Jackie) Sharp made Scotiabank Jamaica history in September of 2013 when she became the first female to be promoted from Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, to the powerful position of President & Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

She was also appointed a director of Scotia Group Jamaica and of The Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Limited.

Jackie Sharp joined Scotiabank in December 1997 and over the past 15 years has held progressively senior roles in the areas of Treasury, Finance, Private Banking and Insurance. From 2003 to 2009 she was General Manager of Scotia Jamaica Life Insurance Company (SJLIC) and in September 2009 was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Group. In April 2011, she assumed additional responsibilities as Chief Administrative Officer, and in April 2013 was appointed Executive Vice President, CFO and CAO.

Scotiabank has been in Jamaica since 1889 and is the

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6. Diana Stewart, Managing Director, Stewart’s Automotive Group

5. Jacqueline Sharp President and CEO Scotiabank Group Jamaica.

premier financial institution in the country with just over 2,000 employees and 35 branches islandwide. Scotiabank is a subsidiary of Scotiabank Group which offers a diverse range of products and services including personal, commercial and small business banking; wealth management; insurance and mortgages. The Scotiabank Group has $382 billion in assets as of April 30, 2013. BM

Mitsubishi Motors, BMW, Mini, Mercedes-Benz, Honda Motorcycles, Budget Rent-A-Car, Automotive Art, Stewart Industrial specializes in construction, mining and material and passenger handling equipment under world renowned names of Komatsu, JCB, Bobcat, Bomag, Clark forklifts, Freightliner, Mercedes-Benz Commercial, Mitsubishi Fuso. BM



during her tenure on the boards of many organizations. Many of her personal and professional accomplishments have been recognized by a number of organizations with the most recent being the recognition for her support in the fight to end multiple sclerosis, as well as her broader philanthropic contributions in 2012. She was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 25 Women of Influence for 2012 by Women of Influence Inc., and by Evanta as a Top 10 Breakaway Leader, an award that celebrates leaders who are changing the face of HR.

Sylvia graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1975 with an Honors Degree in Business Administration. She has completed the Western Executive Program at the University of Western Ontario, as well as the Human Resources Executive Program at the University of Michigan Business School and the International Banking Summer School. BM

Sylvia Chrominska became the first woman in the company’s history to hold the positions of Chairperson of the Boards of the Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Limited and Scotia Group Jamaica Limited, in 2013 where she has served as a Director of these Boards since 2009. She announced her retirement earlier this year and was succeeded by Jeffrey Hall.

Joining Scotiabank in 1979 as a Credit Analyst in Corporate Credit, within a decade, Sylvia had moved up the ranks to Senior Vice President, Corporate Credit, with responsibility for Eastern Canada, Eastern United States, Europe and Japan.

In 1994, she transferred to Human Resources, where she was appointed Executive Vice President in 1995. In 2004, her mandate was expanded to include Public, Corporate and Government Affairs, and she was made Group Head in 2008. She retired from the position of Group Head, Global Human Resources and Communications on May 1, 2013.

Sylvia participated in numerous community activities

Melanie Subratie is the Vice Chairman and a principal shareholder of Musson (Jamaica) Limited, and is Vice Chairman of its subsidiaries including General Accident Insurance Company Jamaica Ltd, and T. Geddes Grant Ltd. She is on the Executive Board at Seprod Ltd, and an Executive Board member at Facey Commodity Co. Ltd. She is the first woman in the company’s history to hold these positions.

Melanie Subratie is the Deputy Chairman of General Accident Insurance Company Jamaica Ltd, and Chairman of the Investment and Loan Committee of the Board. She also serves on the board of Falmouth Heritage Renewal.

With a B.Sc. (Hons) from the London School of Economics, she began her career in the United Kingdom in the Financial Services Division of Deloitte & Touche and also worked for startup political newswire service DeHavilland. Returning to Jamaica in 2002 she joined the Musson Board with responsibility for Business Development, and specifically Managing Director of Productive Business Solutions Ltd.Today, the Musson Group (Musson Jamaica Limited, together with its subsidiaries and associate companies) operates in Miami, Jamaica, across the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific, as well as in Europe.BM

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4. Sylvia Chrominska Former Chairperson of Scotia Group Jamaica Limited

3. Melanie Subratie; Vice Chairman and a Principal Shareholder of The Musson Group of Companies



At number 2 on our list is Peggy Blades. While not one for the spotlight, research states that she is the longest serving Director and is believed to be one of the principal shareholders along with Paul Scott the CEO and Chairman and Melanie Subratie Vice Chairman of the privately held conglomerate Musson Group. This follows the death of her late husband The Honorable Desmond Blades, OJ, the founder and visionary behind the powerful Musson Group of companies.

The Musson Group is a diversified conglomerate operating most specifically as a distributor, logistics partner, manufacturer and sales and marketing company for many global brands, and some of its own branded products in 33 countries worldwide.

Today, the Musson Group (Musson Jamaica Limited, together with its subsidiaries and associate companies) operates in Miami, Jamaica, across the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific, as well as Europe.BM

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2. Peggy Florence Blades, Principal Shareholder, the Musson Group



The Recognition of the “I AM”The Rejection of Playing SmallThe Acknowledgement of PurposeThe Acceptance of the Strength of a WomanThe Agreement to always to Do Power Differently.

1.Kelly Tomblin,President and CEO, Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS)



Kelly Tomblin is the first woman in the company’s history to hold this position and retains the top position as head of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS). With more than twenty years of leadership experience in numerous capacities in the regulated utility and independent energy sectors in the United States of America (USA). She leads the Jamaican integrated utility of 606,654 customers, 1,704 employees, 14,000 km of distribution and transmission lines.

Tomblin has worked for more than twenty years in the energy industry, in both deregulated and vertically integrated markets throughout the United States, in the United Kingdom and in Latin America. She has a track record of organizational transformation, and has significant experience in the generation, transmission and distribution businesses as well as renewable energy development, and energy services and sales. She has worked in all areas of the industry, including legal, customer service, regulatory, plant and field operations.

Tomblin holds a Master of Business Administration from New York University, a Law degree from West Virginia University and a Journalism Degree with a major in Business Public Relations from West Virginia University.

The JPS CEO is known for encouraging women to embrace their role in leadership and ‘Doing Power Differently’. This was a task she took to heart and addressed during the recently held Women In Energy Conference.

Women leaders have a huge opportunity to shape the future if we fully commit to “Doing Power Differently,” she said.

Prior to the conference, Tomblin explained that, while the conference will explore the current trends in energy, more time will be spent discussing how women can bring their “full voices” to this conversation about the future of energy.

“Traditionally, the energy sector has been male-dominated, but now women are becoming involved in every facet of the business. While it has taken a century, more and more women are taking on roles as engineers, linewomen, system operators, and as the head of utilities. However, we still have room to grow. Very often we find that women are still playing small and not bringing their full power to work because of intimidation or the limitations that we place on ourselves”. She said.

In her presentation Tomblin said that there are certain truths women need to accept in order to thrive.

They include:

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yThe Recognition of the “I AM”The Rejection of Playing SmallThe Acknowledgement of PurposeThe Acceptance of the Strength of a WomanThe Agreement to always to Do Power Differently.

Closing with the words of Howard Thurman, Tomblin encouraged those women present at the conference to not ‘ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who come alive’.



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