Women-owned businesses in the United States have been a driving force for economic growth. According to the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), there were approximately 13 million women-owned businesses in the United States in 2021, generating over $1.9 trillion in revenue and employing nearly 9.4 million people.
Furthermore, Black women entrepreneurs have been at the forefront of this economic revolution. The 2020 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report reveals that the number of Black women-owned businesses grew by a staggering 50% between 2014 and 2019, making them the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the country.
Without a doubt, the Caribbean American community has made a mark on the cultural and economic fabric of the United States, including in business. In this special feature, we highlight 10 Caribbean American women in business across various sectors to support in 2024 and beyond.
Renee Kendall – Caribbean Legal Solutions
Renee Kendall, an attorney based in New York with Caribbean heritage, is the founder of Caribbean Legal Solutions. She established this company to bridge the gap between the Caribbean diaspora and legal professionals in Caribbean countries such as Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad, Guyana, and more. Since its inception in 2019, CLS has connected clients in New York, Florida, and the U.K. with trusted legal professionals in various Caribbean nations.
Kendall’s dedication to her purpose is evident as she oversees the company’s day-to-day operations, assisting clients globally with their legal matters in the Caribbean.
Caribbean Legal Solutions believes that finding the right attorney should be easy. Their goal is to provide a straightforward way for anyone to find attorneys. The company offers a network of vetted attorneys, including domestic and internationally based professionals, guiding clients through their legal matters. Their unique model bridges the gap between attorneys and clients in need of their services, ensuring superior client experiences.
Visit Caribbean Legal Solutions: https://caribbeanlegalsolutions.com
Rain & Sky Jarrett – Transcend Global
Rain Jarrett and Sky Jarrett are sisters with impressive careers and a passion for leadership and personal development. Sky, a former Consulting Executive from Accenture, now serves as a Senior Advisor with McKinsey and is the CEO of Transcend Global. She’s known for her expertise in mastering leadership and achieving peak performance in today’s chronic stress culture. Sky uses high-energy storytelling and brain-based research to inspire audiences into inspired action.
On the other hand, Rain Jarrett is a social and behavioral sciences professor, specializing in social and emotional learning, inclusion and diversity, and mindfulness. As a co-founder of Transcend LLC, she works with her sister to support parent leaders with tools and skills for a calmer approach to parenting. Rain is dedicated to helping single moms and individuals overcome life barriers and live their best lives.
Transcend Global is committed to helping leaders and parents harness their authentic power to achieve greater success with ease. The sisters combine their expertise in brain science, mindfulness, social and emotional development, and leadership maturity to provide life skills that bring about deep, life-changing personal transformation.
Discover Transcend Global: www.transcendglobal.org
Mikelah Rose – Style & Vibes
Mikelah Rose is a Jamaican-American content creator, marketing maven, and curator of Caribbean culture. She founded Style & Vibes, a podcast and digital platform dedicated to highlighting Caribbean diaspora lifestyle through music, fashion, and culture. The podcast features prominent guests and industry experts, providing a platform for discussions on topics like cultural equity, music industry challenges for Caribbean artists, and Caribbean films.
Style & Vibes aims to bridge cultural borders by sharing stories of the Caribbean region and its globally diverse diaspora. Rose’s work promotes Caribbean culture and showcases its global influence through authentic and diverse content.
Explore Style & Vibes: www.styleandvibes.com
Yvette Fletcher-Prince – Medix Urgent Care and Family Health Center
Yvette Fletcher-Prince is a physician and the owner/administrator of Medix Urgent Care and Family Health Center in Lauderhill, Broward County, Florida. She began her career as a Registered Nurse in Jamaica, later attending the University of Miami, where she earned a Master of Science in Nursing. Yvette has also worked as a Head Nurse/Midwife at the Juan F Luis Hospital on the island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands.
After gaining experience in Urgent Care Management and assisting various organizations in opening clinics across South Florida, Fletcher-Prince decided to establish her facility in 2009. She has spent the last 12 years serving the surrounding community, her church, and various organizations, offering voluntary healthcare services and participating in annual mission trips.
Medix Urgent Care and Family Health Center has two locations in Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They offer a wide range of services, including x-rays, EKGs, vaccines, physicals, CPR certification, and more.
Visit Medix Urgent Care: https://medixucc.com
Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown – Carry On Friends
Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown is a dynamic cultural ambassador, technical expert, and strategic leader. She fosters deep connections within the Caribbean American community through Carry On Friends, a multimedia cultural hub dedicated to celebrating and preserving Caribbean culture. Reid-Brown and her associated podcast, “Carry On Friends: The Caribbean American Experience,” take listeners on a global journey deeply rooted in Caribbean culture.
Carry On Friends offers a diverse blend of content that showcases and explores various facets of Caribbean culture, lifestyle, experiences, and traditions. They also design and sell lifestyle merchandise that represents and celebrates Caribbean culture and its global influence.
Reid-Brown’s expertise in technology and project management enables her to provide comprehensive podcast production services under her company, Breadfruit Media. She is not only the voice of the Caribbean diaspora but also an inspiration and a testament to what passion and resilience can achieve.
Explore Carry On Friends: https://carryonfriends.com/shop
Lisa-Gaye Shakespeare – Shakespeare Agency
Lisa-Gaye Shakespeare is a passionate globetrotter and the founder of Shakespeare Agency, a hub for all things travel and adventure. With a spirited heart and insatiable curiosity, Lisa has explored 59 countries and 25 U.S. states, crafting a life dedicated to uncovering the beauty, history, and culture that our world has to offer.
Armed with a background in broadcast journalism and marketing, Shakespeare uses her creativity and writing skills to produce captivating content that goes beyond the surface. Her mission is simple yet profound: inspire others to travel, explore, and see the world through a lens of cultural richness and authenticity.
Shakespeare Agency serves as a window into the vibrant tapestry of global travel, shedding light on brands within the travel and tourism space, including hotels, villas, tour companies, and other travel and lifestyle gems. Shakespeare’s content is not just a travelogue; it’s a guide to hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path adventures, with a spotlight on the Caribbean and Africa.
Discover Shakespeare Agency: www.shakespeareagency.com
Eldonie Mason – Princess Anyah Adventure Store
Eldonie Mason is an entrepreneur, experienced entertainment, business, and fashion attorney with Mason Firm, LLC. She is also the founder of Princess Anyah Adventure Store, a platform dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusivity in children’s literature. Eldonie’s book, “The Adventures of Princess Anyah of Antibarba: The Fishing Expedition,” features a Black princess with short hair embarking on adventures, challenging stereotypes, and empowering young girls.
Mason’s mission is to ensure that all children can see themselves represented in stories and characters. “Auntie Donie” saved the day when she penned this story for her niece, and now she’s making it available to a wider audience.
Princess Anyah Adventure Store offers books, coloring books, and merchandise associated with Princess Anyah’s adventures.
Visit Princess Anyah Adventure Store: https://princessanyahstore.com
Dr. Shelly-Ann Gajadhar – Alphastute LLC
Dr. Shelly-Ann Gajadhar, a former State Prosecutor in Trinidad and Tobago, transitioned from law to business and academia. She holds a Ph.D. in Management, a Masters in International Business and Emerging Markets, and various other degrees and certifications. Dr. Gajadhar is a Certified Systemic Executive, Team, and Board Coach recognized by the International Coaching Federation.
As the CEO of Alphastute LLC, she focuses on coaching and consultancy, serving high-achievers and high-performers in career, education, business, and women’s mentorship. Dr. Gajadhar provides guidance that emphasizes accountability, illuminates leadership blind spots, and empowers individuals and teams to take informed action.
Alphastute LLC offers preferential rates to Caribbean nationals, aiming to empower leaders with knowledge, strategy, and confidence needed to lead powerful missions.
Discover Alphastute: www.alphastute.com
Alexandria Miller – Strictly Facts
Alexandria Miller is a historian, writer, and multimedia documentarian passionate about capturing Caribbean stories. She founded Strictly Facts: A Guide to Caribbean History and Culture as a podcast and digital education platform in 2021. Strictly Facts explores the rich tapestry of Caribbean history to increase educational equity and cultural knowledge and empowerment.
Miller was recognized as one of the “30 Under 30 Caribbean American Emerging Leaders” by the Institute of Caribbean Studies in 2018. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Africana Studies and is available for speaking engagements.
Strictly Facts offers an educational journey into the Caribbean experience, empowering, elevating, and unifying the Caribbean and its diverse cultures.
Explore Strictly Facts: www.strictlyfactspod.com
Ingrid Murray – Prospect Cleaning Service Inc
Ingrid Murray is a thriving multi-award-winning serial entrepreneur based in New York City. She is the CEO of Prospect Cleaning Service Inc., a renowned building maintenance company serving the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut areas. Murray transformed the company into an industry leader, earning accolades such as the INC 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.
In recognition of her business’ remarkable growth, Murray received numerous awards and certificates from congressional and city officials. She is deeply committed to giving back through her charity foundation, Elijah’s Oil, which organizes outreach initiatives in New York and Jamaica.
Murray’s goal is to make a positive contribution to her community while inspiring others to cultivate a winning mindset.
Visit Prospect Cleaning Service Inc.: https://prospectcleaningnyc.com
Why Support Women in Business
Supporting women in business is crucial for fostering economic growth, driving innovation, promoting gender equality, and creating diverse and inclusive workplaces. It empowers women to achieve financial independence, serves as a source of inspiration for future generations, and contributes to the overall betterment of society by harnessing the full potential of half the population.
These 10 Caribbean American women in business are not only leaders in their respective fields, but also trailblazers who are shaping the future and making a positive impact on their communities and beyond. Supporting and celebrating their achievements is a way to uplift and inspire others to follow their dreams.
