Innovation, strength, audaciousness, leadership and creativity characterise Flair‘s list of 23 women to watch in 2023. From new ventures to betting on themselves (and winning), there is much to anticipate this year and a fantastic crop of women who continue to inspire.
Velonique Bowen
Twenty-three-year-old Velonique Bowen is the current Miss Jamaica Festival Queen and a rising star in the field of media and communications. Last year, worked on the series Missing, where she looked into cases of missing persons and the impact that it has on their families as they try to move on. She is also an entrepreneur who is heading her own writing and research company, helping students to graduate from university. We are certain this bright spark will have much more to offer during her reign.
Kerry-Ann Clarke and Aiesha Panton
KERRYmanwomanhome’s fashion and style entrepreneur, Kerry-Ann Clarke and Puss Back Foot’s event planner, Aiesha Panton, seem to have great chemistry. The two have now embarked upon another joint project in the form of the well-merchandised boutique known as Locale. From clothing to unique home items, they will have it all. Also, a little birdie told us to expect specially curated events through 2023. Nice. We love to see it, ladies.
Sabrina Cooper
Making a major career move at the end of 2022, Sabrina Cooper is now both the senior vice-president of wealth management and the chief executive officer of Scotia Investments Jamaica Limited.
In her new role, she will be responsible for the growth and profitability of Scotiabank’s wealth and asset management businesses. She will also provide support for the strategic goals of the group’s international wealth management. Private banking, brokerage and asset management, incorporating distribution, customer value proposition, operational infrastructure, investment management, risk management, financial and non-financial, talent management and profit and loss management will also fall under her portfolio.
Nicole Campbell Robinson
Known in the business world as a dynamic marketer and skilled communicator, Nicole Campbell Robinson, has spent close to a decade in the telecommunication, banking and information and communications technology industries. She has brought unique and innovative expertise in areas such as public relations, digital marketing, stakeholder management and brand experience, just to name a few.
In late 2022, Campbell Robinson joined the National Commercial Bank family as assistant vice-president of group marketing and communications, where she hopes her passion, dedication, and creativity will continue to shine through in 2023.
Keticia ‘TC’ Chatman
Dancer-turned-social media personality, corporate brand ambassador, and actress Keticia ‘TC’ Chatman was on a roll in 2022. She starred in the play Pitchy Patchy, inked a deal with Flow and started off the year taking on hosting duties. Her brand is expanding, and it should be interesting to see what her 2023 looks like.
Nasha Douglas
She continues to keep us captivated with her social media #brandoftheweek posts. Now notable marketer, Nasha Douglas, has branched out on her own to launch marketing company NMD Inc, which according to Douglas, “ideates, designs and builds marketing strategies to support you and your in-house marketing team. We’ll champion your brand story with creativity, innovation, [and] expertise and add a little extra fairy dust to spin some marketing magic with your next brilliant idea”.
Shanique Ellington
You’ve probably seen her face on the electronic billboards … there’s no stopping Shanique Ellington. With the official launch of vegan make-up line Le Champ Cosmetics last year, the brand now has a new partnership as the official make-up line of local RIU hotels and will be the official make-up for the Yard Mas carnival band. Plus, Ellington is also set to curate the Le Champ Brunch in April while continuing to evolve and expand the line. Get it, girl!
Rochele Spencer Gayle
Yourstruly Rochele’s Rochele Spencer Gayle is expanding her fashion footprint with much more than design. As she scales up her own line, The Season 6 Mission Catwalk winner is guiding up-and-comers in the fashion industry through strategy, consultation, one-on-one coaching and a fashionscape book expected in March. Spencer Gayle will also be focusing on philanthropy through her YTR Foundation, which will be launched later this year. We can’t wait to see what else she has up her sleeves.
Odetta Rockhead Kerr
Odetta Rockhead Kerr is doing big things. The former Sutherland country head is now the founder and CEO of GOFFAH, an e-commerce platform. In 2023 she will be doubling down on her successful YouTube show (she currently has over 200,000 subscribers), managing lives and mindsets while giving out grants of up to $50,000 per month. Continuing to coach and consult the masses, she will also be growing her Rockstar Club membership.
Richelle Parchment
The Sugar Boss, Richelle Parchment, emerged on the scene with a sugaring technique for hair removal. Her journey, which began from the comfort of her home, quickly outgrew the space, allowing her to expand and set up shop in Liguanea, St Andrew, and even offer her own line of products.
Since then, she has expanded her staffing and services, relocating her Kingston spa and now offering services in Mandeville, and word has it she has other sweet plans on the horizon for 2023.
Anna Palomino
Money coach, Anna Palomino, is becoming one of the most sought-after wealth gurus in the business. Starting from humble career beginnings, Palomino has climbed the financial ladder and is now leading the cause towards building and expanding stock portfolios, becoming a millionaire and retiring in style.
The author and serial entrepreneur has returned to YouTube this year with all the tips and hacks to live your best life, and we can’t wait to see what she has in store.
Pepita Little
The beloved Jamaican television host has made her way back to media since her time on Intense and Digicel’s Chill Room. Little is definitely someone to watch this year. We look forward to seeing how she reintegrates and rises in the radio space.
Ivy ‘Coco’ Maurice
The gorgeous daughter of actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, Ivy ‘Coco’ Maurice is a successful influencer, entrepreneur, content creator and creative director and vice-president of non-profit clothing brand WalkGood LA, a community founded by her and sibling Etienne Maurice as a way to help the community decompress through wellness activities. Now ‘Coco’, as she is affectionately called, is playing a major role in styling her mum for the red carpet. We can’t wait to see her creative direction continue to flourish this year.
Kamila McDonald
Wellness professional, Kamila McDonald, has played a role in the way many see health and fitness. She has designed programmes like Kamp Kamila, which is geared towards getting others in the best shape of their lives, both mentally and physically, using an online platform.
Recently, she leaned further into the nutritional component, becoming a restaurateur. What began as creating unique recipes grew into opening her very own restaurant, Kamila’s Kitchen, which provided delicious vegan food, and we can’t wait to see how it evolves in 2023.
Lititia Myers Gray
This is Lititia Myers Gray’s second consecutive time on our watch list … and with good reason. She was definitely one to watch in 2022 as president and chief executive officer of Beryllium Limited. Now she has embarked upon a new career move as the founder and CEO of ECHE Limited, which we’ve heard is slated to revolutionise the cash and payments industries. We look forward to seeing it.
Kalilah Reynolds
Fresh off a highly coveted speaking engagement at ROI: The Millionaire’s Summit in Puerto Rico, business and finance journalist and content creator, Kalilah Reynolds, continues to make big moves. In a recent interview, the impressive Reynolds, who is also founder and CEO of Kalilah Reynolds Media Limited, says she is excited about the future. We are as well.
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw
Jamaican footballer Khadija Shaw, who plays forward for Manchester City and the Jamaica women’s national team, the Reggae Girlz, is set to have a splendid year. Not only is she doing great things at Man City … hat-tricks and all, but as captain of the Reggae Girlz, it will be exciting to see her performance at The World Cup. We’ll be cheering for you, Bunny!
Toni-Ann Singh
The longest-reigning Miss World in history, Toni-Ann Singh, has already achieved the unthinkable in the international beauty competition industry.
Her ‘what’s next’ is on full display as she makes her way into music. Hot track Next to Me, a collaboration with veteran dancehall artiste, Popcaan, has been doing extremely well on local and global airwaves, and music lovers are looking forward to even more hits and to see what she has in store for 2023.
Clair-Ann Kennedy
Exciting times are ahead for Supreme Ventures Limited with Clair-Ann Kennedy’s appointment as chief executive officer of its subsidiary, Supreme Ventures Services Limited. A business strategist, Kennedy’s experience is as long as it is extensive. We can’t wait to see how entrepreneurs and medium-sized businesses — key beneficiaries of Supreme Ventures Services Limited’s business solutions — will benefit.
Tanesha Westcarr
Tanesha Westcarr has moved back to Jamaica from London and is primed to make major moves in 2023. A winner of the Governor General’s Achievement Award for Leadership in the Jamaican Diaspora, Westcarr is a dynamic, strategic thinker and doer who was recently named chief business development officer at visuEats. With her extensive connections in the industry and acumen for business strategy, it will be interesting to see what the author, former columnist for the Huffington Post UK, and the project and event manager at Birkbeck, University of London will do now that she’s back on The Rock.
Nayana Williams
The chief executive officer of Lifespan Company Limited, Nayana Williams, has big plans for 2023, including flavoured Lifespan products, a skincare line with Lifespan spring water at its base, and planting 42 acres of coconuts in preparation to produce cold press coconut oil in the future. Definitely one to watch.
Narda Ventura
Narda Ventura is working! As managing director of Aquaworx, an aquatic programme that offers classes for babies and adults, she plans to expand this year.
Ventura is also the chief executive officer at SkyBlue Transaction Solutions, where she has made paying for goods easier with eZeePayments.com. This year she plans to also magnify another one of her platforms, schoolfeepayments.com, a site that makes paying school fees a breeze.
