YFDN & AWE Host Summit to Support Jamaican Women-Led Enterprises

• YFDN and AWE will host a Summit for Women-Led Businesses in Jamaica
• The event focuses on resilience, recovery, and economic empowerment
• The theme is “Valuing Our Women (VOW): Vision, Voice & Venture…Together We Build”

As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, the Youth-For-Development Network, through its Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, is hosting a summit with a focus on resilience, recovery and economic empowerment for women-led enterprises in Jamaica.

The event, themed “Valuing Our Women (VOW): Vision, Voice & Venture…Together We Build,” takes place this Thursday at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Kingston.

The organizers reaffirmed the timeliness of this summit in light of Hurricane Melissa imposing destructive damages to some significant areas and communities, including Hanover, where there was a significant concentration of women entrepreneurs who were affected.

The summit is intended to provide visibility and raise awareness about the tremendous need for MSMEs to advance economic recovery and sustainable development in Jamaica, with reference to women-owned businesses that have a lot of the potential and need support, direction, and assistance to recover from an economic downturn.

The keynote presentation, titled "The Future is Female: Using Data to Build Bold, Sustainable Enterprises in Jamaica and Beyond," will be presented by Kathryn Silvera, President of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association, and will summarize very specific ways that data, inferring strategic ways, can be used to help women-owned businesses not just recover, but stay ahead of and possibly innovate.

The summit will be filled with activities such as the AWExhibition, showcasing the stories of 24 women-led businesses from Kingston and Hanover; a masterclass on creating and rebuilding wealth by AWE Jamaica Money Mission Ambassador Kalilah Reynolds; the “Pitch Your AWEsome Dream” competition, where 21 finalists compete for prizes that include USD $1,500 in seed funding, mentorship, and business support; and innovation sessions with industry leaders on new trends in AI, e-commerce, and green entrepreneurship.

Additional parallel workshops include self-care, nutrition, business development, and overall well-being. Support for Hurricane Melissa relief efforts will be promoted, along with a closing award ceremony and reception to acknowledge the accomplishments of AWE Cohort 4.

International Director at YFDN, Lucy Kingsley, said the commitment among women entrepreneurs following Hurricane Melissa was a reflection of the strength and determination to rebuild.

Organisers say that the VOW 2025 summit highlights the contribution and potential of women in Jamaica's economic landscape and reinforces inclusive recovery efforts.