Island Woman Podcast

Dianne N Squires

Can you build a high-impact business without sacrificing your well-being? The Island Woman Podcast is the companion for Caribbean founders and leaders who reject hustle and are ready for authority. I’m Dianne Squires, aka D-Anne, an island woman and founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting. Join me as we explore how to sharpen your Voice, target your Visibility, and maximise your Economic Impact through the lens of a BIG and simple life™.

  1. 2d ago

    Mission: Caribbean Women Economic Empowerment | Lyndell Danzie-Black, Founder, Cerulean Inc.

    “10 out of 10”, “my life’s mission”, that’s how Lyndell Danzie-Black describes her ambition to empower Caribbean women economically. Lyndell is the CEO and Founder of Cerulean Inc., a training and business consulting company based in Guyana and this week’s guest on the Island Woman podcast with Dianne N Squires.  -------- I kept my notebook handy in this conversation with Lyndell because she has incredible insights. With more than a decade as an entrepreneur and more than two decades leading organisational transformation, Lyndell generates success for herself and other women.  She co-founded the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Guyana, the first of its kind in the Caribbean and co-created the 25 Influential Women Leaders Award and Leadership programme, also in Guyana. We talked about her layered Caribbean heritage, her most important work now, and how building a business around service quality in Guyana has evolved from the early days to now, with the big oil and gas boom. She’s candid about the financial ebbs and flows of business and goes in depth into the difference between leadership and executive leadership.  Here’s the roundup of our conversation.   Timestamps  00:00 Introduction to Lyndell Danzie-Black and her Caribbean roots 02:09 Lyndell's big ambition: Empowering women economically 04:05 Daily rituals: Reading and continuous learning 05:43 Work with Cerulean Inc. and service quality in Guyana 09:05 Adapting to oil and gas industry opportunities 12:58 Building visibility through platforms and awards 22:02 Leadership versus executive presence 26:04 Women speaking up and cultural barriers 30:08 The role of collaboration and partnerships 36:58 Sustainable impact and succession planning 42:01 Balancing ambition and well-being 50:00 Key advice for Caribbean women entrepreneurs 51:48 Where to find Lyndell and her work 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  or email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com --------------- 🔗Connect with Dianne N Squires LinkedIn: @Dianne N Squires  linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132 📈Work with Dianne as your strategic visibility coach Email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com ------------------- Connect with Lyndell Danzie Black and Cerulean Inc.   Telephone: (592) 226 4650 Website: https://www.cerulean-management.com/ LinkedIn (Lyndell Danzie-Black): https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndelldanzieblack/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CeruleanInc/?ref=br_rs ---------------------- 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.

  2. Oct 11

    Strategic Visibility | Protecting Your Energy as a Caribbean Woman Entrepreneur | Dianne N Squires

    Dianne N Squires shares what she means by strategic visibility and why it’s important to help Caribbean women entrepreneurs manage their energy, achieve results and avoid burnout. ------------------ In Barbados alone, the number of women-owned businesses grew by 6% between 2020 and 2025, but those businesses are still largely micro-enterprises, according to a national study by the Small Business Association of Barbados. This reality is reflected across the Caribbean; women in business mainly operate the “one-woman show”. That is why it is so essential that, as Caribbean women entrepreneurs, we manage our energy, including our visibility efforts, to make the most of that limited resource. It’s easy to get carried away with every new tool and platform to get seen, but we should be more focused on how, where, when, why and by whom we need to be seen to meet our business goals as women.  Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to strategic visibility for Caribbean women entrepreneurs 02:24 Micro enterprises and the energy drain of broad visibility 03:47 Setting clear business goals and success metrics 04:44 Identifying your target audience and value proposition 05:24 Crafting messages and choosing where to show up 06:11 Case study: Sian Cuff-Young’s evolving visibility strategy 11:46 Engagement and next steps for visibility success Related episode:  Don’t Waste Good Food | Sian Cuffy-Young Siel Environmental Services - https://youtu.be/c1SFPq8RrJ8?si=V7bYug5WOLsM0LAR 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  or email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com --------------- 🔗Connect with Dianne N Squires LinkedIn: @Dianne N Squires  linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132 📈Work with Dianne as your strategic visibility coach Email: 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.

  3. Oct 4

    Managing Digital Media Consumption for Wellbeing | Dianne N Squires

    Dianne N Squires shares 6 ways she is managing her digital media consumption habits to protect her wellbeing.  ------------------ Staying well is essential for realising our big ambitions. But as I explore in this episode, one thing can threaten that well-being: our digital consumption habits, especially on social media. As a seasoned communications practitioner and consultant, my work in digital media has made me acutely aware of the impact of social media on mental health. Despite limiting myself to just two platforms - LinkedIn and YouTube - I can still find myself trapped in a cycle of consumption that can lead to anxiety and distraction. "The temptation to scroll and scroll and scroll and get little snippets and tidbits of information is still present on those platforms." I discuss alarming trends, such as the high levels of anxiety and limited attention span associated with extensive social media use. Countries like Australia have taken measures to protect young people from these effects, highlighting a growing concern that applies to many adults as well. Timestamps (00:00) Why well-being matters when you are chasing big ambitions (01:10) A career built in marketing, communications, and digital media (02:08) How working in digital media doubles the exposure to it (03:25) Why social media platforms make consumption hard to manage (04:14) What countries are doing about social media and young people (05:44) The mental health risks that still affect adults (06:08) Why LinkedIn comparison culture is especially draining (07:24) How scrolling destroys focus and fragments attention (08:39) Tip 1 - Keep your phone out of the bedroom at night (10:25) Tip 2 - Rebuild focus through reading fiction (14:39) Tip 3 - Use journaling to process your own thoughts (15:52) Tip 4 - Choose long-form content over short-form scrolling (17:16) Tip 5 - Put the device down and move your body (18:12) Tip 6 - Set timers to cap daily platform use (20:08) The six habits Dianne is using to manage consumption (20:37) Closing thoughts on ambition, well-being, and responsible use 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  or email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com --------------- 🔗Connect with Dianne N Squires LinkedIn: @Dianne N Squires  linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132 📈Work with Dianne as your strategic visibility coach Email: 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.

  4. Sep 27

    Don’t Waste Good Food | Sian Cuffy-Young Siel Environmental Services

    Sian Cuffy-Young, Founder of Siel Environmental Services Limited and environmental engineer wants people to think differently about waste. Sian describes the work of her company to host of the Island Woman podcast Dianne N Squires as waste systems architecture. This follows the entire value chain of inputs and outputs to evaluate where waste can be reduced or used as a resource. ------------------ “…sometimes it makes me feel weird even saying the word waste because it's such a valuable resource that we can use for so many other things. So it requires us to shift the way we think when it comes to what we know.” Sian Cuffy-Young Sian Cuffy-Young remembers being at the beach with her father at ten years old, having fun in the water until a “loaded diaper” hit her in the face (ewww!). Most of us would have left it there but for Sian, that was the catalyst for her path into environmental engineering and her advocacy, education and entrepreneurial work in waste management. Her energy and absolute passion for this area are infectious and her drive has led to the development of the first ever Caribbean Food Waste Summit.   But how does she balance her big ambition for changing people's minds about waste with staying well? She's learned the hard way to give attention to both.  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Shan Young and her work in waste management 02:57 Big ambition: Transforming how we think and act towards waste 03:42 Daily rituals for staying grounded and focused 04:44 Evolving waste management strategies and education 07:38 Changing corporate perceptions about waste and cost savings 08:17 The role of ESG and sustainability in waste management 09:54 Quantifying waste savings for businesses 12:23 Regional expansion and Caribbean focus 13:02 Specialization in food waste and accreditation 15:20 Food waste certification and its regional significance 16:34 Addressing food waste in hospitality and events 18:46 Rethinking food production and consumption 22:24 The pros and cons of visibility and advocacy  28:25 the importance of strategic visibility 33:16 The Caribbean Food Waste Summit: Purpose and goals 41:39 Sian’s scores on the Ambition/Wellbeing scale 46:56 The importance of staying well to achieve big ambitions 48:43 Closing remarks and upcoming events 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  or email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com --------------- 🔗Connect with Dianne N Squires LinkedIn: @Dianne N Squires  linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132 📈Work with Dianne as your strategic visibility coach Email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com ------------------- Connect with Sian Cuffy-Young and Siel Environmental Services Limited   WhatsApp: 1-868-381-9937 Websites: https://sielenvironmental.com/ LinkedIn (Sian Young): linkedin.com/in/sian-young-0675a342 -  LinkedIn (Siel Environmental Services Limited): https://www.linkedin.com/company/siel-environmental-services-limited/?originalSubdomain=tt Instagram: @sieltt - https://www.instagram.com/sieltt/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sieltt/ X (Siel): https://x.com/limitedsiel Caribbean Food Waste Summit:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caribbeanfoodwastesummit/ Web: https://sielenvironmental.com/food-waste-summit/ ---------------------- 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.

  5. Jul 26

    This is Why Your Voice Matters: A Note to Caribbean Woman Founders and Leaders | Dianne N Squires

    Dianne Squires explores the layered concept of voice - audible, figurative, and expressive - and its importance for influencing change within Caribbean communities.  ------------ I’ve been talking about speaking up for ourselves, our businesses and the impact we want to create as Caribbean women founders. But what I haven’t explained is what I mean when I say “voice” and why it is important. I break down the three layers of ‘voice’ and how they all point to a free, if not always easy, way to create change.  Timestamps  00:00 Introduction (What is my Voice and why this isn’t a simple question?) 01:30 The three layers of voice 03:24 Voice as a tool for influence and change 04:40 Big Media's External Voice and its Influence on Modern Caribbean identity 05:29 The importance of strategic voice for impact (examples from Island Woman podcast guests) 08:06 A word to introverts on using the power of voice  08:44 Call to action: share your voice and join initiatives 10:30 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 ------------ 🟥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 *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  or email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com --------------- Connect with Dianne N Squires LinkedIn: @Dianne N Squires  linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132 Email: 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.

  6. Jul 19

    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 ------------ 🟥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 *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  or email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com --------------- Connect with Dianne N Squires LinkedIn: @Dianne N Squires  linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132 Email: 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.

  7. Jul 12

    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  or email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com --------------- Connect with Dianne N Squires LinkedIn: @Dianne N Squires  linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132 Email: 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 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

  8. Jul 5

    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”, 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  or email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com --------------- Connect with Dianne N Squires LinkedIn: @Dianne N Squires  linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132 Email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com ------------------- Connect with Shauna Marshall and SMB Consulting Services  Websites:  https://smbconsultingservices.com/ https://businessandbites.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-marshall/ Instagram: @consultingsmb - https://www.instagram.com/consultingsmb/ 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 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 ‐------------

See All (51)

About

Can you build a high-impact business without sacrificing your well-being? The Island Woman Podcast is the companion for Caribbean founders and leaders who reject hustle and are ready for authority. I’m Dianne Squires, aka D-Anne, an island woman and founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting. Join me as we explore how to sharpen your Voice, target your Visibility, and maximise your Economic Impact through the lens of a BIG and simple life™.

Information

  • Creator
    Dianne N Squires
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dianne N Squires
  • Show Website
    Island Woman Podcast