Island Woman Podcast

Dianne N Squires
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

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

    Caribbean Skincare | Science, Art, Culture, Simplicity | Simply Ashyara, Founder House of Ash

    The skin is a dynamic ecosystem and what we see as breakouts or other issues are signals from elsewhere in the body and mind, says Simply Ashyara, a skincare formulator and Founder of House of Ash. She discusses her formulation process, blending science, art and culture and examples of the multi-purpose, multi-sensory, pro-planet products created by House of Ash with Dianne N Squires on the Island Woman podcast this week. No ten-step routines needed, just skincare made simple.   ----------------- Simply Ashyara speaks my language when it comes to skincare - keep it simple, no ten-step routines necessary. At age eight, her great aunt gifted her the Elizabeth Arden Red Door fragrance. She was captivated by the scent, the colour and the packaging which revealed the product behind a “red door”. Later, at 14, she visited Lush, a cosmetics retailer in England. The total experience of scents, packaging, and products built on the Red Door experience and triggered her interest in formulation. That idea of total experience set the tone for her approach to formulation, blending science, art and culture to produce multi-sensory, multi-purpose, pro-planet products.  We talk about: The role of cultural stories in skincare formulation The importance of understanding skin as a dynamic ecosystem Sustainable and eco-conscious product development The impact of stress and mental health on skin The significance of multi-sensory experiences in skincare Timestamps  00:00 Introduction to Simply Ashyara and House of Ash 05:03 The Role of a Skincare Formulator 09:32 The Story Behind House of Ash 14:36 Mind, Skin, and Gut Connection 17:15 The Philosophy of Less is More 21:02 Balancing Ambition and Wellbeing 25:17 Advice for Caribbean Women Entrepreneurs Get in Touch  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 Simply Ashyara and House of Ash  Substack: As Analogs 2.0 IG: @ _HouseofAsh; https://www.instagram.com/_houseofash/ IG: @SimplyAshyara; https://www.instagram.com/simplyashyara/ ---------------------- 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.

    39 min

  2. Jun 7

    International Film & TV Production - Caribbean Style | Kerri Birch, Co-founder, 13 Degrees North

    Not only are Caribbean islands picturesque locations for international films, they are ripe for development of a thriving International Film and TV industry based in the Caribbean. Kerri Birch, Co-founder of 13 Degrees North Productions, shares why she’s living her dream in an industry with yet few players in the Caribbean with Dianne N Squires on this episode of the Island Woman Podcast. She also shares why it’s important for young people to see Film and TV in the region as an industry for viable careers. ----------- I loved this conversation with Kerri Birch, who co-founded Film and TV Production Company 13 Degrees North Productions with her husband Kirk.  I knew when the business was a fledgling startup and today Kerri and Kirk can boast of the several international and local productions they’ve put their stamp on including, most recently, a Victoria’s Secret campaign.  We discuss her 20-year journey in the industry and why she is proof that careers in the industry, in the Caribbean are viable.  She also shares the tough realities of work in film and TV and underscores why gratitude is her important grounding practice.  How’s Kerri doing on the ambition/wellbeing Island Woman scale. It’s a bit top heavy but she’s working on it.  Timestamps: 00:00 – Excerpts: Kerri Birch on viability of Caribbean Film Industry  00:43 -  Intro: Island Woman Podcast companion for Caribbean Founders & Kerri Birch Caribbean Film and TV Industry Powerhouse  01:22 – A Slate of Caribbean Productions & The Power of Gratitude 04:13 – Navigating the Regional Film Industry 05:17 – Quiet Leadership and Building Confidence on International Sets 05:47 – Knowing Your Worth: Working with Vogue & Below Deck 08:17 – Navigating Chaotic Production Logistics in Barbados 08:57 – Shifting the Narrative: Film as a Viable Career for Caribbean Youth 10:34 – Telling Our Collective History and Shared Caribbean Experiences 12:43 – The Symbiotic Relationship with Foreign Film Crews 14:37 – Using Inevitable Industry Downtime to Develop Original Content 16:33 – Working with Your Spouse: Setting Healthy Boundaries at Home 19:43 – Scoring Ambition vs. Well-Being on a Scale of 1 to 10 21:08 – Realising a Childhood Dream: Living Big Ambition 23:12 – Facing Burnout: Choosing Future Well-Being Over "Hustle" 25:32 – Teaching the Next Generation of Filmmakers at BCC 26:56 – "Once Upon a Frame": Paying tribute to Tragically Killed 13-year-old Seanathan Chase, Youth Literacy, and Short Film Adaptation 28:57 – Sponsoring or Donating to “Once Upon a Frame” and Local Tax Incentives 30:35 - Outro  ------------------- Get in Touch The official website (diannesquires.com) is currently offline as we undergo a structural brand rebuild. 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 Kerri Birch IG: @thatbirchgirl Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerribirch/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerri.birch.5/ 13 Degrees North:  Email: info@13degreesnorthpro.com  Website: www.13degreesnorthpro.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/13degreesnorthproductions Instagram: @13degreesnorth Donate to Once Upon a Frame Schools’ Project Email: info@13degreesnorthpro.com ---------------------- Dianne N. Squires is a Strategic Communications leader, Founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting (DNSC), and host of the Island Woman Podcast. Through DNSC, her work centres on elevating voice, visibility and impact for Caribbean changemakers.

    31 min

  3. May 31

    Strive, Be Visible, Protect Your Peace: Jackie Chambers de Freitas, Salesforce VP AI, Transformation

    Caribbean women pursuing their professional goals on the global stage carry both the distinction and the burden of representation, coming from cultures where excellence is the standard.  While striving to be exceptional is vital, protecting your peace and mental health is paramount for sustainable success. Jackie Chambers de Freitas, a 20-year tech executive and current Salesforce VP of AI Delivery and Transformation, breaks down the cost and benefit of corporate leadership with Dianne Squires, founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting (DNSC), on this episode of the Island Woman podcast. --------------------- Jackie Chambers de Freitas is deliberate about using her voice and visibility as a tech leader to encourage other women to aspire to higher levels of achievement in the space. And she does so while acknowledging that the cost of leadership can be high and attention to mental health must be intentional. I soaked up her wisdom and straightforward approach in our conversation on this week’s episode. She was transparent about being mindful of her own mental health, having seen it affect members of her family. We also explored how she's applied her agile methodology philosophy to her personal life and how women over 45 can embrace inevitable shifts in their careers and the power of AI.  Timestamps 00:00 - Shaping corporate identity: Your internal Compass over External Expectations 00:08 - Introducing Jackie Chambers de Freitas  00:52 - Island Woman Podcast Intro  02:08 - 3 Survival Tips for Women Navigating the Global Corporate C-Suite  03:16 - Caribbean Heritage: Jackie’s Roots  04:54 - The Importance of Visibility as a “Unicorn” leader  07:59 - Prioritising Mental Health for Caribbean Women Striving for Excellence  08:49 - Setting Boundaries, Protecting Your Peace: Balancing the Importance and the Cost of Visibility  10:23 - Agile Philosophy and AI Transformation: Iterative Change at Speed  14:22 - Applying Agile Philosophy to Personal Life Goals  17:03 - Experiencing Joy as a Woman in STEM  (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)  20:08 - The “Boon and Burden” of being a Unicorn  22:19 - The Strength of a Caribbean Value System for Playing Big as a Unicorn 24:20 - Jackie rates herself on the Ambition/Wellbeing Scale  28:58 - Navigating Inevitable Career Shifts in the World of AI: Leaning into Personal Brand Development for Women Over 45  31:27 - Embracing AI Skills, Broadening Career Horizons for Women Over 45  Get In Touch Follow our curated WhatsApp channel. 📲 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7lcdnEFeXrxlKuY31L --------------- Connect with Dianne LinkedIn: @Dianne N Squires  linkedin.com/in/dianne-n-squires-a2389132 Email: diannensquires@diannensquires.com ------------------- Connect with Jackie Chambers de Freitas LinkedIn: @Jackie Chambers de Freitas https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-defreitas/ ---------------------- Dianne N. Squires is a Strategic Communications leader, Founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting (DNSC), and host of the Island Woman Podcast. Through DNSC, her work centres on elevating voice, visibility and impact for Caribbean changemakers.

    35 min

  4. May 24

    3 Habits to Elevate Your Voice and Build Authority

    You may be the “expert” in the room, but if you practice poor communication habits, you may never be listened to or taken seriously. Island Woman and Founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting, Dianne Squires, shares 3 communication habits experts can practice daily to elevate their voice and build authority in this week’s episode of the Island Woman podcast. ------- After 16 years in marketing communications at every level, eight of those years running my own consulting practice, I know it’s the simple things done consistently that shape the voice of authority. In today’s episode, I break down three simple habits that experts can adopt to ensure their professional opinion is heard and taken seriously.  I talk about the unfortunate situation you create when you focus only on problems, and what you should do instead (hint: Do you have a pathway to a solution?). I share why it’s important to put every activity you do into the context of a broader organisational strategy. Finally, I reveal the simple “meeting math” to practice - have your 1 to 3 meeting objectives ready to go before any meeting to purposefully participate.  Timestamps 01:22 - Don’t Just Be a Problem Identifier, suggest solutions  03:25 - Couch Your Tactical Activities in the Context of the Wider Strategy  06:09 - “Meeting Math” The official website (diannesquires.com) is currently offline by intentional design as we undergo a structural brand rebuild. To bypass the public digital noise, 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, follow our curated WhatsApp channel. 📲 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7lcdnEFeXrxlKuY31L Connect with Dianne 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. Through DNSC, her work centres on elevating voice, visibility and impact for Caribbean changemakers.Get in Touch  The official website (diannesquires.com) is currently offline by intentional design as we undergo a structural brand rebuild. To bypass the public digital noise, 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, follow our curated WhatsApp channel. 📲 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7lcdnEFeXrxlKuY31L Connect with Dianne 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. Through DNSC, her work centres on elevating voice, visibility and impact for Caribbean changemakers.

    9 min

  5. May 17

    Nothing Working in Business? Stop, Recalibrate, Build a New Chapter (I Learned This!)

    True authority means knowing when to stop doing the work long enough to fix the leadership infrastructure behind it. Island Woman and Founder of Dianne N Squires Consulting, Dianne Squires shares a transparent look behind her recent "fallow season"—a necessary period of stopping, and recalibrating when the old ways of operating simply stopped working. ---------- I’m back with a new season of the podcast…finally. But it’s also a new chapter in how I manage my personal and business life. I talk about how perimenopause symptoms made me stop in my tracks; why it ended up being a good thing; and how stopping to recalibrate is like a fallow season - the necessary preparation for a new chapter.  My fallow season emphasised the point that sound leadership requires prioritising clarity over constant output. This episode is more than my personal story. It serves as a strategic blueprint for Caribbean business and leadership, exploring how regional female founders can protect their presence of mind while driving regional change and economic empowerment in the Caribbean. Key Strategic Themes Auditing Your Presence of Mind: Personal or physical health shifts—like the transition through perimenopause—are wellness issues, but they also represent a high-stakes professional risk when severe anxiety or fatigue challenge your executive decision-making. Recognising when you have hit a limit and systematically seeking targeted expertise is the ultimate move for maintaining your strategic authority. Decoupling Hustle from Visibility: True visibility has absolutely nothing to do with performing for the social media algorithm every day or draining your energy at endless networking mixers. It is about establishing a point of view, sharpening your core message, and targeting your visibility in the spaces that move the needle for your business. Transitioning from Doer to Strategist: Early in a career, keeping your head down and executing works beautifully. However, scaling past a ceiling requires mastering the strategic decisions of how you show up, how you express your expertise, and how you influence others. Anchoring to a Global-But-Regional Vision: In the Caribbean Melding a "BIG and simple" life means designing structures that respect both high-level professional ambition and regional well-being. Episode Timestamps 00:00 – The Power of the Strategic Stop: Introduction to Season 4 and the Reality of a Fallow Season. 02:30 – Behind the Thin Air: Navigating Technical Bottlenecks and Personal Health Crossroads. 05:00 – Managing Professional Risk: When Severe Anxiety Disrupts Executive Decision-Making. 05:11 – The Transparency Imperative: Why Caribbean Leaders Must Speak Up About Midlife Career Intersections. 06:25 – Auditing the Infrastructure: Doing the Research, Finding the Right Support, and Reclaiming Your Edge. 10:10 – The Core Business Pivot: Embracing Fractional Executive Advisory and Focused Entrepreneurship. 8:54 – Moving Past the Execution Trap: Helping Women Founders Build Point-of-View Authority. 14:54 – Rooted and Ready: The 90-Day Blueprint and the Island Woman Authority Suite. 13:25 – New Chapters Loading: Accepting Advice and Rebuilding from the Ground Up The official website (diannesquires.com) is currently offline as we undergo a structural brand rebuild. To bypass the public digital noise, 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, follow our curated WhatsApp channel. 📲 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7lcdnEFeXrxlKuY31L Connect with Dianne 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. Through DNSC, her work centres on elevating voice, visibility and impact for Caribbean changemakers.

    16 min

  6. Mar 8

    Caribbean Women Find Your Voice II: No More Podcast Burnout

    Podcasting is an excellent way for Caribbean women to find, shape, and use their voices on the global stage. But podcast burnout can come quickly without planning for expected or unexpected realities. Dianne Squires of the Island Woman Podcast and Mialisa Garnes of the Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast, with over 70 episodes between them, talk about podcast burnout, how it happens, how to avoid it and the tech tools they use to streamline their processes.  ----------------- The Island Woman podcast is back for Season 4, and we’re kicking off with a special International Women’s Day collab episode with the Wellness & Growth Journeys podcast with my fellow Island Woman podcaster Mialisa Garnes. We’re covering “Caribbean Women Find Your Voice” using the power of podcasting in two parts. On the Island Woman podcast, we’re revealing the realities of podcast burnout and the tech we’ve been using to simplify our processes. On the Wellness and Growth Journeys Podcast channel, we talk about how we got started in podcasting, what visibility via podcasting has meant for us and how it can go beyond personal branding to be economically empowering. Start here and then head over to the Wellness & Growth Journeys podcast to get the full conversation.  ---------- ➡️Connect with Dianne Website: diannensquires.com LinkedIn: @Dianne Squires Learn about the Rooted and Ready Strategic Visible Authority programme for women: https://www.diannensquires.com/rooted-and-ready-visibility-programme-for-women ----------- ➡️Follow The Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl2SAz7ot8YzCAvwONVYSZBgo1_VaVw3U&si=nDZLw5y2nKenKKio Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/653PlFZ7LxJvZNf0Nh6crj?si=d2e22906e1604f47 ➡️Connect with Mialisa:  Instagram: @itsmialisa LinkedIn: @Mialisa Garnes ------- Where BIG ambition meets uncomplicated living and paves the way for holistic wealth and wellbeing - that’s the Island Woman Big and simple life™ philosophy. If this is your path, subscribe for more Caribbean Island stories on women in leadership, intentional living, entrepreneurship, and legacy-building.  YouTube channel link: https://youtube.com/@islandwomanpodcast?si=aopEY35yFMd9DYmf

    33 min

  7. Feb 15

    The Truth About Work & Ageing for Caribbean Women

    As many Caribbean women cross milestones of 35, 40, and 50, we start to wonder if we've outgrown the career roles we once worked hard to attain. We assess how we can continue to maximise our economic impact while protecting our wellbeing. With regional pensions under threat and the risk of noncommunicable diseases rising as we age, we have to get honest about our work, aging and our Caribbean reality.  In this episode, I’m sharing why I chose to "peel it back to the studs" and how we can all work stronger, not just harder.  Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 - The Reality of Ageing and Work in the Caribbean  2:15 - Life After 35: A New Perspective on Career  4:45 - The Truth About Pensions and Economic Stability  7:10 - Outgrowing Your Role: The "Tight Shoes" Analogy  9:30 - Maintaining Well-being & Managing Health Risks  12:15 - Upskilling: Are You Willing to Learn Something New?  15:00 - Using Your "Total Skill Range" to Earn Income  18:30 - Redefining Work I have more questions than answers, but I know this: we don't have to work until we drop. We can choose a life that allows us to execute at the highest quality while remaining whole. Let’s think through these transitions together. Join the Conversation:  If this resonated with you, please leave a comment—are you ready to learn a new skill, or think of new ways to harness your potential?

    18 min

  8. Feb 8

    Big Ambition, Less Chaos: The Efficiency of Discomfort

    Learn why intentional growth doesn't have to be chaotic as I share lessons for Caribbean entrepreneurs on building business efficiency through the power of discomfort. In this unscripted episode of the Island Woman Podcast, I’m looking back at 2025 to unpack a hard truth: big ambition does not require a complicated life. It requires the courage to do simple, often uncomfortable things. From moving your plan off the paper to "building muscle" through tension, I’m sharing how to stop the busy work and start making every moment count toward your vision for 2026 and beyond. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How to find the "Efficiency of Discomfort" in your daily routine. Why letting people know what you want is a 30-second shortcut to success. The difference between being busy and being effective in your marketing. How to treat your business strategy like a gym workout to build real strength. Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro: The Big Realisation: Ambition vs. Chaos  1:15 – Reflecting on 2025 Lessons 3:18 – Lesson 1: The Power of Asking for What You Want 4:51 – Lesson 2: Moving the Plan from Paper to Action 7:58 – Lesson 3: The Necessity of Patience (The Tortoise vs. The Hare) 9:28 – Lesson 4: Building Business Muscle through Tension 12:22 – Lesson 5: How to Make Every Day Count Toward Your Vision 16:53 – Final Thoughts: Managing the Discomfort Muscle 18:56 - Outro: Leave a Review & Connect Connect with Me:  Subscribe to the Channel: 🔗https://www.diannensquires.com/islandwomanpodcast[Link to Apple/Spotify] ➡️Connect on LinkedIn: @Dianne Squires  🌺Join the Visibility Program: https://www.diannensquires.com/rooted-and-ready-visibility-programme-for-women

    20 min
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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
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dianne N Squires
  • Show Website
    Island Woman Podcast