Against the backdrop of annual Female Founders Month and Mother’s Month celebrations, the 2026 Vision to Velocity conference has emerged as a landmark gathering centered on amplifying the rising influence of Caribbean women entrepreneurs, who are reshaping industries and building lasting legacies across the region.
Held to address persistent gaps in accessible, practical support for local business builders, the conference drew more than 100 established entrepreneurs, industry professionals and early-career emerging leaders from across the Caribbean. Unlike many conventional business events that lean heavily on abstract theory, the gathering was designed as a hands-on immersive experience, with deep dives into high-impact topics critical to small and growing ventures: strategic public relations, targeted marketing, intentional brand building, sustainable monetization and adaptive self-leadership. Throughout the multi-day event, women founders took center stage, sharing real-world insights into how they are advancing innovation and expanding economic opportunity across Caribbean markets.
Organizers noted in an official press release that the conference was crafted specifically to respond to widespread challenges facing today’s Caribbean entrepreneurs: chronic professional burnout, persistent market uncertainty, and the spread of harmful misinformation about business scaling. Rather than offering generic advice, every session was built from the on-the-ground lived experiences of Caribbean business leaders who are currently growing and expanding their own ventures in the region, providing attendees with a grounded, supportive space to gain strategic clarity and actionable direction.
Attendees left the conference with clear next steps, encouraged to re-evaluate their existing business strategies, boost their brand visibility in both local and global markets, and adopt more intentional approaches to leadership. Multiple participants reported leaving with a renewed sense of confidence and a refined, actionable roadmap to scale their operations beyond national borders into international markets.
Shelly-Ann Aqui Solomon, founder of the Vision to Velocity conference, framed the event’s mission in terms of long-term impact rather than short-term gains. “This is about leadership and legacy,” she explained. “As Caribbean women, as mothers, as founders, we are shaping more than businesses; we are shaping the future. When we step into that fully, everything changes.”
One of the most celebrated moments of the gathering was the formal recognition of graduating entrepreneurs from the Positioned to Propel Success Academy, the conference’s flagship development program. Over the course of the program, these participants completed structured skill-building training that equipped them with the core leadership and strategic tools needed to grow sustainable businesses.
Beyond supporting established founders, the conference placed intentional focus on nurturing the next generation of Caribbean women leaders through its Next Generation Initiative. The program invited young women between the ages of 17 and 25 to participate in high-level business discussions, connect with experienced mentors, and gain first-hand experience in professional leadership environments. Aligned with the theme of Mother’s Month, the initiative highlighted the critical role of intergenerational guidance, intentional support, and intentional pathway-building to prepare future female leaders to thrive in the Caribbean business ecosystem.
Organizers also extended public recognition to event sponsors, whose financial and in-kind support made it possible to expand access to the conference and advance the visibility and growth of entrepreneurs across the region.
Closing out the official press release, organizers emphasized the transformative leadership of Caribbean women entrepreneurs: “Caribbean women are not waiting for opportunity, they are leading, building, and creating legacy for generations to come.”