On a Wednesday evening, hundreds of mothers across the Caribbean region logged onto a dedicated virtual gathering: the Sagicor Mom Masterclass Webinar, a complimentary event crafted to deliver evidence-based guidance across four critical pillars of maternal life: parenting, personal health, intentional self-care, and long-term financial well-being.
In an official media statement, Sagicor explained that the interactive session was designed to break down geographic barriers for Caribbean mothers, creating a shared space where attendees could openly unpack common daily parenting challenges, access actionable professional advice, and build connections with both regional experts and fellow mothers from across multiple island nations. The evening’s agenda spanned a diverse range of topics relevant to modern motherhood, from early childhood cognitive and social development and maternal emotional wellness to strategic household money management and the ongoing work of balancing competing personal and professional responsibilities.
Carolyn Shepherd, Assistant Vice President of Digital and Alternate Channels at Sagicor Life Inc., served as the webinar’s moderator, leading a conversation with a panel of seasoned specialists drawn from multiple Caribbean countries.
One of the evening’s core discussions centered on closing gaps in financial literacy for mothers, with a focus on demystifying wealth building and long-term financial security. Renee Ottley, Senior Manager of Wealth Management and Operations at Sagicor Investments Trinidad and Tobago Limited, pushed back against the widespread myth that substantial income is a prerequisite to start saving or investing.
Ottley noted, “One of the biggest misconceptions about wealth building is that you need to earn a huge salary and have a lot of extra money before you can start, so waiting for the perfect time or waiting to have a salary increase often means that we will never start at all. So building wealth really begins with awareness and consistency. It starts with understanding where your money is going, creating a realistic budget, reducing unnecessary spending, and being intentional with even small amounts of money. So a mother who consistently saves or invests a small amount over time is often in a stronger position than someone waiting for a large lump sum to finally start, and that may never come.”
After exploring financial topics, the conversation shifted to the often unspoken emotional burdens that shape modern motherhood. Nicole McClaren-Campbell, a Jamaican author, entrepreneur and popular digital content creator, encouraged attending mothers to prioritize their own needs without the guilt that is frequently imposed on caregivers, and to recognize their inherent worth beyond their role as parents.
“Each mother deserves permission. Permission to rest, permission to choose themselves without guilt, permission to define what motherhood means to them,” McClaren-Campbell shared. She also urged mothers to extend patience and compassion to themselves throughout their parenting journey, particularly during the vulnerable postpartum period.
The webinar also dedicated time to examining the growing crisis of mental exhaustion and burnout among maternal caregivers. Kizzy Flood, a Sagicor Advisor based in Saint Lucia, addressed the unique pressure many mothers face when juggling multiple professional, household, and caregiving roles, while being forced to make constant low-stakes and high-stakes short-term decisions under unrelenting stress.
“While stress and burnout have a real impact, there is something that is not talked about enough, and that is mothers being kept in a constant cycle of short-term decision making,” Flood explained. “Many times mothers are stretched, and things become urgent, and this is why mothers need guidance, as sometimes the plan needs to carry them, until they have the capacity to carry the plan.”
Attendees also received evidence-based guidance on early childhood education, specifically around the question of when children should enroll in nursery or preschool. Pediatrician Dr. Maria Chase noted that the final decision always depends on each family’s unique circumstances, but shared that most children gain the greatest developmental benefit from starting preschool around the age of two.
“For me, I try to tell parents to hold out until two, two and a half, because there are important social things that happen at that age for kids. Their interaction with children is different. It’s more back and forth versus I just see something that you have and I take it, versus reactive, it’s more interactive at that age. Preschool is supposed to start at two. They get the best out of it. Like us, children burn out as well,” Dr. Chase explained.
Throughout the entire event, audience members actively engaged with the panel and one another through interactive live polls, open discussion segments, and prize giveaways, creating a lively, supportive atmosphere that resonated with attendees. Organizers confirmed that the Sagicor Mom Masterclass Webinar is just one component of the organization’s broader ongoing commitment to supporting women and families across the Caribbean, through accessible educational programming, community outreach, and structured conversations focused on personal growth and maternal empowerment.