A transformative initiative is reshaping the future of young men in Barbados as over 60 students from 14 secondary schools participate in the Mr Executive 2026 Senior Boys Business Challenge. The program’s preliminary Market Day event at Sky Mall showcased emerging entrepreneurial talent while addressing critical developmental needs among Barbados’ youth.
Founded in 2017 by veteran educator Winston Cumberbatch at St Leonard’s Boys’ School, the initiative has evolved from a local project into a national competition creating meaningful impact. The program specifically targets young males, providing practical business education that extends beyond conventional classroom learning.
During Sunday’s Market Day, student-led ventures demonstrated remarkable innovation with diverse product offerings including artisanal food items, fashion accessories, beauty products, and children’s goods. Participants managed all business aspects from conceptualization to sales, operating under the guidance of mentors from Barbados’ business community.
The challenge employs a unique two-phase structure beginning with team-based entrepreneurship activities followed by individual assessments. Top performers from each institution advance to finals where they undergo rigorous evaluation of leadership capabilities, communication skills, and ethical decision-making.
Cumberbatch emphasizes the program’s significance in countering negative stereotypes about young men. “This challenge allows them to show that they are more than what they are sometimes labelled as,” he noted, highlighting participants’ demonstrated capacities for creative thinking and community contribution.
The program’s effectiveness gained substantial reinforcement in 2022 when the Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation joined as partner, adding specialized business modules focusing on ethics, strategic planning, and professional conduct. This collaboration has enhanced both the scope and quality of the entrepreneurial curriculum.
Beyond business skills development, the initiative has produced documented social impact, with Cumberbatch citing examples of participants who redirected their lives through program involvement. The educator advocates for expanded support of such proven interventions, recognizing their potential to effect change at individual, familial, and societal levels.
As Barbados invests in its future leadership, the Mr Executive Challenge represents a sustainable model for youth development that combines practical business education with character building and social responsibility.