The 25 Influential Women Leaders Award will honour 25 women at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown on 9 May 2026, marking the programme’s seventh year and bringing the total number of honourees to 175 since 2019.
Who are the 2026 honourees?
The 2026 cohort of the 25 Influential Women Leaders Award includes practitioners from healthcare, entrepreneurship, education and community advocacy, selected from nearly 100 nominations submitted between December 2025 and February 2026.
The following 25 women have been named to the 2026 cohort:
- Dr Aartie Devi Somwaru-Jhagru
- Bonita Lowenfield McDonald
- Chandrowtie Sarran
- Christell Chesney
- Christine Samwaroo
- Dellon Patricia Adams
- Doneeta Ramlakhan
- Jacqueline Cummings Johnson
- Jessica Nathalia Callender
- Dr Kamela Bemaul-Sukhu
- Kimbely Yearwood
- Lenise Morgan
- Madonna Ghanie
- Marisa Morgan-Bonie
- Munirah Reedon
- Dr Nandishaw Ramsingh
- Dr Pamela Rose
- Dr Renuka Tewari
- Rhonda Maxius-Lansiquot
- Salome Marina Ann Henry
- Savitri Tularam-Kaulesar
- Sonja Sampson
- Dr Theresa Sarju
- Upasna Mudlier
- Younica Sanchara
To be eligible, candidates must hold Guyanese citizenship or residency and demonstrate measurable community impact. The nominations window opened in December 2025 and closed in February 2026.
According to UN Women Multi-Country Office – Caribbean, only two countries in the region have met the internationally recognised critical mass of 30 per cent women in elected positions: Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. The majority of Caribbean nations fall short of that threshold.
What is the 25 Influential Women Leaders Award?
Founded in 2019 by Cerulean Inc. and The NICO Consulting, the 25 Influential Women Leaders Award recognises Guyanese women in leadership across the public, private and non-profit sectors.
Co-founder Lyndell Danzie-Black, managing director of Cerulean Inc., says the programme is built around the principle of “give to gain”, the view that amplifying women’s leadership creates value for families, organisations and communities alike. Michelle A. Nicholas, founder of The NICO Consulting, says the 2026 honourees “exemplify what is possible when vision, commitment and service come together.”
Beyond the annual gala, the programme connects honourees to a network spanning Guyana and its diaspora. A Women’s Leadership Programme, to be delivered later in 2026, will offer structured mentorship and professional development to all 175 honourees from across the award’s seven cohorts.
As of April 2026, the 25 Influential Women Leaders Award has recognised a cumulative 175 women since its founding. The 2026 cohort will bring that figure to 200.
According to IDB Invest, the region stands to gain US$2.6 billion in annual GDP growth if women participate in the labour market to the same extent as men. Research by IDB Invest and LinkedIn further identifies the transition into managerial roles as the point where women’s career progression in Latin America and the Caribbean falls most sharply.
How can people attend the gala on 9 May 2026?
Tickets for the 25 Influential Women Leaders Award gala cost GYD$30,000 (approximately US$150), with registration opening at 17:30 and the three-hour ceremony beginning at 18:30 at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown.
Sales are handled through Eventbrite and at physical locations including Cerulean Inc. and Hallmark Store, with additional regional outlets also carrying tickets. Payment via the MMG+ mobile platform is accepted. A portion of proceeds supports the award’s mentorship programmes.
Why does corporate Guyana support the 25 Influential Women Leaders Award?
Past editions of the 25 Influential Women Leaders Award have drawn sponsorship from ExxonMobil Guyana, the Inter-American Development Bank and Republic Bank, organisations the co-founders say share the programme’s mission to advance female leadership.
Organisers are again inviting businesses to sponsor tables or services for the 2026 edition. Proceeds from these partnerships help underwrite both the ceremony and the leadership programmes delivered in its wake.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2024, Guyana ranked 35th out of 146 economies globally with a gender parity score of 76.5 per cent, its highest since the country was first included in the index in 2021. The result places Guyana among the top-performing economies in Latin America and the Caribbean on gender equality.
Nicholas said: “The strength of any nation lies in the leadership and contributions of its people. These women remind us why this initiative exists, to spotlight leadership that is transforming Guyana and to create pathways for those who will follow.”
The 25 Influential Women Leaders Award gala takes place on 9 May 2026 at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown. The Women’s Leadership Programme is scheduled for later in 2026. Businesses and individuals interested in sponsorship or tickets should contact organisers through the award’s official channels on LinkedIn and Instagram.
La Caribeña News — Georgetown, Guyana — www.lacaribenanews.com — press@lacaribenanews.com