50 Most Powerful Jamaican Women in Business for 2012

BUSINESSUITE Magazines Annual ranking of Jamaica’s leading businesswomen

A woman of power: she is ambitious, a risk-taker, driven, determined, creative, a confident leader; she is unafraid to allow her passions to order her steps, or her gifts and talents to become her own personal calling card. Across Jamaica, there are powerful women in all sectors, so picking the 50 most powerful is a daunting task to say the least.

How we pick the Power 50

The list is compiled by BUSINESSUITE Magazine based on an established format created by FORTUNE editors, who consider four criteria:

1. The size and importance of the woman’s business in the Jamaican economy,
2. The health and direction of the business,
3. The arc of the woman’s career,
4. Societal and cultural influence.

Note however that Businessuite was not privy to financial statements from the various companies mentioned, and as such this was not factored into our listing and placements. Readers are therefore free to debate and discuss the names and placement of individuals. However, applying the criteria listed above, BUSINESSUITE Magazine’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business for 2012 are:

Honorable Mention:

# 51 Hilary Phillips, Appeals Court Justice

51. Hilary Phillips

While Justice Phillips is not in business, her influence on the bench warrants special mention. Hilary Philips is the daughter of former chief justice, Sir Rowland Phillips, and is the first female president of the Jamaican Bar Association, where she served between 2001 and 2004. Phillips was admitted to the Jamaican bar in 1974 and was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1998.  Phillips, who has been a senior partner of Grant, Stewart, Phillips and Company, has extensive experience in civil litigation and served as a tutor at the Norman Manley Law School in civil procedures since 1994.  She was also vice-president of the Organisation of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations from 2003-2006 and has served in several other organisations and has been the Justice Reform chairman since 2007.  Justice Phillips rose to the bench of the Appeal Court in 2009. BM