The number of the women who own and operate businesses in Jamaica has grown exponentially over the last few years. Having recognised the desire for women to start their businesses and the number of female business owners the Women Business Owners Jamaica Limited (WBO) was established in 2003. Its main goal is to foster and promote the success of women business owners through education, research, mentorship and networking.

WBO aims to provide a forum for women who are owners or principals of their own businesses. It also facilitates the growth of female-owned businesses throughout Jamaica.  Additonally, they foster and engage in the study and research of issues relating to aspects of ownership of business by women. Other aims include:

• to improve market access and competitiveness for women business owners in the global market place,
• to develop linkages and affiliations with international bodies aimed at enhancing the growth and influence of the organization, and
• to enhance the visibility of female entrepreneurs who contribute to the growth and development of the economy, through job creation and education

According the group’s Administrator, Camille Mighty, the WBO currently enjoys a membership of eighty-three business owners and growing. “Most of the female-owned businesses are members of the organization. Our founding President is Lorna Green, CEO of Digital Transtec, the first and only ICT company in Jamaica founded and owned by a woman,” explains Ms. Mighty.

Yaneek Page of Future Services International Ltd;

The Group is run by an equally talent and successful team. Its president is – Yaneek Page of Future Services International Ltd; Immediate Past President – Dorothea Gordon-Smith of Garbage Disposal and Sanitation Systems Ltd (GDSS); Vice-President – Andrea Cowan of Lillan Limited and Treasurer – Dena Davis of Solid Life and General Insurance Brokers Ltd.

Among its membership ranks, it lists heavyweights such as: Ethnie Miller Simpson of Brandz Avenue; Shirley Carby of Carlong Publishers Ltd; Lana Francis of Frankmark Ltd, Blossom O’Meally-Nelson of Aeromar Logistics, Rita Humphries-Lewin of The Barita Group, Sandra Bramwell of Versan Education Services, and Marcia Woon-Choy of Action Coach

What are some of the major success of women’s group? “Among other things, the WBO has successfully partnered with the IDB on a project to train 300 women in business. We have also been able to secure a $300m loan facility through BNS for our members,” notes its President Yaneek Page.

“The WBO is important to this dynamic group as we seek to represent the unique needs of women in business,” she added.BM