AT Sagicor Group Jamaica, leadership is more than a title, it is a culture — one that is built on empowerment and opportunity. As the world celebrated International Women’s Day 2025 Saturday, under the theme #AccelerateAction, Sagicor is empowering women to lead and break barriers.

The financial services conglomerate has long recognised that achieving true success requires a diverse leadership team that reflects the strengths, talents, and ambitions of its people. Women hold 68 per cent of leadership roles within the company, a testament to the group’s commitment to ensuring that leadership is not just accessible, but fully attainable for all.

Coretta Foster, vice president of Group Human Resources at Sagicor Group Jamaica, says Sagicor has been a place where leaders are made. She added that the group has always provided “numerous opportunities for upliftment for team members, with a focus on learning and development, finding a clear career path, and strong mentorship”.

Foster, who has been with the group since 1991, recalls her start at the financial group.

“From day one, I was encouraged to grow, whether through formal training or hands-on experiences. At every stage, I knew what was next, and I always had guidance to get there,” she said.

The leadership team at Sagicor looks to mould the whole person. Foster’s career, like many women at Sagicor, was built gradually. She started at the company as a customer service representative before transitioning into management. Foster revealed that, “as a young manager I was ambitious but unsure”. She credits her then manager for providing her with the necessary skills to excel.

“She would set target assignments that scared me at first, but forced me to grow. She also gave me room to learn and make mistakes without fear of failure. Most importantly, she believed in me before I fully believed in myself. That kind of support shaped the leader I am today,” she said.

At Sagicor Group Jamaica, women hold a significant number of senior leadership roles, made possible through mentorship, leadership programmes, and work-life balance initiatives.

Jodi-Kaye Ennis, assistant vice president of corporate strategy at Sagicor Group Jamaica Limited, reinforced this.

“Sagicor played a huge role in my growth, I was given hands-on experience in spearheading projects. My leadership abilities were identified, and I was quickly entrusted with opportunities to hone these skills,” she said.

“One of my proudest moments as a leader was aligning the strategic direction of our subsidiaries to drive synergy and impact.”

Ennis encourages women entering the workforce, “[to] let your values guide you, pursue excellence, stay true to your unique strengths, and always embrace continuous learning and change.”