FOR Sarah-Ann Daly, success has never been a straight line, but rather a series of intentional steps, shaped by her Jamaican upbringing and driven by a vision bigger than herself.

Armed with an MBA in International Business from Florida International University and raised in Kingston, Daly describes herself as someone who always embraced both discipline and curiosity. Seven years at St Andrew High School for Girls taught her independence, resilience, and the importance of lifting others while advancing yourself.

“My belief that I could hold my own in any room started at Andrews,” she reflects. “We were taught to lead with dignity, self-control, and purpose; those values still guide me today.”

Her love for Spanish and business, discovered early, became the foundation of a career that blends three passions: business, digital innovation, and language. It was not always easy to connect the dots.

“People didn’t always understand how those skills came together,” she admits. “But now, I see that combination as my unique advantage.”

That advantage has taken her from working with Jamaican and Caribbean brands to representing the region on an international stage. Today, Daly is based in Washington, DC at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) where she contributes to projects in business transformation and digital innovation in the new innovation and business transformation division. Her work touches areas such as artificial intelligence and digital literacy, issues that are reshaping economies and redefining opportunities worldwide.

Within the IDB’s institutional strategy, the IDBImpact+ framework highlights how technology and innovation, especially AI, are driving development across Latin America and the Caribbean. Daly plays a role in advancing that agenda, noting that digital fluency is just as important as the technology itself. “Transformation is about people who can think, adapt, and create with them. By making digital skills accessible, we can accelerate growth and narrow the digital divide that countries like Jamaica continue to face.”

Having started her career in digital marketing during the disruption of the 2020 pandemic, Daly says it feels especially meaningful to now help shape this new era of digital change.

“The future is digitally fluent, and I’m proud to be part of building it,” she said.

But while her career reflects ambition, her persona reflects balance. She is quick to say she is “a lover of experiences”, whether exploring a museum, catching a live concert, or salsa dancing in cities across the Americas.

“I love living in the moment and sharing that inspiration with others,” she says, noting that it is this openness that fuels her creativity and resilience.

At the same time, life overseas has sharpened her perspective on identity. “Sometimes you’re the first Jamaican someone has ever met. You become a cultural ambassador,” Daly explains. “Knowing your country, its history, its economy, and its culture helps you build connections and leave a lasting impression.”

It is why she still longs for Jamaica’s warmth, the country runs to the beach, and, she adds with a laugh, “oxtail!”

Her ambition extends beyond her own advancement. Earlier this year, Daly launched a scholarship at St Andrew High for female Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) students studying Spanish. For her, it is a way to create access where possibility often feels limited.

“I know how easily potential can be overlooked when young women don’t have the right resources or encouragement. I want them to know they deserve to take up space, pursue big dreams, and carve out their own path.”

This commitment to transformation is rooted in her own journey. A COVID-era graduate, Daly remembers facing deep uncertainty.

“There were moments I wondered if my dream would ever materialise,” she recalls. But she chose persistence. “I pushed through by immersing myself in the world I wanted to join with reading, travelling, attending embassy events, and building friendships. Those experiences gave me the confidence to see that I belonged in global spaces too.”

That persistence, she believes, is what separates ambition from achievement and helped her to become who she is today. And it is the message she wants to leave with other young women: “Stay curious. Expose yourself to different cultures, even through food or music. Build adaptability. And above all, be persistent in your dream, even when no one gets it. Because once you believe, everyone else will.”

Her journey proves that resilience and vision can transform uncertainty into opportunity. But Daly is clear that her story is not just about her. “Young women aren’t just preparing for careers,” she says. “They’re preparing to transform spaces, industries, and lives. That’s the real power of persistence, and that’s the future I believe in.”

Sarah-Ann Daly celebrates her achievement after earning her MBA in International Business from Florida International University (FIU).

Radiant in her white dress, Sarah-Ann Daly marks the start of her professional journey following her graduation from FIU.