FOR many Caribbean professionals navigating the global workforce, the pressures of cultural conformity, burnout, and leadership expectations can feel insurmountable. Dr Kerriann Peart, a Jamaican-born international leadership strategist and founder of Peart Consulting, who currently lives in Barbados, is changing that narrative by helping professionals of colour, particularly Caribbean and Caribbean American women, reclaim their authenticity and redefine success on their own terms.

Dr Peart’s journey into leadership consulting is profoundly personal and deeply intergenerational. Raised in Jamaica, after moving to the United States in 2001 to attend college she built a career across non-profit HIV/AIDS advocacy, healthcare, education, and corporate leadership. But beneath the professional milestones lived a more intimate story: witnessing how chosen cultural displacement compromised professional identity and took a toll not only on her own well-being but on her parents’ health, confidence, and sense of belonging.

These imprints became even more visible as she navigated workplaces where her Caribbean identity, leadership instincts, and communication style were often at odds with dominant cultural norms. It is this lived experience and story of loss that fuels her commitment to helping others reclaim clarity, dignity, and self-trust in the places they work.

Burnout as a catalyst for change

“It wasn’t until 2020, when burnout and ill-health made themselves undeniable, that I realised work had to shift,” Dr Peart recalled. “That moment became the catalyst for Peart Consulting, LLC, a space dedicated to supporting professionals of colour through challenging and sometimes toxic workplace experiences.”

Today, Peart Consulting’s mission is clear: to empower professionals to regain confidence in their dynamic sense of self without succumbing to the pressures of conformity, while also guiding organisations to embed well-being and cultural intelligence into workplace culture.

At the core of Dr Peart’s approach are emotional intelligence (EQ) and cultural intelligence (CQ). “EQ is about being aware of our emotions and engagement with our surroundings, understanding how we show up, and how we are received,” she explained. “CQ goes a step further. It’s not just sensitivity to cultural differences, but moving from sensitivity to respect to competence in navigating diverse cultural contexts.”

Her work is particularly transformative for Caribbean and Caribbean American women in leadership. Many of her clients arrive at her doors fatigued, overextended, and struggling to reconcile their cultural identity with workplace expectations. Research shows this pattern extends far beyond the Caribbean community: A 2022 McKinsey & Company report found that women leaders experience higher rates of burnout than men by as much as 32 per cent, highlighting the disproportionate emotional toll on women navigating leadership roles. Through coaching and consulting, Dr Peart helps them reconnect with their authentic selves, set meaningful boundaries, and develop leadership strategies that are culturally grounded and personally sustainable.

“Many Caribbean women in leadership take on characteristics they believe they need to be seen or valued,” she noted. “While these may lead to promotions or recognition, they often result in burnout and a disconnection from oneself and one’s family. Our work is about rewriting that narrative, creating a paradigm shift in how we define professionalism.”

Dr Peart’s philosophy extends to the organisations she partners with. She emphasises the importance of frameworks that account for cultural nuance, something frequently absent in traditional leadership models. By assessing how cultural dynamics influence work styles, expectations, and contributions, Peart Consulting helps organisations elevate not only their leaders but the entire workplace ecosystem.

Her professional impact is broad and international. With over 17 years of experience spanning the United States, the Caribbean, and global organisations, Dr Peart has advised multinational companies, public health agencies, and educational systems. Her expertise lies at the intersection of organisational performance, equity, and human well-being, with a track record of designing culturally attuned leadership solutions that strengthen both people and systems.

A Caribbean leader committed to global and regional impact

After two decades abroad and now residing in Barbados, Dr Peart teaches part-time at the University of the West Indies and consults with local businesses to enhance managerial efficiency and organisational well-being. She also engages in regional health initiatives addressing non-communicable diseases and mental health, always integrating an equitable lens.

Reflecting on her journey, Dr Peart stresses the importance of self-awareness, authenticity, and embodied leadership. “Take a deep breath. Come back to your body. Ask what you truly need from a deep space of your authentic self. From there, you can design strategies and make choices that align with who you really are,” she advised.