IN today’s fast-paced professional world, many women juggle demanding careers alongside family responsibilities in addition to the invisible mental load that often accompanies both. Finding time to pause and recharge can often fall to the bottom of the list.

Recognising this reality, Red Stripe marked International Women’s Day (IWD) by intentionally creating that space within the workday.

Women from across the organisation gathered at the company’s headquarters for a hands-on candle-making workshop designed to encourage creativity, conversation and connection among colleagues.

The session was organised by WeCan (Women Empowerment through Collaboration, Allyship & Networking), Red Stripe’s employee resource group focused on advancing gender equity and strengthening support networks across the organisation.

Participants spent the afternoon blending fragrances, selecting colours and pouring wax into moulds to create personalised candles; a process that naturally sparked conversation as colleagues from different teams connected outside their usual work routines.

According to Amoye Phillpotts-Brown, brand manager and a member of the WeCan organising team, the activity was deliberately chosen as a different way to mark the occasion.

“Over the years we’ve hosted panel discussions and speaker sessions for International Women’s Day, and those conversations are always valuable,” Phillpotts-Brown said. “But this year we wanted to be more intentional about creating a hands-on experience where women could step away from the pace of the day, engage in something creative and still have those important conversations about work-life pressures and how we navigate them.”

“There’s something incredibly calming about the process of making candles,” she added. “You’re focused on the fragrance, the colours and the pouring of the wax, and for that moment you’re fully present. What makes it even more meaningful is that when you take the candle home and light it later, it reminds you of the experience and the connections you shared with colleagues.”

For Ladene Jones-Mitchell, administrator of commerce and support, the experience offered a refreshing change of pace. “It was such a relaxing activity,” she said. “We spend so much of our day moving from task to task, so taking the time to create something with your hands while talking and laughing with colleagues was really special.”

Junior Brand Manager Hanna Turner noted that the activity also created a natural environment for connection across teams. “When you take people out of the meeting room and put them in a creative setting, the conversations flow differently,” Turner said. “It gives you the chance to connect with colleagues you might not interact with every day.”

The workshop was facilitated by Flames JA, a Jamaican small business founded by entrepreneurs Le’anna Smith and Kailyn Bennett, who guided participants through the candle-making process while sharing insights into the craft.

The celebration also included the announcement of a new internal recognition initiative. Phillpotts-Brown revealed the launch of Red Stripe’s “Woman of the Quarter” programme, designed to recognise and celebrate women across the organisation who are making exceptional contributions to the business and their teams.

Each participant left the session with a handmade candle and a renewed appreciation for the value of creating moments of connection within the workday.

It’s all in the details! Digital Transformation Manager Cavell Francis sized up her materials and got ready to dive into candle-making.