TYLER Young was never meant to be in the background. Warm, witty and unapologetically full of life, the 25-year-old marketing intern has become known for her infectious personality and meaningful contributions to the marketing team at Red Stripe, bringing creative instinct, fresh perspective and cultural relevance to one of Jamaica’s most iconic brands.

What makes Young stand out goes beyond her bubbly nature. It is the way she has channelled that energy into impact, turning personality into purpose, and finding confidence in the very qualities that have always made her different.

“I’ve always had a big personality,” she said. “Talking, connecting with people, bringing life into spaces, that’s always been me.”

Raised primarily by her mother and grandparents, Young grew up in an Adventist home filled with love and strong family support. Television, music and pop culture were constant companions, helping cultivate the spirited personality she carries today. Young immersed herself in storytelling, performance and entertainment from an early age, unknowingly laying the foundation for the career path she would later pursue.

Her creative instincts showed themselves early through drama clubs, extracurricular activities and competitions hosted by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, where she represented her school and found joy in expression. Still, Young admits she was never the traditional academic standout.

She was not the student collecting honour roll awards or chasing top marks. In fact, school often challenged her. Where others excelled in exams, Young excelled whenever she was allowed to speak, present and be herself.

“The classes where I did best were the ones where I could talk,” she said, laughing.

Like many young people, Young’s career ambitions changed along the way. At one point, she was convinced she wanted to become a chef until reality set in.

“I thought I wanted to cook professionally,” she joked. “Then I realised I hate washing dishes, I hate the kitchen, and nothing I made ever turned out right. I came to terms with the fact that it wasn’t my calling.”

Instead, her natural charisma and gift for communication led her toward media. She enrolled at Northern Caribbean University to study communication studies with an emphasis in television, an experience that stretched her, tested her and ultimately helped shape her resilience.

University was not easy. Young described the journey as challenging both academically and personally, but through it all, two lecturers made a lasting impact: Radio and television lecturers Basilia Cuff and Brian Cuff, respectively.

According to Young, they were among the few people who truly saw her potential, understood her voice and encouraged her to trust what made her unique.

That encouragement carried her into early media experiences at SportsMax and later Radio Jamaica, where she boldly expressed her desire to work on television. Her honesty led to a split internship, part radio, part TV, giving her experience across both worlds.

Radio felt creative and engaging; she, however, wanted to do more. Television placed her in business news, a space full of important information, but far removed from the energetic, personality-driven work she envisioned for herself.

It was another reminder that finding your place often takes time. After graduating and spending months searching for opportunities, Young came across an opening at Red Stripe. After being selected, she was almost immediately immersed in major projects, from supporting the Under the Crown promotion to assisting with planning for Reggae Sumfest. Young had to quickly adopt to the fast-paced world of brand marketing.

“I’ve never been so corporately involved,” she said. “And honestly, I’ve never felt more invested in work. It challenged me in ways I didn’t expect, but it also showed me how much I’m capable of.”

Internally, she has become a valued voice in brainstorm sessions, consistently bringing fresh ideas and creative insight, particularly around how younger audiences think, engage and connect with brands. Her personality has also translated naturally into digital storytelling, helping to inject authenticity and fun into workplace content and activations.

One defining moment, however, stands above the rest. It is what Young calls “the launch of Tyler”.

During Red Stripe’s Carolling in the Streets Christmas activation, she surprised strangers across Kingston with spontaneous carol singing, a moment of genuine connection where her humour, confidence, warmth and love for connection came together in a way that was reflective of who she is.

“I’m not as small as I literally am,” she smiled — a playful nod to her fun-size frame and larger than life personality.

Marketing has taught Young discipline, strategy, event execution and relationship building. More importantly, it has shown her that creativity and professionalism can coexist and that joy has a place in serious work.

“I really believe life and work should have joy in it,” she said. “Life is already a lot, so I think we should try not to take everything so seriously. Have a little fun in whatever it is you’re doing.”

Tyler Young is part of a rising generation of young marketers helping legacy brands remain culturally relevant.

“I’m still learning, still growing, and still figuring out exactly where I want to land,” she said. “But I know I want to continue creating, continue building and continue making my mark wherever my path leads me.”