Barbara Grant: Building a legacy of excellence

IF you’ve ever had the privilege of having a conversation with Barbara Grant, you will quickly realise that she is truly unforgettable. Known to many as a powerhouse in the financial industry, Grant is a figure of elegance, bold fashion, and a devoted seeker of balance in mind, body, and spirit. Her story is not just about achieving professional success but also about cultivating personal well-being and balance.

At 62, the sales advisor at Sagicor Life Jamaica has achieved a sense of fulfilment and wisdom that many spend their lives searching for. Over the years, she has garnered numerous awards for her exemplary work ethic and reliability. Recently, in her relentless pursuit of personal growth, she achieved the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) ‘Top of the Table’ status — an honour reserved for less than 0.01 per cent of the world’s financial professionals.

The MDRT is an international association representing the elite of the financial services industry, comprising over 85,000 top performers worldwide who adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards. Prestigious designations within the organisation, such as ‘Court of the Table’ and ‘Top of the Table,’ recognise members who excel globally. ‘Top of the Table’ is the pinnacle of achievement, awarded to those who exceed six times the base production requirement of MDRT membership.

In 2023, Grant earned the Court of the Table status, and in 2024, she ascended to the Top of the Table. For Grant, a natural high achiever, this was the inevitable outcome of her dedication at Sagicor.

“I didn’t set out to qualify for Top of the Table. My goal was to add value to my clients, and that focus led to this achievement,” she reflected.

This accomplishment was hard-earned, coming at a time when Grant realised the need to transform her personal life and realign her values to fulfil her true purpose. “I had to work on myself,” she explained. “Over the past four years, I’ve been focused on personal change. While I’ve always done well with my clients, I recognised that I needed to let go of certain ingrained beliefs. Allowing the spirit of God to work through me helped me to understand that you can’t lose what truly belongs to you.”

This internal transformation has spilled over into her professional life, enabling Grant to live a more prosperous, abundant, and healthy life. Her numerous awards, including Employee Benefits Star of the Year, Sales Representative of the Year, and Agent of the Year, are testaments to her success. Her consistent excellence has also earned her Sagicor’s Consistency Award.

Grant’s advice for those seeking similar achievements is simple yet profound: “I don’t want people to think that hard work alone leads to success. You must also change your mindset. You have to believe in yourself. No matter who supports you, you have to want to achieve it for yourself.”

Grant’s career in the insurance and financial services industry spans 30 years, with the last 25 spent at Sagicor, where she is grateful for the training, nurturing, and camaraderie she has experienced. With retirement on the horizon in two years, the peak performer has no intention of keeping her hard-earned knowledge to herself.

“I have a lot of younger people looking to me for inspiration, and I want to be that inspiration,” she said. “When I retire, I don’t want to go out alone. I want to bring up others in the business. Success shouldn’t be just for me. I believe in the law of giving and receiving — there’s something for everyone.”

She expresses deep gratitude to her partner, Wayne Francis, her children, and the many mentors who have shaped her journey, including Joan McDonald, Pansie E Bisnott, Derrick Stenneth, Oprah Winfrey, Gary Zukav, and her Sagicor family.

With her latest accolade under her belt, Grant plans to attend the Top of the Table Global Conference in Dubai this month, where she will connect with other industry leaders. After retirement, she intends to pursue certification as a fitness trainer, aligning with her passion for holistic health. And, of course, those who admire her impeccable fashion sense will continue to see her shining brightly, captivating all with her style and infectious zest for life.