Tashima Walker, General Manager, Business Solutions, Digicel Jamaica
What do you think is the biggest barrier to achieving true equality, and what steps can, or have you personally taken, to empower more women to claim their rights?
GLOBALLY, we have made significant strides toward gender equality, particularly in the corporate sphere. Over the past three decades, progress has been remarkable — so much so that, in some areas, women have outpaced men. In Jamaica, for instance, girls complete secondary education at higher rates than boys.
In 2023, 80 per cent of the graduates from University College of the Caribbean were women, similarly at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, two-thirds of the nearly 18,000 students [enrolled] were women. This educational advantage extends into the workplace, where the labour market increasingly comprises of highly qualified women. It’s a point of pride for us at Digicel, that across our 25 countries, 51 per cent of employees are women. Women have established a strong presence across industries, sectors and fields, often matching or surpassing their male counterparts.
However, despite this progress, the persistence of unconscious bias remains one of the greatest barriers to true equality. Deep-rooted perceptions of gender roles still influence decisions around hiring, promotions and leadership opportunities. This contributes to a wage gap where women, despite having similar qualifications, experience and tenure, earn nearly 20 per cent less than men. Ironically, this disparity endures even as more women become heads of households and primary income earners.
As a senior leader, I actively work to dismantle these biases by coaching women to identify and hone their key competencies, advocate for themselves, and confidently negotiate the compensation they deserve. Beyond individual mentorship, I believe organisations must embed structural changes —through transparent pay policies, leadership development programmes for women,and continuous education to challenge unconscious bias — to ensure lasting, meaningful progress toward equality.
Meet Tashima
A 16-year veteran of Digicel, Tashima first joined the company while completing her Bachelor’s in Management Studies (Marketing) at UWI. Over the years, she has held key roles across multiple departments, including Sales Operations Executive, Sales Manager, Sales Operations Manager, Head of Business Operations, and Group Head of Wholesale Data in International Business. Most recently, she was promoted to General Manager of Business Solutions at Digicel Jamaica, driving growth and innovation in the telecoms space.
Beyond her professional achievements, Tashima is deeply committed to service. A long-time volunteer with the Digicel Foundation, she was recently appointed to the board of directors for the Jamaica chapter, where she plays a key role in staff engagement and volunteer initiatives. Outside of work, she’s a dedicated “Soccer Mom” to her 12-year-old son, a passionate CR7 fan. A nature and fitness enthusiast, she enjoys hiking, beach trips, and diving into books and podcasts on psychology, leadership, technology and global economics.
