Preacher, mentor, finance leader: The many hats of Soshakay Palmer
ON Sunday evenings, while many people are winding down before the start of a new week, Soshakay Palmer is already getting a head start. She sits with her notebook, emptying her thoughts into what she calls a “brain dump”: the beginnings of a to-do list that will carry her through the days ahead.
“I am a type A, so I tend to be organised, and I tick off as I go down my list,” she laughed. That list might include checking in with her direct reports, reviewing journals and financial statements, writing memos, or simply making time to coach her team. And when the unexpected comes up during her work week, as it usually does, she is quick to pivot and assist her team where needed.
At 41, Palmer carries her St Catherine roots proudly. The Old Road District native, now assistant vice-president of finance at Sygnus, has travelled a journey that began not in glass boardrooms, but in a small auto shop where she first discovered her love for numbers.
“I initially wanted to become a nurse because I loved taking care of people,” she said. “But one Saturday night, my now mentor, Granville DeLeon, volunteered to teach me accounting, and I took a liking to it. That’s when I realised I had a growing interest in numbers, analysis and problem-solving.”
That spark led her through Caribbean Examinations Council exams, St Jago High, the University of Technology, and eventually the ACCA qualification. Along the way, she worked at Tip Top Auto Spares, first as a summer intern in third form, then through college, and finally as a full-time accountant and supervisor.
Fourteen years there gave her a ground-up understanding of business and finance. A decade at Ernst and Young followed, where she immersed herself in audit across banking, insurance, manufacturing, retail, pensions and real estate. By the time she joined Sygnus a year ago, specialising in private equity and real estate, she was ready for the challenge.
Her rise has been anything but accidental. Growing up in a bustling household with three brothers, two sisters and shared bedrooms well into adulthood, Palmer said she learnt early how to “block out the noise”. Her father, Earl Bonner, a farm worker, and her stepmother, Viviene Bonner, who worked in factories and domestic jobs, instilled discipline and resilience.
“I was determined by the grace of God not to continue in these circumstances. Education was the key to success. I wanted my own room, my own privacy, privileges that most kids take for granted today,” she said.
Today, her greatest career achievement is her current role at Sygnus, where she relishes the collaborative spirit and the opportunity to mentor others. “Coming into this new role, I wanted to make an impact very early, so I volunteered to train team members to prepare financial statements. That experience was fulfilling because I feel my purpose is to help people become the best version of themselves,” she said.
For Palmer, success is not simply about climbing ladders — “It is about making a positive impact and contributing to something larger than myself,” she emphasised.
Faith plays a central role, too. Palmer is also a preacher, deeply active in her church, Old Road Seventh-day Adventist, where she can often be found on weekends organising missions, teaching reading classes, planning events, or even helping with construction work on the church building.
Still, at the heart of it all is family. “My husband Howard is my safe place,” she said of her partner of 15 years. Her circle also includes her father, siblings, nieces, a nephew, in-laws, church family, and a few close friends.
In an industry where women still wrestle with the challenge of balance, Palmer believes discipline and boundaries are key.
“Do not try to fit into anyone’s mould or box,” she advised young women. “Be you, be true to yourself. The world is a big canvas, paint your own picture.”
And that picture, for Palmer, is still being coloured in, with determination, discipline and a faith that continues to guide her steps.
For the girl from Old Road District who once studied with siblings fighting noisily in the background, that discipline has carried her into boardrooms, pulpits and mentorship circles. And she shows no signs of slowing down.
