Not just another talk shop – WeLead Caribbean conference aims to turn conversations into action

Jun 14, 2026 News

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Caribbean Pulse – As Guyana experiences an unprecedented period of growth and transformation, WeLead Caribbean founder and President Abbigale Loncke-Watson believes the country’s next chapter must include more women taking up space in business and decision-making. For Loncke-Watson, that means creating more than conversations about empowerment. It means building spaces where women can access the tools, mentorship and opportunities needed to grow.

As WeLead Caribbean prepares to host its 2026 conference in Georgetown, Loncke-Watson said the goal is to ensure women leave with meaningful connections and practical opportunities that continue beyond the event. “When women come to the event, they will leave with gems and it’s an event that they can come and grow and move on to bigger and better things after the conference,” she said. This year, WeLead Caribbean is holding a 90-day post-conference review designed to help women turn relationships formed at the event into tangible opportunities.

The initiative will focus on maintaining connections, creating mentorship opportunities and linking participants with existing WeLead programmes, including the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs and the WeLead Incubator. Loncke-Watson said the intention is to move away from the traditional conference model where participants attend, network briefly and return home without continued support.

This approach reflects the mission behind WeLead Caribbean, which began in 2017 after Loncke-Watson, participated in the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI), a programme launched under former United States President Barack Obama. At the time, she was building her own business in Guyana and looking for guidance, mentorship and support. After returning home, she realised there was a gap.

“There was no major organisation doing anything for women in business, any support, any mentorship. There was nothing like that on the ground,” she said.

That experience inspired her to create WeLead Caribbean, initially as a platform to support women entrepreneurs and professionals by connecting them with mentors, opportunities and examples of women succeeding across the region.

Nearly a decade later, the organisation has grown into a regional network focused on leadership development, entrepreneurship and professional growth. The timing of this year’s conference comes as Guyana continues to attract international attention because of its rapid economic expansion, largely driven by developments in the oil and gas sector. But Loncke-Watson believes the opportunities for women extend far beyond one industry.

She pointed to agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, tourism and services as sectors, where women can play a greater role.

“Whether or not the society is ready for it, it’s happening in real time,” she said. “Women are already taking up space.”

She highlighted the growth of women-owned businesses, increasing female representation in leadership and the emergence of organisations focused on supporting women in sectors such as energy and oil and gas.

Loncke-Watson also pointed to the fact that women make up a significant majority of graduates from the University of Guyana as evidence that women are increasingly preparing to lead

“We are taking up space,” she said.

The WeLead Caribbean Conference, scheduled for June 27 in Georgetown, is expected to bring together more than 300 women leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs from across the Caribbean, both in person and virtually.

The conference will feature Canadian-Guyanese singer Melanie Fiona as keynote speaker, with Loncke-Watson saying her journey of resilience and reinvention was one of the reasons she was selected

Fiona, who has Guyanese heritage, built an international music career before stepping away from the spotlight and later rebuilding her career and personal life. For Loncke-Watson, that journey reflects a message that resonates with women across the Caribbean. “Even if we take a step back, we still can rebuild. We still can succeed. We still can come back from just about anything with that resilience,” she said. The conference will also feature discussions on leadership, mentorship, access to finance, legal empowerment, entrepreneurship and personal branding.

Among the examples of the lasting impact of the conference is the collaboration between Grenadian-American public relations executive Yvette Noel-Schure and Trinidadian PR specialist Tenille Clarke, who met at a previous edition of the event.

The two are now collaborating to provide PR services to Caribbean musicians, including working with soca group Kes the Band. Attendees wishing to participate in the conference in person or visit the website for more information.

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• Abbigale Loncke, WeLead Caribbean, WeLead Caribbean conference, Young Leaders

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