Reflection on the GEN Compass Awards – A Full Circle Moment

Last evening, on June 3, 2025, the GEN Compass Awards Ceremony was held at the beautiful Indiana Repertory Theatre in Indianapolis, USA. The evening began with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at 7 p.m., bringing together a room full of visionary entrepreneurs, policymakers, ecosystem builders, and global changemakers.

I was incredibly honored to be named a finalist in the Barrier Breaker Category — an award that recognizes individuals and organizations for their outstanding commitment to creating pathways to entrepreneurship that empower non-traditional audiences and under-represented communities.

Though I was the only individual Entrepreneur among the five finalists, alongside globally respected institutions (the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Hello Alice, FedEx, Antares Capital), I stood tall, not in competition, but in celebration of progress.

The winner of the category was the Kauffman Foundation. And while some in my position might have felt disappointment, I felt nothing but pure joy and pride. Why? Because the Kauffman Foundation is where it all began for me.

It was at the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, back in 2017, during my Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative - YLAI Fellowship, where a pivotal moment in my professional life took place. Every Wednesday, my supervisor, Dan Smith took me to 1 Million Cups KC, surrounded by passionate people and powerful ideas. It was there that I first truly understood what the spirit of entrepreneurship could look like — supportive, collaborative, bold, and inclusive.

I learned from the best. And I took those lessons home with me. I even enrolled in their Kauffman FastTrac program!

What followed was years of dedication to building an inclusive ecosystem in St. Lucia and the Eastern Caribbean. Through programs like Startup Huddle, Entrepreneurship World Cup, and Global Entrepreneurship Week, I made it my mission to help others access what I once needed myself: opportunity, support, visibility, and belief.

To now be recognized alongside the very organization that sparked my fire is deeply surreal. My journey came full circle last night. And although I couldn’t be there in person, my heart was in that room, cheering loudly.

To the team at the Kauffman Foundation: Thank you. Thank you for fueling the hidden fire in me. By God's grace, everything I’ve accomplished was built on the foundation you helped lay. Your impact stretched far beyond your walls — it reached me in St. Lucia.

I implemented everything I learned from your programs, your culture, and your spirit. To now be recognized at the same level as you is humbling and deeply affirming.

This is a divine moment orchestrated by God — a reminder that no effort is wasted and that purpose always finds a way.

My hope is that one day soon, I can work directly with the Kauffman Foundation to deepen my learning and bring even more transformative growth to my local ecosystem.

What a journey. What a moment. What a beautiful beginning to what comes next.

P.S.: I want to give a shout-out to a friend and fellow Caribbean Trailblazer, Cardelle Fergusson of the Barbados Youth Business Trust. Congratulations again on your nomination in the Ecosystem Champion category.