Women’s Leadership Programme Celebrates 2025 Graduates, 2026 Applications Underway

The Women’s Leadership Programme (WLP), a signature  initiative of the 25 Influential Women Leaders Awards (25IWLA), proudly celebrated the graduation of its 2025  cohort on 19 September in a ceremony that showcased the resilience, growth, and transformative impact of  women stepping into leadership roles. 

Launched in 2022, the Women’s Leadership Programme has graduated 32 women leaders to date, equipping  them with mentorship, strategic tools, and a supportive network to strengthen their leadership presence and  drive meaningful change across Guyana and beyond. The 2025 graduates join this growing alumni community,  continuing the programme’s legacy of developing authentic and impactful leaders. 

This year’s graduates include: 

∙ Lexann McPhoy, CEO of Lexann’s Nail Creations and CEO Women’s Haven ®️Guyana. ∙ Dr Saska Sertimer, Medical Registrar, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation- Industry Health Centre ∙ Dr. Shabeena Ramjohn, Dental Surgeon, Dr. Cheddi Jagan Dental Centre 

∙ Yvonne Barrow, Founder and Managing Director, InsideOut 

“The Women’s Leadership Programme is about more than skill-building, it’s about transformation,” said  Michelle A. Nicholas, Co-founder and Co-Facilitator of WLP. “Watching this year’s graduates grow in  resilience, courage, and authenticity has been deeply inspiring. Their journeys remind us that when women step  fully into their power, they create ripples of change in every space they enter.” 

Lyndell Danzie-Black, Co-founder and Co-Facilitator of WLP, expounded: “This programme is not just rooted  in community, it is powered by it. We are building a movement of women who lift as they rise, who affirm and  amplify one another’s strengths. To see our graduates embody this spirit of collective leadership fills me with  unshakable hope, not only for the future of Guyana, but for a new generation of leadership that will transform  the Caribbean and the world.” 

Guest speaker Faith Ann Butcher, Chief Impact Officer of United Way of Westchester & Putnam, encouraged  the graduates: “Graduation marks a new chapter, not the conclusion, of your leadership journey. You now have  the networks, the tools, and the courage to step forward and lead with authenticity. My charge to you is to  remain resilient and to lift as you climb because when one woman rises, we all rise.” 

Applications for the 2026 Cohort are currently ongoing and will close on 31 October 2025. Running from  January to September 2026, the programme welcomes women leaders eager to expand their networks,  strengthen their leadership skills, and drive meaningful change in their communities. 

The Women’s Leadership Programme continues to empower women who are shaping the future of leadership  and social impact in Guyana, creating a generation of leaders committed to positive societal change. 

For more information or to apply, email 25influentialwomen@gmail.com or visit 25 Influential Women Leaders  on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.