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.
