How do women rise and lead in spaces long dominated by men? For JAMPRO President Shullette Cox, the answer lies in authenticity, self-awareness, and a strong support system.
At the recent Women in Leadership Conference, Cox reflected on her own career journey from study leave abroad to shaping national strategy back home in Jamaica and offered advice to Caribbean women aiming to lead with purpose.
00:00Charlotte Cox, president of the Jamaica Promotions Corporation, JamPro, says women across the Caribbean are breaking barriers and leading in traditionally male-dominated spaces.
00:11Drawing from her personal journey, Cox shared that she was raised in a family of strong women and always felt empowered to pursue her goals without limitation.
00:19I remember I went on StudyLeaf maybe two or three years into my JamPro journey and did my master's for development economics in Massachusetts.
00:34And when I was finished, I had the opportunity to stay in the U.S. for a little bit to work.
00:39And I reached out to my president at the time, asked whether or not I could be transferred to our office in New York.
00:47No problem at all.
00:48And I was able to gain that experience to work in New York for almost three years in the JamPro office there.
00:56After returning to Jamaica, Cox was offered a position in the office of the prime minister, thanks to a connection with the deputy president.
01:03She credits both the deputy and her predecessor with playing key roles in shaping her career.
01:09She says women in leadership must hold themselves accountable, be self-aware and stay authentic to maintain the trust of their teams.
01:16If for any reason you try to be anything less than who you are, it erodes trust on day one.
01:24And so you have to be very self-aware of where your strengths are, where your gaps are, and what's the best way to fill those gaps.
01:34Cox explained that this type of self-reflection isn't just informed by her team or mentors.
01:40It's a habit she actively practices.
01:43She stressed that a leader's strength is rooted in their reputation, something JamPro reinforces through its core values, integrity, respect, innovation, and excellence, or IRE.
01:55Some of the key habits and skills that I think are important are active listening.
02:02And I spoke about that.
02:03You have to listen to people.
02:04You have to communicate with people.
02:06You have to be informed and decisive.
02:10Nobody wants a leader that makes a decision today and a different decision with no change in information tomorrow.
02:17And I also do have to be adaptable, flexible, and open to change, but it has to be measured.
02:24And it has to, as I said, you have to communicate.
02:26Why was that a good decision yesterday and today?
02:29It's not a good decision.
02:31She added that leaders must be clear, adaptable, and empathetic, connecting with clients and team members,
02:37building strong teams, navigating uncertainty, and staying grounded during crises.
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