By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — The Pegasus Corporate Suites in Kingston became a vibrant hub of regional female empowerment on Saturday as hundreds of prominent executives, policymakers, and entrepreneurs gathered for the high-profile WeLead Conference 2026.
Held under the theme “Guyana to the World: Women Building Global Bridges,” the symposium featured a powerful keynote address by Canadian-born, Grammy Award-winning R&B singer and proud Guyanese descendant, Melanie Fiona. Returning to the shores of her mother’s homeland for her first major appearance in decades, the global artist reframed the conversation about national development, declaring that the country’s ultimate economic superpower lies in the intellect and leadership of its women rather than in its offshore oil fields.
“Guyana’s greatest asset is not its vast natural or mineral wealth; it is its people—particularly the women who lead, innovate, and inspire daily transformation across their local communities,” Fiona asserted, moving the audience to consecutive standing ovations.
Drawing raw parallels from her decorated journey in the international music industry, the It Kills Me singer challenged attendees to confront internalized fears and imposter syndrome that delay personal enterprise.
“Stop asking for permission to pursue your goals,” Fiona urged. “Walk boldly. Lead courageously. Give generously. Dream globally. One empowered woman can change a single life, but thousands of empowered women operating in absolute alignment can transform an entire nation.”
Fiona also opened up about the heavy sacrifices her immigrant parents made in Toronto and shared how the vulnerabilities of motherhood awakened her highest creative and business capacities, driving her to build holistic, modern platforms like The Mama’s Den podcast and the Belly Belly community network.
Intersectoral Voices at WeLead 2026
The full-day summit, curated to mark Guyana’s ongoing 60th Independence Diamond Jubilee, featured a high-level panel of state ministers, corporate compliance legal practitioners, and human rights advocates:
- Charles Ramson Jr. (Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport): Challenged aspiring female leaders to systematically prepare for governance roles ahead of schedule, emphasizing that modern organizational leadership is defined entirely by technical capability, courage, and delivery discipline—not gender.
- Dr. Vindhya Persaud (Minister of Human Services and Social Security): Encouraged participants to maintain an uncompromised sense of authenticity and resilience in public office, highlighting the state’s ongoing expansion of the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) marketplace.
- Yolander Sammy (Attorney-at-Law & Corporate Compliance Director): Focused on the urgent legal and structural requirement for corporate boards to build inclusive, equitable operating environments that actively value and amplify diverse female voices.
- Pamela Nauth (Social Development Professional): Stressed the critical importance of ensuring macro-economic opportunities trickle down to grassroot levels, bridging access gaps for rural and hinterland women across the interior regions.
Reflecting on the organization’s steep growth curve since its inception, WeLead Founder Abbigale Loncke-Watson explained that the 2026 conference was intentionally structured to act as a concrete execution vehicle rather than a temporary conversational “talk shop.”
To ensure the connections forged at the Pegasus corporate wings translate into long-term commercial returns, Loncke-Watson announced that WeLead is implementing a structured 90-day post-conference review. The follow-up program will link participants directly with established regional mentors, legal compliance experts, and international networks such as the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs—safely bridging the gap between local enterprises and global export markets.
