The distinguished New York Occasions has named Vincentian Dr. Jacqueline James-Lyttle, the spouse of worldwide Soca star Kevin Lyttle, among the many prime 20 girls entrepreneurs worldwide to look at in 2025.
The Occasions’ NY Weekly Journal describes Miami-based Dr. James-Lyttle as “the embodiment of unrelenting energy, a visionary power redefining excellence throughout teachers, athletics, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and international management.
“Born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, she defied the chances to grow to be the primary Black feminine engineering graduate from america Coast Guard Academy, incomes a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering,” the publication states.
“Not content material with rewriting historical past in academia, she turned a two-time All-American scholar-athlete, cementing her dominance on and off the sector,” it provides.
The publication says that Dr. James-Lyttle’s ascent continued on the College of Miami, the place she secured a Grasp of Science and a Ph.D. in Civil and Architectural Engineering “whereas driving groundbreaking analysis in vitality effectivity and sustainability.”
The journal says Dr. James-Lyttle shattered glass ceilings as an instructional, “paving the best way for future innovators.”
At america Coast Guard Academy and the College of Miami, it says Dr. James-Lyttle excelled as “a transformative educator, mentoring numerous college students and advancing the frontiers of sustainable engineering.”
The NY Weekly Journal says her “trailblazing analysis, coupled together with her management in fostering variety, positioned her as a thought chief and function mannequin in a site traditionally immune to inclusion.”
Nevertheless, it says academia was “merely the launchpad for her unparalleled entrepreneurial reign,” stating that Dr. James-Lyttle constructed an empire, “founding IMARA Engineering Consulting, which advanced into GFD Group Miami, a powerhouse delivering premier structure, engineering, design, and development administration companies throughout the US and the Caribbean.”
The publication says Dr. James-Lyttle’s entrepreneurial genius “is aware of no bounds,” including that she co-founded a music conglomerate together with her husband, “leveraging their mixed energy to raise Soca music.”
The journal says the couple additionally launched VONZUU, “a revolutionary know-how poised to surpass Uber because the go-to transportation and supply platform within the Caribbean.”
It says her ventures span industries and continents, main World 27, Inc., specializing in sustainable luxurious developments, and creating KidsVille, “an modern facility reworking childcare and leisure.”
NY Weekly Journal says Dr. James-Lyttle has “reshaped industries with a ferocity few can match via strategic actual property investments, luxurious property growth, music enterprise growth, Architectural Engineering design-build, and restaurant possession.
The publication says Dr. James-Lyttle’s “affect extends past enterprise into the guts of world philanthropy,” co-founding the Janice Lyttle Basis in “orchestrating multimillion-dollar initiatives to fight coronary heart illness, present catastrophe aid, and elevate group well being.”
The journal notes that when St. Vincent and the Grenadines have been severely impacted by the 2021 volcanic eruptions and the devastation of Hurricane Beryl in 2024, Dr. James-Lyttle “mobilized assets and partnerships, delivering help on an unprecedented scale.”
NY Weekly Journal says Esther’s Promise, Dr. James-Lyttle’s initiative for empowering at-risk girls, and her US board service with Recapturing the Imaginative and prescient “underscore her relentless dedication to creating a greater world.”
It says her achievements have earned her “elite recognition, from induction into the Coast Guard Academy Corridor of Fame to accolades as a humanitarian and trailblazer.”
Named certainly one of Miami’s most influential Black girls, NY Weekly Journal says Dr. James-Lyttle is “revered by establishments and international networks alike, commanding respect as a titan in enterprise, engineering, and philanthropy.”
It says, “Dr. Jacqueline Patricia James-Lyttle is not only an entrepreneur; she is a world power of nature.
“Her indomitable spirit and unparalleled imaginative and prescient place her on the pinnacle of energy,” the journal says.
“As a navy veteran, educational pioneer, enterprise chief, and philanthropist, she has damaged obstacles, constructed legacies, and impressed numerous people, proving the boundless potential of resilience and management,” it provides.
Dr. Jacqueline Patricia James-Lyttle – a member of the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE), the Nationwide Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Airconditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), The Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) and the Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI) – instructed Caribbean Life on Monday that “the burden and true honor of being named one of many prime 20 girls entrepreneurs to look at in 2025 remains to be sinking in.
“To have this recognition come from The New York Occasions makes it much more profound,” she mentioned. “My goals are massive, and I typically maintain my head down, centered on reaching them. However in moments like this, after I’m inspired to pause and take within the outcomes, the sensation is nothing in need of surreal.
“I am deeply grateful; there isn’t any greatness with out gratitude,” she added. “I’m grateful for my village, my circle, and all those that have cheered me on.
“I’m additionally appreciative of those that have struggled to assist me, as they unknowingly gasoline my inspiration,” Dr. James-Lyttle continued. “The attractive journey continues.”
The opposite girls named within the prime 20 entrepreneurs to look out for in 2025 are: Susan Oliver Heard, a GIA licensed Graduate Gemologist, AJA, and Graduate Jeweler, mineral seller, printed author, award-winning curator and two time award-winning jeweler; Meeri Koutaniemi, a Finnish freelance photographer, journalist, and visible artist, who has devoted her profession to human rights points in over 70 nations; Jolie Jorie Marie, a visionary creator within the leisure trade, celebrated for her dedication to tasks that foster well-being and strengthen group bonds; Alessandra Haybittle, a Tampa-based advertising entrepreneur; Sherry Lou Canino, a passionate accountant, artist, author and Holistic Trauma Healer; Shaleigha Wright, founding father of Shay Pictures, who has been a passionate skilled within the images trade for over 18 years; and Tamara Pack, MD, Ph. D, the cofounder of Synthetico, Inc., which is shaping the way forward for drugs and know-how with profound impacts globally within the fields of gene remedy, prescribed drugs, drugs, know-how, and biodiversity.
Others are: Rachel Giordano, referred to as Producer Rachel, with over twenty years of storytelling experience, connecting audiences via tv, radio, podcasts, and digital platforms; Alecia Achuff, an IFBB skilled bodybuilder, Reiki practitioner, and mindset coach; Ilda Sampaio, a devoted hairstylist since 2001 and a proud salon proprietor for almost twenty years; Sarah Goforth, a CEO of two corporations and an alchemist and artist at coronary heart; Ximena Garcia, the founder and director of Shamanflora, a world-renowned therapeutic middle in Peru specializing in transformational therapeutic and plant drugs therapies; Yelda Yeldalni, the third-generation torchbearer of a household custom rooted in Usak, Turkey, the place her household has been producing Tarhana, a fermented and conventional Anatolian soup; Meghan Lee, the founding father of Presence Media, a digital company that helps visionary leaders in creating a web based presence of affect whereas preserving their most valuable useful resource, their state of presence; Sakinah Sharip, based mostly in Singapore, a visionary chief and transformation catalyst with over a decade of expertise in picture mastery, private branding, {and professional} growth; Valessa Mesidor, a passionate healthcare supplier, educator, and creator devoted to empowering girls and addressing well being disparities; Hailey Taylor, the CEO and founding father of LEONA PRIDE, revolutionizing the skincare and wellness trade together with her groundbreaking imaginative and prescient; Brianna Dunbar-DeMike, a results-driven entrepreneur, podcast host, and CEO with a confirmed observe document of reworking modern concepts into impactful companies; and Sara Younes, a distinguished mission administration advisor and Ph. D researcher, has performed a pivotal function in advancing Qatar’s infrastructure sector.
“In a world the place innovation, resilience, and creativity drive success, girls entrepreneurs are making waves throughout industries,” the NY Weekly Journal says. “In 2025, a brand new era of girls leaders is redefining enterprise norms, breaking obstacles, and galvanizing numerous others to dream massive.
“These trailblazers come from various backgrounds, bringing distinctive concepts and recent views to the desk,” it provides. “The way forward for entrepreneurship is brighter and extra inclusive, because of the outstanding contributions of those girls leaders.
“Their journeys remind us that dedication, ardour, and imaginative and prescient can overcome any impediment,” the journal continues. “As they proceed to innovate, lead, and encourage, they not solely construct profitable companies but additionally create lasting change of their communities and industries. Keep watch over these distinctive girls — they aren’t simply shaping 2025; they’re shaping the longer term.”
