Posted: Wednesday, October 1, 2025. 9:05 am CST.
By Zoila Palma: Kayla Grant, a proud Galen Eagle and the university’s very first Valedictorian, has been appointed as the new Executive Director of Compete Caribbean.
Grant, who was also the first Daniel Silva Scholar at Galen University, went on to secure a prestigious OAS Scholarship that allowed her to pursue her MBA in Barbados.
She later built her career at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington, D.C., where she first began working with the Compete Caribbean team in 2013.
Grant holds a Master’s degree in International Trade Policy from the University of the West Indies (UWI), a Bachelor’s degree in International Business and Economics from Galen University and the University of Indianapolis, and a certification in Monitoring and Evaluation from American University.
In a statement following her appointment, Grant said she is “deeply honored to be leading such an impactful program and equally as enthused to nurture and grow the legacy that Sylvia has built over the last twelve years.” She emphasized her commitment to bringing fresh approaches to the program and positioning the team to help the Caribbean navigate “the evolving challenges and opportunities facing the region.”
Grant highlighted her priorities as Executive Director, pointing to climate action and inclusivity as central to her vision. “The integration of climate action into our private sector development work, initiated through Compete Caribbean+, will be a central focus of my leadership,” she said. “We will work with governments and businesses to identify climate adaptation and mitigation opportunities, support growth-oriented business models that incorporate green technologies, and create enabling environments for inclusive, climate-smart economic growth.”
She also underscored the importance of partnerships and collaboration in her leadership style. “Effective development work requires partnership and collaboration. My approach to leadership emphasizes building consensus around shared goals and priorities,” she said, adding that she looks forward to strengthening ties with government leaders, the private sector, donor organizations, and civil society across the Caribbean.
As she embarks on this new chapter, Grant expressed excitement for the future of Compete Caribbean, noting that her team will remain dedicated to innovative programming, strategic partnerships, and supporting inclusive, sustainable development across the region.
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The post Galen Alumna and first Valedictorian Kayla Grant takes helm at Compete Caribbean appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Wednesday, October 1, 2025. 9:05 am CST. By Zoila Palma: Kayla Grant, a proud Galen Eagle and the university’s very first Valedictorian, has been appointed
The post Galen Alumna and first Valedictorian Kayla Grant takes helm at Compete Caribbean appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.