Suzette Wilson Samuels has always been the woman behind the curtain; the one who makes things happen, sometimes pulling off the impossible while staying out of the spotlight.
But the Trinidad and Tobago-born, US-based events executive is about to step out of her comfort zone and make a move that is more than a professional pivot of her Strength Wisdom Soul (SWS) brand. She will be forming alliances with people in the local cultural industry to share her years of knowledge of the events and experience industry through speaking engagements and the development of workshops.
"I am not the person that will step into the room and take over the conversation. I’ll sit back and pay attention and tell you what will happen in the room. So this is me, in my new chapter doing everything uncomfortable so I can lend my voice and be more purposeful. So I’m hitting the speaking forum, doing more consulting and figuring out which brands I can help support."
This decision, though, has deep Caribbean and familial roots and is not just a project on a whim.
"It’s personal. I want to bring my voice, my tools, and my lived wisdom back to the Caribbean – not to lecture, but to learn, to listen, and to build," she told WMN in a Zoom interview.
"I’m actively cultivating partnerships with creatives and professionals who have long been doing this work on the ground, including Richard Gordon of Kairi People, whose vision and professionalism I truly respect.
[caption id="attachment_1155720" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Suzette Wilson Samuels with her husband, Gladestone. -[/caption]
"I don’t pretend to know it all. I just want to add value, not volume, to what’s already here.
"This isn’t about coming home with answers, it’s about coming home with questions, with collaboration, and with care."
And Wilson Samuels' industry knowledge and experience is extensive, having started at the lowest rung and working her way up the ladder.
"From the front desk to executive leadership, I climbed every step. I built events that spanned continents, teams, brands, celebrities – and I did it all with a quiet drive and a deep love for the work."
Among her clients are IBM for which she worked for over 20 years, and she has headed projects that featured people the likes of Serena Williams, Gwen Stefani, Sheryl Crow, Tom Hanks, Caroline Wanga, and Will Smith.
"I’ve produced for thousands and built teams that could execute flawlessly on tight timelines and even tighter expectations."
Now her focus is set on the beautiful Caribbean islands and its variety of cultural experiences – many of which she has had a first-hand taste.
"Even though I have so many years in the industry, I have not done much in the Caribbean, so I have to learn from the people there. So I want to share my knowledge, my experience, my success in executing large scale events. Some things will translate and some thing won’t. I’m not coming to take over, I need to learn what works in each island because each is different – the culture, the experiences."
Professionall
