Althea West-Myers

SME Growth Strategist | Government Policy Advisor | Architect of Caribbean Small Business Ecosystems

With over 20 years of experience driving SME development in the Caribbean, I bring a rare dual perspective: • I’ve advised governments on small business policy and institutional reform; • I’ve also worked directly with entrepreneurs, coaching them through scaling, leadership development, and market readiness.

As the founding Director of the Cayman Islands Centre for Business Development, I established the country’s first business incubator, deployed over $21.5M USD in capital, while building a policy and delivery framework that is still shaping the future of entrepreneurship in Cayman. In Jamaica, I led SME strategy design and implementation through national development agencies, donor-funded programs, and ecosystem-wide training initiatives.

Throughout the Caribbean, my work has spanned the public and private sectors—consulting with ministries, development banks, and donor agencies to deliver training, conduct research, and implement context-specific programs. I’ve designed and facilitated SME training initiatives for hundreds of entrepreneurs, often bridging the gap between global best practices and local business realities.

Today, I lead EQUIP Development Strategists—a boutique consultancy helping Caribbean SMEs scale by integrating tailored strategy, scalable systems, culture and leadership development. I partner with governments, funding agencies, multilaterals, donor agencies, and business support organizations to deliver impactful SME interventions.

Whether I’m designing strategy retreats for business owners, leading workforce transformation workshops, or conducting policy reviews for Caribbean governments, my focus is the same: creating sustainable ecosystems that make small businesses more competitive, scalable and investable.

Academic foundation: MBA (University of the West Indies), BSc Psychology (UWI), Dip. Education and Training, Strategic Management Performance Systems certification (George Washington University),