In our February 2026 Community Chat, and with members of the Caribbean tech community, an HR Consultant and Founder and CEO of Persolve Limited in Trinidad and Tobago, Joel-Ann Cook-Walcott, and a long-time friend of the Show, Steven Williams, the Executive Director of Sunisle Communications Inc., and the Principal Consultant of Data Privacy and Management Advisory Services in Barbados, the panel discusses: The evolving need for Caribbean digital sovereignty, and will the Silicon Valley tech culture shape the Caribbean workplace?

 

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

The world as we know it is in the process of a paradigm shift. Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how organisations operate and how countries think about control over their data and digital infrastructure. Its influence spans day-to-day workplace activities, organisational decision-making, and national strategies around technological independence.

In the workplace, AI is transforming both roles and processes. Routine, repetitive tasks—such as data entry, basic customer service, scheduling, and document processing—are increasingly automated, allowing employees to focus on higher-value activities that require judgment, creativity, and emotional intelligence. At the process level, AI-driven systems are accelerating data analysis, improving forecasting, and supporting evidence-based decision-making. However, these gains are accompanied by challenges, including employee resistance, skills gaps, and the need for strong governance and change management frameworks to ensure responsible and effective deployment.

Beyond the enterprise, AI is also reshaping data sovereignty strategies at the national level. Governments are increasingly concerned about where their data is stored, how it is processed, and which foreign entities may have access to it. For small and developing states, including those in the Caribbean, these trends raise important strategic questions.

These considerations are the basis of this month’s Community Chat podcast episode. However, before we share the topics, allow us to introduce our guest panellists.  

 

Introducing our guests

Joel-Ann Cook-Walcott

Joel-Ann Cook-Walcott‘s journey in Human Resources Management spans over 30 years, igniting her passion for transformative leadership and organisational development.

From her early career at a state enterprise to her present role as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Persolve Limited, she has navigated diverse sectors, honing her expertise in talent management, organisational transformation, and leadership development.

As a certified DiSC specialist, Joel-Ann leverages her deep understanding of human behaviour to drive impactful change within organisations. Her role at Persolve Limited has been instrumental in advocating for leadership and emotional intelligence to foster inclusive and high-performing work cultures.

Under Joel-Ann’s leadership, Persolve Limited continues to pioneer innovative strategies in instructional design and training, leadership development, organisation design, performance consulting, and organisation development. Her relentless pursuit of excellence is reflected in her certifications, including PHR from HRCI and SHRM, demonstrating her commitment to continuous development and staying at the forefront of HR best practices.

Joel-Ann’s dedication to empowering others extends beyond the boardroom, as she actively engages with postgraduate students, sharing her wealth of knowledge and experience. She is a sought-after speaker at regional and local conferences, where she shares insights on leadership, talent development, and organisational effectiveness.

At Persolve Limited, Joel-Ann provides top-notch HR management services to a diverse clientele, empowering leaders and professionals across Trinidad and Tobago and the region. With her unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation, Joel-Ann continues to shape the future of HR management, one transformative initiative at a time.

Steven Williams

Steven A. Williams is the Founder and Executive Director of three companies: Sunisle Technology Solutions, a managed service provider; Data Privacy and Management Advisory Services (DPMAS), a consultancy focusing on data privacy; and Sports Beyond Borders, a digital sports broadcasting network. a multi-faceted entrepreneur and business technologist based in Barbados.

Steven has served as an IT Advisor to the Government’s Law Review Commission and currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Fair Trading Commission in Barbados. He is a sought-after speaker on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to cybersecurity.

Steven has a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Durham and specialised certifications in Information Security and Data Protection, and commands a unique blend of business acumen and technical expertise.

 

The topics discussed

We kicked off this Community Chat by discussing “The evolving need for Caribbean digital sovereignty”, which has become increasingly topical and relevant in light of current geopolitics and as diplomatic relations become more tense, especially as the region has found itself in the crosshairs of bigger battles with individual countries. Hence, countries are being charged with finding ways to safeguard their citizens whilst also, and perhaps more importantly, maintaining their autonomy, including in the digital space.

We then tackled “Will the Silicon Valley tech culture shape the Caribbean workplace?”, which used an internal memo from Shopify as a jumping-off point. Last year, 2025, Shopify’s leadership circulated an internal memo emphasising that AI proficiency has become “a fundamental expectation of everyone”. There has been an appreciation that Shopify’s posture on AI’s role in the workplace will spread across the US and could even reach the Caribbean region. But what could this mean for the Caribbean workplace? And what are the implications?

 

We would love to hear your from you!

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Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

 

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that were mentioned during the episode, or might otherwise be useful:

 

 

Images credit:  J-A Cook-Walcott;  S Williams;  starline (Freepik); kp yamu Jayanath (Pixabay); pch.vector (Freepik)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez