In February 2022 I had no plans to go to Barbados. I’d never been to the Caribbean, not even on a vacation at some all-inclusive resort. And I’m not sure that I could have located Barbados on the map. But sometimes things happen for a reason. Usha James, one of my great friends and colleagues from my tenure at the Money20/20 conferences, is originally from Trinidad. She had met three ambitious founders who are originally from Barbados. They talked to her about launching a new fintech event in the region, Usha introduced them to me, and we began to collaborate on the project. The more time I spent working with my now dear friends Allison Hunte, Curt Persaud and Billy Griffith, the more I fell in love with the Bajan culture, our vision for the event, and the opportunity to make this dream come true.
The inaugural Fintech Islands ran from October 5-7, 2022 at the Hilton Barbados Resort. The community of attendees included 350+ attendees from 5 continents, 100+ game-changing speakers, 25+ industry sponsors and 1 inspiring keynote address by the Honorable Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados. The design of the event combined business-building with unique island cultural experiences. There was a bit of magic in watching industry relationships built while on a tour of the Mount Gay Rum Distillery or in the back of a safari jeep on the way to Bathsheba Beach or sipping rum punch on a sunset catamaran cruise. The pandemic opened our minds to new virtual possibilities but also left us hungry for IRL shared experiences – and it was clear that impactful business relationships were being built in these settings.
Here is a recap of Fintech Islands 2022!
After serving as an advisor for the inaugural event, I’ve now joined as a principal and co-owner of the Fintech Islands business and we’re already planning events for Fall 2023 and beyond. We’ll grow the community this year to 800+ attendees and 45+ sponsors but will continue to bring culture and shared experiences into the design of the event as we work to be a catalyst for Caribbean fintech.
