Marilyn Sealy: Leading with purpose and heart

Marilyn Sealy may sit at the executive helm of Cable & Wireless Communications, but her warm, grounded presence defies the boardroom stereotype. Soft-spoken yet firm, her leadership is shaped by decades of communications experience across the Caribbean.

Currently serving as Senior Director, Head of Communications, Marilyn manages corporate communications for 21 markets from her base in Barbados, while frequently travelling to the Miami headquarters and regional offices. In her role, she works closely with Cable & Wireless Communications CEO, Inge Smidts, and reports directly to Michael Coakley, Vice President and Head of Communications at Liberty Latin America, the parent company of Cable & Wireless.

“On any given day, it’s the internal piece, making sure our messages are clear — messages about new products, new initiatives, new campaigns, our policies; anything coming down the pipeline that’s internal,” she explained. “Externally, I do a lot of work with governments, with our stakeholders, customers, the private sector, our regulatory agencies across the region, our central banks — a lot of stakeholder engagement and management for the company.”

Marilyn began her career in journalism with a bachelor’s degree in the field, moving from print to a short stint in broadcast, then back to print before transitioning to public relations at the National HIV/AIDS Commission.

“That was a really great experience, and it led me to do a master’s in Behavioural Change Communication. From there, I’d say the rest is history,” she said with a chuckle.

That shift laid the foundation for a flourishing communications career. She returned to the Nation Publishing as a corporate communications professional before joining LIME (now Flow) as Public Relations Manager at a critical time.

“They hired me to change the reputation of the brand from a communications perspective. So… a lot of hard work. Anyone who knows me knows that my life has been hard work, so this was not new to me. And I would say in six months, we saw a change in the perception of the company,” she said.

“We became more personable. You could approach us; you could ask a question. There was a face to the company.”

Her success led to increasingly senior roles across Barbados, Trinidad, the South Caribbean, and the Dutch Caribbean, culminating in her current position.

Two standout experiences have significantly shaped her career trajectory: her role on the regional integration team during the Cable & Wireless–Columbus merger, and her leadership of the “Action and Satisfaction” campaign. In both instances, she collaborated closely with senior leadership, including Simone Martin-Šulgan, Vice President and General Manager for Trinidad and Tobago at Cable & Wireless Communications, to drive improvements in customer service.

“When people talk about a pole [being knocked down], you almost feel as if you could, you would get up and get a ladder and fix the pole. I feel so good [on] a day when I don’t see a fall… when everybody is connected,” she said passionately.

Flow’s operations, she explained, are guided by three pillars: Connect, Care, Commit: “We wanted to explain that so our colleagues understand the importance of the role we play within the community and across the region. And we also wanted to show how we care for our employees, customers and our stakeholders,” she said. “They can all be interchanged, but the commitment is ensuring that when there is a natural disaster, we are up and running in no time. Connectivity — this is our job. We connect you every day.”

‘Care’ also means implementing people-first policies, from flexible leave and parental support to a pioneering gender-based violence (GBV) policy thatincludes relocation support. The company has lost three employees to GBV, a sobering reality that prompted action.

As her role evolved, so did her leadership style.

“Women leaders sometimes feel that they have to be strong and loud… but over time, you tend to get softer and you realise it’s a balance in terms of leadership,” she said.

With coaching support from the company, Marilyn has honed her emotional intelligence.

“So, my listening skills are on. And then providing feedback and helpful feedback… sometimes saying ‘let me get back to you,’ ‘let me think about it’ — not only giving feedback but giving constructive feedback.”

Mentorship, she says, has been instrumental in her journey.

“Mentorship has played a big role in my life…. I can think of three strong mentors who have always been behind me,” she shared. “When I came into this business, I felt as if people, sometimes in the corporate world, are about just getting themselves up, but not bringing people up. And I think that is a very critical part of leadership…. As you rise, you take people with you.”

She now pays it forward by mentoring colleagues and others who need career support.

“I think sometimes we assume that people know what to do — how to write a CV, how to prepare for an interview. Sometimes they have no clue,” she said. “Sometimes people are at a crossroads… they just need somebody to talk to them through it and take them to the next step.”

The proud mother of a 27-year-old, Marilyn credits her family — her village — for their support. When she earned a scholarship for her master’s degree, her parents cared for her son for a year. Her mother’s recent passing brought a renewed appreciation for fun and warmth, even in the corporate world.

“It’s a job and we all come to do a job, but the caring aspect — it’s not what you do, it’s how you make people feel at the end of the day.”

In her free time, Marilyn prioritises loved ones and wellness.

“I spend time with the people who matter most to me — my loved ones, my partner, my sisters and brother.

Especially now with the passing of my mom, we try to rally together and keep each other on a certain level.”

To those entering the corporate world, her advice is simple: be intentional, work hard, and find your balance.

She remains grounded in authenticity.

“I always say this: to thine own self be true. That’s something that has stuck with me all my life, and I think it guides me and has been guiding me throughout my life.” corettajoe@barbadostoday.bb