The Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce officially launched its Leadership Cayman
class of 2026 with an orientation dinner on 14 Jan. at the Grand Old House.
The evening marked the first time the newly selected 25 professionals came together to begin one of the Cayman Islands’ most respected leadership development experiences, said the chamber in a press release.
Chamber’s president-elect and Leadership Cayman alumna, Christina Spratt, opened the event with a message about connection and growth. She emphasised that the cohort’s diversity – from finance and law to government, entrepreneurship and the nonprofit sector – would be one of their greatest strengths over the months ahead.
Echoing sentiments widely shared through the programme’s alumni network, she noted that Leadership Cayman often creates a sense of family, bringing together professionals who may never otherwise cross paths.
Melissa Whorms, chairperson of the 2026 planning committee and Leadership Cayman class of 2021 graduate, encouraged participants to prepare for deep discussions, moments of challenge and unexpected personal growth.
Drawing from her own experience, she shared that the seminars often sparked such engaging dialogue that she found herself simply absorbing the perspectives of others – a reminder of the richness that comes from learning directly from Cayman’s leaders and institutions.
Growth through connection
Several alumni shared reflections throughout the evening, emphasising that Leadership
Cayman’s impact often lies in the unexpected: meeting people outside one’s industry,
hearing perspectives not encountered in day-to-day work, and discovering new ways of
thinking about community leadership.
They described the programme as one that both challenges and expands participants’ understanding of the Cayman Islands and their role within it – insights echoed in Chamber reporting on past cohorts.
High hopes for six-month journey
Chamber’s programmes coordinator Jada Ramoon said, “This year’s group seems very enthusiastic to begin the six-month process and they have started to get along so well already I have high hopes for this year’s Leadership Cayman class and I cannot wait to see what this group will accomplish throughout the programme.”
Next on the agenda
The cohort will travel to Cayman Brac from 22–24 Jan. for the programme’s
opening retreat, which features team-building exercises, leadership development workshops based on the Leadership Tampa model and in-depth discussions in the Sister Islands.
This retreat is followed by the Sister Islands seminar, kicking off the bi-weekly series of
sessions that explore core national issues – including government, sustainability,
tourism, education, infrastructure and more.
Established by the chamber in 2009, Leadership Cayman is a six-month immersive
programme designed to deepen participants’ understanding of the social, economic and political landscape of the Cayman Islands.
The chamber said Leadership Cayman remains the only programme of its kind locally, offering bi-weekly seminars, site visits and direct engagement with senior leaders across key sectors.
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