Dr. Thalia Lyn: Building Business That Serves, and a Jamaica That Thrives
Dr. Thalia Lyn is a Jamaican entrepreneur and philanthropist whose leadership has reshaped how business, culture, and social responsibility intersect in Jamaica. As the founder of Island Grill, she helped legitimize Jamaican cuisine within the fast-casual dining space at a time when local food was rarely viewed as scalable or globally competitive. From the outset, her vision rejected the idea that profit and purpose exist in opposition. “When you do well, it’s your responsibility to do good,” she says—a belief that has guided more than three decades of entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
It is this deeply values-driven leadership that has earned her recognition as a 2026 Women Impact Awards honoree, with the Awards to be presented at the Future Forward forum, taking place February 9–12, 2026, in Kingston, Jamaica. Convened by the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance (CariPhil), Future Forward brings together leaders reimagining how capital, collaboration, and conviction can drive sustainable development across the Caribbean. Thalia’s work exemplifies the Forum’s core ethos: impact that is intentional, people-centered, and built to last.
When Doing Well Requires Doing Good
At Island Grill, Thalia’s philosophy shows up in measurable ways. Today, the company employs over 850 people, approximately 85% of whom are single mothers, with women holding nearly 90% of leadership roles. This composition is not incidental. “The foundation of our success is our people,” she explains. “Using your business to improve the lives of others should always be listed as one of any business’s purposes.” Creating a workplace where people feel supported, respected, and able to grow is not an add-on to the business model—it is the business model.
That same conviction shapes her more than two decades as Chair of the NCB Foundation. Under her stewardship, the National Commercial Bank Group contributes 1% of net profits annually—J$2.4 billion to date—toward building a better Jamaica through education, digital transformation, and community development. What began as a focus on tertiary education has evolved into national leadership in digitizing learning at every level and supporting livelihoods through digital entrepreneurship. As Thalia puts it, “Entrepreneurship and philanthropy share the same goal—empowering people and creating sustainable opportunities for growth.”
Leadership Beyond Borders and Comfort Zones
Thalia’s leadership has also extended beyond Jamaica through international cultural diplomacy. As Honorary Consul General for Thailand, she gained firsthand insight into how countries collaborate through trade, culture, and skills exchange. Recognizing similarities in climate and agriculture, she became proactive in securing training, scholarships, and agricultural support for Jamaica. “I became extremely proactive, not afraid to ask,” she recalls. “The exposure and connections emboldened and exhilarated me.” Her efforts helped strengthen bilateral relations and earned her two Thai national honours, including the Order of the White Elephant.
Her journey has also been shaped by resistance. When she sought her first bank loan to start Island Grill, she was told her husband would need to co-sign. “I felt so discriminated against,” she says. “A wife isn’t asked to co-sign her husband’s loan.” She secured the loan anyway—an early lesson in resilience that would later resurface in her philanthropic work restoring the Holy Trinity Cathedral, a neglected national heritage site. The multi-million-dollar restoration required international expertise, sustained fundraising, and deep collaboration, but today the Cathedral stands restored as a symbol of national pride and cultural continuity.
Why This Recognition Matters Now
Reflecting on receiving the Women Impact Award, Thalia remains characteristically grounded. “I’m always humbled and surprised to be included among high-achieving women,” she says. “I’m just living my best life—running my business well so I can sustain my Island Grill family and invest in others who need a skill set.” Still, she is clear about what the moment represents. “Fear of failing is worse than failure itself, because it inhibits trying,” she adds. “There are always helping hands out there. This is how we must support each other—always pay it forward.”
As a 2026 Women Impact Awards honoree, Dr. Thalia Lyn represents a form of leadership grounded in conviction, generosity, and long-term thinking. Her story affirms a powerful truth at the heart of Future Forward: when business is built to serve people—and success is reinvested in community—progress becomes not only possible, but sustainable.
