Sint Maarten: How Local Women Entrepreneurs Are Flourishing

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• 321 MSMEs received US$20+ million in grants and loans to invest and expand their businesses (as of December 31, 2025).
• 137 of the supported businesses are owned or operated by women (43%), with training offered to help them find success over the long term.
• 374 business owners participated in complementary business training, with topics ranging from strategy to marketing to taxes.

Though entrepreneurs Yumi Lake-Alie and Rowana Jean Pierre operate in different sectors, both women share a common goal: building businesses that expand services on the island while creating new job opportunities. With help from the Sint Maarten Trust Fund’s Enterprise Support Project, they are turning these ambitions into reality.

DESIGNING AFFORDABLE LOCAL HOMES

For Yumi, architecture is a lifelong passion influenced by her family. “I’ve always loved design,” she says. “My dad has been in construction for years, and that’s what inspired me to study architecture.” After earning a university degree in architecture in the United States, she returned home eager to start her career, but opportunities were limited. So, she started doing freelance work and gradually built her own client base, which evolved into a growing business. When her father retired from his construction company, Yumi decided to revive the business and combine it with her architectural services to give support in both areas to her clients.

Yumi’s aim is to make professional architectural services more accessible to residents. Many of her clients are young couples looking to build modern houses suited to the island’s environment and their budgets. She is helping more families make these dreams come true while supporting local construction workers who collaborate on her projects.

Financial support from the project allowed Yumi to purchase essential construction tools and a high-performance computer needed for architectural design and rendering. “The tools I purchased through the project are what I’m using now,” she says. “The new computer has much higher specifications than the one I had before. Design and rendering programs require a lot of memory, and now I can run them more efficiently.”

With improved equipment, she can produce detailed designs faster, helping clients better understand their future homes and enabling projects to move quicker. As her business continues to grow, she hopes to expand her team: “I want my company to grow to the point where I can hire more people and create more opportunities.”

CREATING A SPACE FOR WELLNESS

Rowena’s path to entrepreneurship began in a very different field. She initially worked in banking and insurance, but a growing interest in skincare and wellness gradually led her in a new direction. Over a decade ago, she visited Sint Maarten and was drawn to the warmth of the community. Encouraged by a spa owner who recognized her enthusiasm for treatments and skincare, Rowena decided to pursue professional spa training in the Netherlands.

After completing her certification, she returned to the island and spent the next decade working in and managing spas across Sint Maarten. “But I always wanted to create something of my own,” Rowena says. “A place where people can relax and experience treatments that support both the body and mind.”

Launching that vision required specialized equipment that can be costly for new entrepreneurs. Rowena received financing through the project to purchase key equipment for the spa, including a sensory deprivation float tank and adjustable massage beds designed to accommodate clients with diverse needs. “The financial support allowed me to start strong,” she explains. “Without it, it would have taken much longer to introduce some of the treatments I want to offer.”

The new holistic spa will combine modern wellness therapies with natural ingredients sourced locally and internationally. “When people walk in, I want them to feel calm immediately,” Rowena says. “Everything—from the atmosphere to the treatments—is designed to help them relax and recharge.”

Like Yumi, Rowena sees her business as a platform for creating meaningful employment. While she plans to start with a small team, she hopes to hire additional therapists and offer training for people interested in entering the wellness industry. “My goal is not only to grow the business but also to create opportunities for others.”