Imega Breese McNab, the newly appointed legal and external affairs manager at Carreras Limited, has spent most of her life fostering good governance practices.

Born in the quiet rural fishing village of Sandy Bay, Hanover, Breese McNab’s early years were shaped by a unique blend of Rastafarian heritage and a strong commitment to community development.

Breese McNab spent her formative years living with her grandmother, who was closely associated with the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), before embarking on her educational journey that would take her from rural Hanover, to the neighbouring resort city of Montego Bay in St James, Trelawny, capital city Kingston and the United Kingdom (UK).

Due to the constant travelling, she attended four different high schools in five years and graduated from Westwood High School in Trelawny, before continuing her studies at the Montego Bay Community College and The University of the West Indies.

Speaking about her educational journey, Breese McNab said, “I’m grateful for my time studying because I believe what I learned is very applicable across the board in the public and private sector. To this day, a lot of the work I do now is about good governance; making sure there is integrity and accountability in organisations.”

Breese McNab’s passion for instilling good governance practices in businesses draws inspiration from her parents. Her mother, Jean ‘Binta’ Breese, was Jamaica’s first performing dub poet who travelled the world to share her artistic creations, while her adoptive father Brian Breese, a Welsh teacher based in Jamaica, played a pivotal role in nurturing her education during her UK sojourns.

Her journey into the world of business development and leadership began early in her career when she joined the Jamaican Manufacturers & Exporters Association (JMEA), then known as the JMA. She started as a marketing officer, but her trajectory took an unexpected turn when the sitting executive director passed away within two years of her employment.

Breese McNab’s exceptional performance during this challenging period caught the attention of the board, and at age 27, they recommended her for the new executive director role. With the unwavering support of her team, she embraced the role and thrived, charting a course towards the pinnacle of leadership in the Jamaican business landscape.

Speaking about her unanticipated career path, Breese McNab shared: “I didn’t go to school planning on working with the JMEA, I went to school to study governance for a role in social development but life had a different plan for me. It happened randomly when I was part of a research programme with my professor after I finished my master’s degree. A researcher scheduled to interview for the role at the JMA withdrew in favour of another opportunity, and my professor asked if I would be interested in taking their place. Following the interview, I secured the job and the rest was history”

Reflecting on her tenure at JMEA, Imega McNab describes it as a foundational experience that sharpened her skills in diverse ways. Ascending to the role of executive director unexpectedly, she navigated both the challenges and triumphs of leadership in an environment that may not have initially been receptive to young women leaders. She was able to spearhead many initiatives including, Expo Jamaica and the merger between the then JMA and JEA to form the JMEA.

She carried over those acumen to the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica as its executive director and became a key player on several initiatives, including Project STAR.

Breese McNab credits her success to the strong support from her team and her family, who provided encouragement throughout her career.

Passionate about work-life balance, she emphasises the importance of setting boundaries and pacing oneself amid heavy workloads. She said: “Work-life balance is something I strive for. It doesn’t mean everything gets the same amount of attention; it peaks and waves. Each thing will have moments where it needs a bigger commitment from you; what’s important is setting boundaries and pacing yourself with managing heavy workloads. There are things I love to do and people I want to spend my time with; and it’s important for me to make time for them.”