PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: Phildreka’s journey did not begin here. Throughout her high school years, she developed a passion for community and hospitality awareness and was one of the founders of the Tourism and Hospitality Club at the Clement Howell High which is still active today. Her love of community activism and debate led her to participate in programmes such as National Youth Parliament which opened doors for her to eventually become one of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) National Youth Ambassadors.

“Being a youth ambassador and at the time the youngest among our Caribbean peers, I was afforded the opportunity to travel and represent my country. This truly opened my eyes to the world of diversity, networking, and the power of my voice. Sometimes we have to put ourselves out there despite the challenges, regardless of the fear, anxiety or rejection. The important thing is to keep going, God will keep opening the doors,” Mayham shared.

With a thirst for knowledge and academic advancement, Phildreka read for her Associates Degree in Business Studies from the TCI Community College. Not being willing to settle academically, in 2016, she embarked on a journey of higher education to the United Kingdom. where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing Communications with emphasis in media followed by a Master of Science degree in Management in Service Economy (with honours) from the University of Buckingham.

With her passion to serve the Caribbean region, Mayham gave up multiple offers to stay in the field of academia as a lecturer in order to fulfill her lifelong dream of service. Upon her return to the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2019 she found her calling as she joined the Beaches Turks and Caicos family as its Assistant Learning & Development Manager in November that year.

Her role included leading various compliance projects, delivering and developing training materials for team members and executives, orientation and re-orientation for approximately 1800 employees, certifying employees in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/Automated External Defibrillator (CPR/AED) training and working along with youth to help them see the world of tourism career opportunities. Despite the challenges posed by the Covid19 pandemic, Phildreka was able to adjust to e-learning where needed.

Regional Learning and Development Manager, Julianna Musgrove in sharing about the growth and impact of Phildreka noted, “Working with Phildreka has been like a dream team in the learning and development department here at Beaches Turks and Caicos. She understands the culture of the resort and region and is able to incorporate the necessary training and activities that will empower the team members. Her leadership style is immaculate and this allows her to have an open door policy that gives the team members full access to her and the many benefits of her department. She is an excellent trainer and a key motivator for not just the BTC team, but other resorts within the organisation.”

Now operating in her new role, Phildreka was recently in Jamaica assisting with the training of approximately 700 new employees for the all-new, Sandals Dunn’s River. She has conducted training in leadership at other Sandals and Beaches resorts throughout the Caribbean while she was being groomed as the learning and development leader. 

“I’m still growing each day, I’ve met amazing people and mentors along the way. Julianna Musgrove has been one of those mentors who has helped in guiding me along the path of planning and executing the attributes of being the leader that I am today. My mother Paula Mayham is my main inspiration as she has crafted my will to be the best version of myself. She has encouraged and taught me the importance of stick–to–itiveness, simply put, never give up. Ironically this is one of the established Sandals behaviours,” Mayham noted.

Learning and Development Clerk, Alex Bernadin, one of Phildreka’s team members shared, “she is a champion of a leader and mentor. She is creative and patient. Phildreka is able to empower those around her to give of their best and be comfortable in sharing out-of-the-box ideas with her that can assist with improving the professional lives of the team members. She is a team player and has a passion for providing training for the team members here at BTC.”

Phildreka credits the Sandals organisation for giving her a platform to bring about change in adult education through the Sandals Corporate University (SCU) and the training and development of people. She is looking forward to strengthening community relations through education.