A simple conversation with Claudine Reid can turn into a profitable business. She sees potential in every person and situation, and she has the determination to help others see it too.
Claudine never takes “no” for an answer. She always believes there must be a way to achieve the goal before her and a solution to the problem presented to her. That belief has shaped more than thirty years of service to her local community in Croydon and continues to guide her work today.
Alongside her husband, Patrick, she has employed more than 10,000 people during that time, providing care, support and other essential services for thousands. Their work has created opportunities for people to earn a living while meeting important needs within the community.
Claudine is passionate about empowering and educating people, particularly women, and especially African Caribbean women working in social enterprise. She gives generously of her knowledge and experience, helping others recognise what they have to offer and encouraging them to put their ideas into practice.
Her contribution reaches across business, education, public service and community life. She has advised central and local government, supported senior leaders in the corporate and charity sectors, helped transform schools as a governor and influenced local government policy. Alongside those responsibilities, she has continued serving in her local church and working with young people at grassroots level.
She was headhunted by Lloyds Bank to chair its Black Business Advisory Committee, serving for five years. Her work helped strengthen relationships between the bank and Black businesses and supported greater access to funding within the African Caribbean community.
Claudine brings the experience of working directly with people into the places where decisions are made. Even as her responsibilities have grown, she has maintained her commitment to the local community where so much of her work began.
That entrepreneurial passion now takes her into African and Caribbean countries, connecting people from different industries and encouraging partnerships both within those countries and across the diaspora.
Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, she worked with groups in Jamaica to get relief to residents and help put rebuilding projects into action. She also rolled up her sleeves, joining teams feeding people affected by the disaster and helping to build homes for those who had lost everything.
Her willingness to respond to difficult circumstances was also evident during the COVID lockdowns. Determined that events and connections should not simply come to an end, she started a virtual gathering for women.
The Navigating Life sessions were supposed to last a few weeks or months. Six years later, they continue every Saturday morning, bringing women together and showcasing their talents and skills across a wide range of industries.
Women join from the Caribbean, Africa and the United States, some rising in the early hours to take part. What began as a response to isolation has become an enduring opportunity to learn, share experiences and support one another.
Claudine now divides her time between the UK and Jamaica, continuing to mentor, coach and train people across generations. She encourages women to engage with artificial intelligence and keep their knowledge up to date, determined that we should not be left behind as technology continues to change.
Her generosity with her knowledge, experience and kindness means that people leave an encounter with her feeling different from when they arrived. She helps them recognise possibilities, consider their next steps and believe that their ambitions deserve attention.
Her two adult children are also a testament to their parents’ passion for the progression of the African Caribbean community.
For me, Claudine’s contribution is found in all these things: the people employed, the families supported, the women encouraged and the relationships built. She sees potential in others and gives her time, energy and experience to help them realise it. That is why she deserves to be celebrated.