St. Lucia Distillers
Tucked in the lush Roseau Valley, St. Lucia Distillers is known worldwide for its award-winning rums. But in 2010, behind the scenes, a different story was unfolding. The business was thriving, yet the internal culture told a more cautious tale - one of top-down decision-making, low morale, and a heavy reliance on senior leadership. The Executive Team knew something had to shift. They wanted a culture where managers could step up, take ownership, and lead with purpose. That’s when Ali Stewart & Co were invited in.
The Challenges Faced by St. Lucia Distillers
While the company was achieving commercial success, its internal culture was marked by dependency and hesitation. Senior managers carried most of the responsibility. Team members lacked confidence and clarity in their roles. The focus leaned toward problems, not potential. The Executive Team recognised a need to:
Empower middle and senior managers to lead more independently
Build confidence, trust, and communication across teams
Shift from reactive firefighting to proactive leadership and collaboration
They didn’t just want people to manage better - they wanted people to lead better.
How Ali Stewart & Co Responded
The transformation began in 2011 with the four company directors. Each received an Insights Discovery® profile, followed by 1:1 coaching and a team session to rebuild trust, connection, and shared purpose.
From there, they embarked on what is now The Liberator - learning to lead themselves and others with dignity, strength, and vision. Inspired by their progress, they extended the journey to the wider leadership team.
Over the following months:
20 managers and 15 supervisors completed a full development pathway
Programmes included Insights Discovery®, The Pioneer, and The Liberator
Team members developed stronger presence, clearer responsibility, and deeper collaboration
This was not just a skills course - it was a personal and professional awakening.
The Results
The change was tangible.
Motivation soared
Team spirit flourished
Differences were embraced rather than avoided
Ownership and collaboration became everyday behaviours
What once felt top-heavy became energised and empowered. The cultural shift reached beyond the office - lifting confidence and clarity in people’s lives beyond work.
“This programme differs from other Management Training in that the focus is on the individual; who you are as a person, your interaction with those around you and your environment. The knowledge and skills acquired can be used both in the organization and in the employees’ personal lives. Whether you have identified a problem in your company or not I would recommend this programme for your senior employees to aid them in their personal development. The results will speak for themselves.”
Margaret Monplaisir, now CEO, St. Lucia Distillers