Suzette Wilson Samuels
SANDRA L BLOOD
bloodlsandy@gmail.com
From the streets of Trinidad to the dynamic boardrooms of global Fortune 500 brands, Suzette Wilson Samuels is a powerhouse. Her story is defined by culture, courage, and an unwavering commitment to lifting others.
A celebrated senior executive producer and global-event strategist, Wilson Samuels carries the rich legacy of her Caribbean roots wherever she goes—blending tradition with innovation and strength with grace.
Her life has been shaped by the love and lessons of her late mother, the spirited communities of St Joseph and Lower Santa Cruz, and a personal mantra that fuels her every move: Operate with POISE — Purpose, Optimism, Intention, Serendipity, and Empathy.
Through triumphs and challenges, Wilson Samuels has not only built a stellar career recognised by top industry awards but has become a guiding light and mentor to women of colour.
The US-based award-winning senior executive producer sits as vice-president of Project Strategy and Solutions at Drury Design. She leads major experiences for Fortune 500 brands with cultural depth, purpose, and authenticity, and was named one of the Top 100 Black Professionals in the events industry.
She also earned the Bronze Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year and was honoured last summer at the inaugural Caribbean POSH ICON Woman Awards in St Thomas for her leadership, impact, and advocacy for women of colour in the events and marketing industry.
Additionally, Wilson Samuels was named a 2025 mentor for the Experiential in Color Mentorship Program, which empowers BIPOC professionals in experiential marketing.
In April, she engaged with fellow leaders at the Experiential Marketing Summit in Las Vegas.
As a heartfelt tribute to her late mother and the values that helped her overcome personal challenges, build a successful career, and inspire others as a mentor, she plans to launch her debut book this year: Strength Wisdom Soul: A Journey to Building Resilience, Gaining Insight, and Nurturing Your Spirit.
Wilson Samuels is deeply grounded in culture, resilience, leadership, and impact.
She is the granddaughter of Rose and Thomas Boney and the daughter of Dean and Chris Wilson—affectionately known as Daddy Dean and Mommy (or Sister) Chris. She is married to Gladstone Samuels, her biggest cheerleader, and is the proud mother of Kwasi, Donavan, and Roselyn, as well as a grandmother.
She is well-respected as a beacon for her former communities in Trinidad: St Joseph, where she was born, and Lower Santa Cruz, where she spent her early years before migrating in 1987. She also attended St Joseph RC, St Dominic’s Convent, and Caribbean Union College (CUC) in Maracas, St Joseph. Immediately after migrating, she lived in Canada and studied at York University in Toronto before eventually settling in the US. As she has said, despite spending decades abroad, Trinidad has never left her. “I return home yearly. My last trip was this year for Carnival, where I played with Spirit Mas.” Wilson Samuels reflected on coming from the birthplace of pan: “I played piano and was in a choir, but my dad disallowed me from playing pan, yet in my adult life, he visited me in NJ and gave me a tenor, which I still haven’t learnt to play,” she disclosed. On her passion and mission, she said, “My ongoing passion to pour back into the Caribbean creative community and nurture emerging talent is high priority, and while not leading with it just yet, I’m also developing an initiative that reflects my deep cultural pride and mission to bridge Caribbean excellence with global opportunity.”
