The Weight of Roles: Why Black & Caribbean Female Founders Deserve to Build Without Burnout

Rhonda Glynn
Oct 27
2 min read

Woman in black and red dress sits confidently at a desk with a notebook and steaming red cup. Quote: "Liberation requires oxygen—not overload.”

At some point, every woman builder asks herself: “How much longer can I hold it all together?”

That’s the heartbeat of this piece - The Weight of Roles - Part 3 in my "Breaking Barriers Series".

Because behind every brand, there’s a woman balancing ten invisible jobs.

“We’re not burned out because we’re weak. We’re burned out because we’re overbooked.”

The Founder’s Double Bind

When Success Feels Like Exhaustion: Founder Stress and Burnout in Focus

We’re expected to build like CEOs and nurture like mothers-yet these are the same traits that are often used to disqualify us.

At Zoma Business Solutions, our data-backed approach shows that Caribbean women founders face over 60% higher burnout risk than men in similar sectors. That’s not just emotional - it’s economic.

Woman in black and red dress stands by a window, looking thoughtful. Text beside her discusses leadership and gender roles. Office setting.

The Hidden Cost of “Holding It All”

Why Cultural Expectations Still Keep Women Carrying More

🗣️ We talk about hustle.

🗣️ We talk about balance.

😶 But we rarely talk about burden.

According to the Inter-American Development Bank, over 45% of Caribbean households are led by women, and yet women founders remain underrepresented in executive funding and leadership positions.

That means many of us are not just building businesses-we’re building entire ecosystems of care around them.

We're the HR, the accountant, the strategist, the emotional anchor.

And while the world applauds “resilience,” it ignores the burnout buried underneath.

Case Study: "The Quiet Power of Letting Go"

From Overloaded to Optimized: Building Systems That Honor Your Sanity

One client, a Trinidadian creative founder, came to me burnt out and barely sleeping. She was doing everything in her business - design, invoicing, marketing and production.

In her words:

"Some days, I was running school pick-ups, cooking, doing laundry - and then trying to send invoices, negotiate contracts, and build a business long after midnight. By the time I sat down to work, I was exhausted. And yet, I kept going."

Within 3 months of applying The Visibility Systems Map™ + Glow, Grit & Grace™, she had outsourced 40% of her workload, doubled her client base, and increased revenue by 55%.

Not because she worked harder - but because she finally stopped trying to be everyone.

“You’re not behind. You’re just carrying too much that was never yours.”

The Zoma Way Forward™ - Practical Help for Founders

💼 Zoma Finance Readiness Audit™ → Structure your funding story before fatigue hits.💻 Visibility Systems Map™ → Streamline how you show up, sell, and sustain.

🌿 Glow, Grit & Grace™ Course → Reset your rhythms. Reclaim your peace.

🗒️ Download Our Free Checklist: “The 5-Step Anti-Burnout Blueprint for Female Founders”