Annette Severin-Lestrade, MBA

Executive Leadership Strategist | Governance Advisor | Executive Coach | Keynote Speaker

Helping leaders and organizations build cultures of integrity, accountability and sustainable transformation.

About the Annette

Founder & Principal Advisor, ASL Advisory

Annette Severin-Lestrade is a visionary Caribbean leader, executive coach, and governance advisor dedicated to building stronger leaders and more resilient institutions. As the Founder and Principal Advisor of ASL Advisory, she partners with boards, corporate executives, private and public sector organizations to navigate change, strengthen governance, and drive meaningful organizational transformation.

With more than three decades of leadership experience across the OECS and St. Maarten, Annette’s advisory work is grounded in real-world, firsthand experience. She understands the unique pressures of leading strategy, regulatory compliance, and cultural renewal within highly regulated environments because she has successfully walked that path herself.

A Distinguished Career

Annette’s journey into Caribbean banking began with an unexpected opportunity. After a second invitation, she accepted what was intended to be a temporary position with Barclays Bank. That initial step at Barclays led Annette to a major international bank, where she spent the majority of her banking life climbing the ranks and breaking barriers. Driven by her people-first philosophy, she earned a reputation as a pioneer who achieved a series of “firsts” in banking in Dominica.

Her sound track record in client relations and operational excellence ultimately elevated her to a regional role. She made history as the first Senior Manager of Sales and Service – supporting the Eastern Caribbean and St. Maarten, a portfolio that solidified her expertise across the region.

A Purpose-Driven Return and Entrepreneurship

After retiring from international banking in 2018, Annette returned home to Dominica with a renewed vision. She recognized that a strong, thriving local economy is entirely dependent on the structural integrity of its financial backbone. She knew that a resilient banking system is key to a thriving economy.

Driven by this conviction, she established her private consultancy to serve two critical pillars of national development:

The Financial Services Sector: Providing top-tier governance and compliance training to ensure local banking systems remain resilient against volatile global shifts.
The Tourism Industry: Supporting emerging hospitality and tourism businesses to scale effectively, enhance customer experience, and build sustainable operations.

A Historic Legacy

Annette’s reputation for stabilizing and modernizing financial frameworks led to another historic appointment. In August 2021, she was named the first woman Managing Director of the indigeneous Bank (the largest bank in Dominica), in its 43-year history.

Stepping into this critical role, she spearheaded a modernization and transformation agenda. Under her stewardship, the Bank achieved four consecutive years of profitability and earned multiple prestigious regional awards for customer service, technological innovation, and overall banking excellence. Her leadership fundamentally reshaped the institution by strengthening corporate governance, enhancing regulatory readiness, modernizing operational workflows, and fostering a culture of performance and accountability.

Philosophy: Leadership as an Act of Service

Today, through ASL Advisory, Annette synthesizes her diverse skill set into actionable solutions for organizations aiming to thrive. Her core areas of impact span executive coaching, leadership development, governance advisory, organizational effectiveness, customer experience (CX) strategy, and financial crime expertise.

At the core of Annette’s work is an unwavering passion for human development. She firmly believes that true leadership is an act of service, and that its highest calling is to help others discover their potential, believe in their capabilities, and grow into confident, impactful leaders. Whether she is coaching an individual executive, facilitating an intensive corporate leadership program, or advising a board, her purpose remains absolute: to equip leaders and transform institutions from the inside out.

Leadership is not about permanence. It is about stewardship. It’s about what you build, who you develop and the impact you leave behind
Annette Lestrade