St. Maarten entrepreneur Ishshah Carty has been selected as one of four 2026 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative fellows from the Dutch Caribbean, a major regional recognition under a U.S. Department of State program.
The announcement was made by the U.S. Consulate General in Curaçao. Carty, who works in the food and beverage sector and leads Indulgence, joins Najhilah Ten Meer of Curaçao, Roxanne Rodriguez of Aruba, and Nathania Engelhardt of Curaçao in the 2026 cohort.
The YLAI Fellowship is designed to support emerging entrepreneurs across the Western Hemisphere through leadership development, innovation, and business exchange. This year’s program runs from November 2025 through May 2026 and brings together about 250 young leaders from across the region.
Starting this weekend, fellows travel to Houston, Texas for orientation before moving into four-week placements with U.S. businesses and organizations in cities across the United States. The program ends with a closing forum in Washington, D.C.
Officials say the fellowship gives participants hands-on experience, mentorship, and stronger international business networks, while also helping strengthen ties between the U.S. and the Dutch Caribbean.