Building Her Own Table: How Melesia Adderley and Women’s Haven® Expanded Across Borders Without Investors

Organic feminine care brand Women’s Haven® began when one woman refused to accept that Caribbean women should have limited access to healthier products.

When founder Melesia Adderley discovered the benefits of organic feminine care products after years of personal discomfort, she immediately recognized that such products were inaccessible and costly in the Caribbean market. When she approached established companies about partnerships, she encountered obstacles rather than opportunities.

“If they don’t want to give me a seat at their table, I think I have to build my own,” she decided, and created a brand herself. 

Without investors or outside funding, Adderley spent months researching manufacturers, developing products, learning every aspect of the business, and building partnerships with retailers and women entrepreneurs. Alongside building a company, she was educating women about menstrual health, vaginal wellness, and the benefits of organic feminine care.

And so Women’s Haven® became the first Caribbean-owned, female-founded organic feminine care brand. Since launching in 2017, the company has grown into a regional success story, expanding into a trusted brand available in more than 100 retail locations across 12 Caribbean countries, with its reach extending into Central America, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Recognition Reflects Years of Purpose-Driven Growth

Over the past several years, Melesia Adderley and Women’s Haven® have received numerous honours in recognition of the brand’s vision.

One of the most notable honours was being named the 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year. She was also officially recognized during the 2025 Cayman Islands National Heroes Day Ceremony, receiving honours in the Innovators of Impact special category.

Her growing influence has extended well beyond the Cayman Islands. Adderley became the first Caymanian recipient of the Caribbean and African Women of Impact Award, an achievement recognizing women creating meaningful change across industries and communities. She was also named one of Carib Biz Network’s 2025 Caribbean Boss Ladies, celebrating Caribbean women who are breaking barriers and making an impact throughout the region.

Additional recognitions include being selected as a finalist for the Caribbean Global Awards Emerging Global Leader, a CARICOM (Caribbean Community) HERizon Finalist, and a nominee for the Caribbean POSH ICON Woman Awards. 

The company’s achievements have also attracted significant international media attention and have been featured in numerous publications, including US Insider, TechBullion, Career Sistas, The Hollywood Magazine, HuffMag, Wellness Voice, LA Wire, CanvasRebel, VoyageMIA Magazine, America Daily Post, Cayman Compass, Cayman Independent, NY Weekly, USA Wire, and CEO Weekly. 

Recognition has also come through opportunities to represent the region on influential stages.

At the 56th Caribbean Development Bank Annual Meeting in The Bahamas, Women’s Haven® was represented by co-founder Meredith Johnson-Evans, who shared the company’s journey, showcased its products, and demonstrated how strategic investment can strengthen women-led businesses. 

In 2025, Women’s Haven® received its first grant through the SheTrades Caribbean Hub’s Go & Grow Grant, becoming the first and only Caymanian awardee.

Melesia was invited to speak at the 5th Annual Women in Energy Conference hosted by Caribbean Utilities Company, where she discussed entrepreneurship, resilience, and what it means to lead with intention. She has also spoken at the NCVO Cayman Islands Beyond the Cycle event and served on the assessor panel for the Cayman Islands Centre for Business Development (CICBD) Capital Quest 2026 Pitch Night. She is also scheduled to speak at the Caribbean AI Summit, where she will discuss how small businesses can achieve measurable results by embracing artificial intelligence.

These recognitions reflect the credibility Women’s Haven® has built through consistency, education, innovation, and a willingness to solve problems that many believed were too difficult or too niche to address.

On The Foundpreneur Podcast 

While Melesia is no stranger to media interviews, her recent appearance on The Foundpreneur Podcast has attracted particularly strong interest from listeners. The podcast offered an honest look at what it took to build Women’s Haven from the ground up.

She also advised entrepreneurs on purpose. “Purpose is real. When purpose and alignment are there, you just have to execute.”

Perhaps the most fitting quote from the entire episode was the simplest advice of all (and yet the most effective):

“Consistency. Success is not built on luck. It’s built on habit.”

Adderley is preparing to contribute to an upcoming book chapter while continuing to advocate for women’s health, entrepreneurship, and regional innovation.

A Story of Purpose, Resilience, and Visibility

Years ago, Melesia Adderley decided to build her own table when no one offered her a seat. Today, that table has grown into a platform that creates opportunities, inspires entrepreneurs, and improves women’s lives across the Caribbean and beyond. Women’s Haven®’s story reminds us that purpose, perseverance, and belief in a vision can create lasting impact.