Dr. Zonya Mitchell Shares How The Bahamas Has Influenced Her Career

Experienced Clinical Lifespan Neuropsychologist, Dr. Zonya Mitchell, credits her Bahamian roots for her choice of career, style of leadership, and enduring spirit. And Black Enterprise found out why:

Black Enterprise: How does your Bahamian descent influence your career as a neuropsychologist?

Dr. Mitchell: Having numerous examples of Bahamian innovators in the medical field, along with a lack of any specialists there in neuropsychology, inspired me to pursue a career that would add to the talent pool and fill a tremendous need. Also, growing up in a country with strong, black female leaders has shaped my perspective on who and what I should be to the next generation.

BE: What is it about being a Bahamian woman that makes you unique? 

Dr. Mitchell: I share a heritage that is rich in a mix of African, European, and Indian cultures that has made me stand out, along with the persevering the enduring spirit that is commonly found in Bahamian women.

BE: What about your heritage as a Bahamian do you cherish most?

Dr. Mitchell: The rich culture, rooted in African and slave traditions, that includes food, music, dance, art, and language, and informs who I am, along with the majority rule government that ended colonialism and allowed me to see myself as a leader.

BE: Why are you proud to be Bahamian? 

Dr. Mitchell: The

Bahamas consists of a beautiful archipelago, and each island has many beautiful and unique hidden treasures, making it a place that people from all over the world dream about going–but I get to it call home.The hospitality of the Bahamian people and the rich, diverse culture that they represent is also a source of pride for me. I am proud, too, of the contribution that Bahamians have made to history here and around the world, and I’m proud of the society that stands for equality for all races that we have been able to build.

Register now for the inaugural Bahamas International Women’s Empowerment Summit (IWES 2016) hosted by the Ministry of Tourism of The Islands Of The Bahamas at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, on October 20-21, 2016, to engage with a plethora of aspiring and successful women professionals and entrepreneurs in various fields from around the world.