For Dr Luz Longsworth, the most important lessons about leadership are not always found in boardrooms, professional titles or career milestones. Some of the forces that determine whether people thrive in their careers operate quietly beneath the surface, influencing relationships, decisions and opportunities in ways that are not immediately apparent.
Dr Luz Longsworth (Contributed photo)Longsworth explores these dynamics in her new book, Through the Glass Bottom: Navigating Leadership’s Hidden Currents, a 2026 publication that draws on more than three decades of experience in higher education, business and hospitality. The book is now available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.
Born in Venezuela to a Jamaican mother and Venezuelan father, Longsworth moved to Jamaica at five. Her career has taken her across several Caribbean territories, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, giving her experience of leadership across different institutional and cultural environments.
She spent nearly three decades at The University of the West Indies, eventually serving as Principal and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the UWI Open Campus. She is now Senior Corporate Director of Sandals Corporate University, overseeing training and development across nine Caribbean countries.
Her book grew out of a personal experience that prompted her to reconsider how women navigate professional environments. While driving along Jamaica’s north coast, Longsworth reflected on a difficult situation within an organisation and realised that her attention had been concentrated on overcoming visible barriers rather than understanding the less obvious forces affecting her experience.
“It struck me that while I was looking up and trying to break glass ceilings, I had neglected to understand the undercurrents that were also affecting me and other women in the organization,” she says.
The reflection became the foundation for the book’s central metaphor. A glass-bottom boat allows passengers to observe the underwater world while remaining above the surface. In much the same way, Longsworth argues, leaders need to look beyond what is immediately visible to understand the dynamics influencing their workplaces.
These hidden currents can include organisational culture, unspoken expectations, informal relationships and personal beliefs that shape how people perceive themselves and others. For women, recognising these influences can be particularly important when navigating professional advancement, workplace expectations and questions of belonging.
“You do not have to participate in every undercurrent in your organization. But you do need to see them, because awareness gives you choice and agency,” she says.
Leadership begins with self-awareness
Although women’s professional experiences are an important focus of the book, Longsworth’s examination of leadership extends to the responsibilities of anyone seeking to guide, influence or develop others.
Her understanding of leadership evolved over the course of her career. Initially drawn to academia, she hoped to become a professor at The University of the West Indies. As leadership opportunities arose, however, she became increasingly interested in how leaders could develop their abilities through study, experience and reflection.
“I came to understand that leadership requires discipline and study. It is not simply something you are born with,” she says.
That philosophy informs her emphasis on mentorship and service. Longsworth credits her mother as her first mentor and identifies Professor the Hon. Gerald Lalor, former Principal of the UWI Mona Campus, as another important influence who recognised her potential and gave her opportunities to grow.
Their examples helped shape her belief that leadership should create opportunities for others rather than focus exclusively on personal advancement.
“As my career developed, I also began to understand that leadership was less about being the person in front and more about developing the people around you,” she says.
This perspective also informs her advice to women navigating professional environments where they may feel compelled to continually prove their competence. Longsworth believes mentorship and solidarity can help women recognise their strengths, learn from others’ experiences and develop greater confidence in their abilities.
She is encouraged by younger women who are seeking mentors while also recognising their own responsibility to support others. For her, this exchange of knowledge is essential to creating stronger networks of women leaders.
Building the next generation of Caribbean leaders
Longsworth’s work across higher education and hospitality has reinforced her conviction that leadership development must be a sustained investment.
During her tenure as Principal of the UWI Open Campus, the institution operated across 52 locations in 17 countries. Leading across such a broad network required capable people at every level, an understanding of different local contexts and a shared vision that connected the institution.
She sees similar principles applying to the Caribbean more broadly. The region has considerable talent, but individuals need access to education, training and opportunities to develop their abilities if they are to make their fullest contributions.
“I am fully aware of the talent that we have in our region. If that talent is undeveloped, it can lead to frustration and perhaps migration,” she says.
Her current work at Sandals Corporate University continues this focus on developing people across the region. She believes organisations must look beyond immediate training needs and build leadership capacity over time.
“Leadership development is not a one-day workshop. It has to be a long term investment,” she says.
For Caribbean professionals, including those living and working in the diaspora, Through the Glass Bottom offers an opportunity to reflect on the forces shaping their careers and the responsibilities that accompany leadership. Its message extends beyond reaching the next professional milestone to understanding oneself, recognising the dynamics at play in an organisation and helping others progress.
Longsworth ultimately views leadership as an ongoing commitment rather than a destination.
“Leadership is a lifelong journey of intentionally setting out to improve yourself and the people around you,” she says.
Through the Glass Bottom: Navigating Leadership’s Hidden Currents is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.
