The life of a business leader is often misunderstood. It’s a lonely journey that relies on an individual’s ability to endure pressure, withstand criticism, manage expectations, and, most importantly, protect their heart from the selfish agendas of others. The skill set and mental fortitude required to navigate these dynamics are challenging, especially for a young woman in her 20s. However, in observing the professional trajectory of Celena Seusahai, CEO of Tribal Carnival, it’s evident that she was destined to lead.
“The biggest adjustment for me socially and psychologically would have to be the way that people tend to change as you’re doing better. People have this perception of me based on what they see on social media. Through social media, it may look easy and like I have it all together, but behind the scenes, I’m working 22-hour days, with little free time. Adjusting to taking on my career in carnival full-time has been mentally taxing and a transition I could have never planned for. However, I’m grateful for the people that continue to support me and ride this carnival entrepreneur wave with me. I’ve learned that growth can’t simply be pinpointed to one thing in my life; I have to be ready for the unexpected and for things to constantly change around me.”
2024 is only her second year at the helm of Tribal Carnival, one of the fastest-growing carnival entities out of Toronto and Cayman Island. Even though Tribal’s involvement in Caribana predates the last decade, a lot has changed since Celena took control, but it hasn’t been easy. Despite some of the disloyalty and unfairness she has endured throughout her leadership journey, the one thing that has remained consistent about Celena is her faithfulness to her family and the size of her heart. Her charisma is mesmerizing, and her smile has the uncanny ability to lighten the mood of anyone she is around. That same passion and charisma fuel her love for design, as well as her involvement in Carnival, not only at the executive level but also as a creative.
Her section in Tribal Cayman, which she designed, is emblematic of her creative vision, and her Monday Wear brand, Haus of Cee, is another formidable extension of that. Cayman Carnival is growing, and it’s a wonderful time for Tribal to be emerging as dominant in the market, but their presence in Caribana is highly anticipated.
“The growth of Cayman Carnival, I believe, is something slow but effective. Batabano had such a good thing going, and with the transition to Caymas, it will take some time to get that crowd and excitement around the carnival back. With the quality of costumes and outstanding work the bands are doing, I see Cayman carnival being back to where it was in a few years. The biggest thing we need is marketing, a way for the other islands and countries to know that this is a must-attend carnival.”
Tribal Carnival is renowned in Toronto not only for providing an elevated carnival experience but also for its ability to attract massive sponsorship partners, and this year is shaping up to be no different. Everything Celena touches has black girl magic embedded in it, and as a woman of proud Trinidadian heritage, the Caribbean will always be her place of spiritual euphoria despite the reverence people have for her in Toronto.
“Expect the unexpected. We’ve built up our brand by having people excited about what they don’t know is coming, if that makes sense. Our main focus is the quality of our experience, and we have so much in store to elevate that for this year. Our theme says it all, ‘Mas is Art,’ and we want to highlight that.”
