The Caribbean Voiceover Industry: A Global Perspective

Anne Ganguzza
3 days ago
3 min read

with Aisha Manrique

BOSSes, Anne Ganguzza is joined by a very special guest, Aisha Manrique, a distinguished voice talent and coach whose voice resonates across the Caribbean and beyond. In this illuminating conversation, they explore the unique landscape of the Caribbean voiceover industry, where talent must build their careers through hustle and intentional branding. Aisha shares her inspiring journey, from being "divinely called" to the industry to becoming the voice of Disney.

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Chapter Summaries

The Call to Voiceover: A Childhood Dream

(02:37) Aisha Manrique shares her inspiring origin story, which she believes was a divine calling. As a child, she'd pretend to speak into a microphone, and later, a chance encounter at a youth function led to a scholarship and her first "yes" in the industry, proving her destiny as a voice talent.

A Market Without Agents

(09:58) Aisha reveals a major difference in the Caribbean voiceover industry: the absence of agents. Every opportunity is earned through the talent's hard work and intentional brand building. She explains that this forced her to be proactive in her self-promotion and marketing, which ultimately led to her success.

Social Media as a Global Gateway

(11:22) Aisha details how her intentional use of social media, particularly Instagram and TikTok, led to her being discovered by a Disney agency. By sharing educational, inspirational, and entertaining content, she built a strong brand presence that attracted global clients, highlighting the power of social media for a voice actor's career.

From Corporate to Creative: A 20-Year Pivot

(20:28) Aisha, having recently resigned from a 20-year corporate job in banking and marketing, discusses how her previous career perfectly prepared her for voice acting. She shares that her corporate background gave her an invaluable understanding of corporate culture and terminology, which now helps her with script interpretation and delivering authentic corporate reads.

Championing Caribbean Voices

(24:01) Aisha reflects on the male-dominated nature of the Caribbean voiceover industry and shares her mission to secure more international opportunities for female Caribbean voices. She is relentlessly networking and leveraging platforms like LinkedIn to increase global representation for the talented and passionate people of the Caribbean.

The Business of Being a Voice Actor

(28:47) Anne and Aisha discuss the importance of viewing voice acting as a business. Aisha advises aspiring talent to be intentional about their brand, create a mission and vision statement, and reinvest income back into their business. She emphasizes that continuous research and investment in coaching are non-negotiable for success.

Top 10 Takeaways for Voice Actors:

Trust Your Calling: If you feel a deep passion for voice acting, pursue it relentlessly and don't take "no" as a final answer.
Be Your Own Agent: In markets without agents, intentional brand building and proactive marketing are essential for landing opportunities.
Master Social Media: Use platforms like Instagram and TikTok to create educational and entertaining content that showcases your skills and personality.
Embrace Your Life Experience: Your background, even from seemingly unrelated corporate jobs, provides a unique perspective that can enrich your voiceover performances.
Think Globally, Act Locally: While working in your local market, position your brand to be accessible to international clients.
Be Intentional about Your Brand: Know your "why," create a mission statement, and be unapologetic in your pursuit of your goals.
Reinvest in Your Business: Use a portion of your income to invest in coaching, new equipment, and marketing to ensure continuous growth.
Closed Mouths Don't Get Fed: Don't be afraid to network, ask questions, and reach out to industry authorities to make connections.
Continuous Learning is Key: The voiceover industry is always changing. Stay on top of trends and don't be cheap when it comes to investing in your education.
Acknowledge All Three Pillars: For success, you must master the creative, technical, and business aspects of voice acting.

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