When Iman Khan-Cummings speaks about her journey to becoming the first female President of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Guyana, as well as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for Impact Foods (formerly Corum Group), she doesn’t lead with a list of accolades. Instead, she talks about the grit it took to get there.

Her historic election in December 2025 is the culmination of years of dedicated service as a founding member and former board member of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

Iman Khan-Cummings stands as a cornerstone of the Guyanese private sector, having co-founded Impact Foods with her husband, Clairmont Cummings, and steered its rise as a leading force in the region’s quick-service restaurant industry.

Her leadership has been instrumental in the successful market entry and expansion of global brands like Wendy’s and Pizza Hut, as well as the Amici restaurant group.

Beyond the boardroom, she has built an extensive portfolio in international development, providing strategic consulting and capacity-building services for global organisations.

The road wasn’t a straight line for Iman.

Long before she was leading trade delegations or overseeing the expansion of the Wendy’s franchise and Amici Restaurant, Khan-Cummings was a young woman navigating the complexities of early parenthood.

She reflects on those years not as a period of limitation, but as the era that birthed her core leadership values: persistence, focus, and discipline.

She laughs off the idea that success came easily, noting that her career was built largely because she saw gaps in the market and simply decided she was the one to fill them.

One of her most defining moments came at just 25 years old. She found herself pitching to an international franchise group, standing toe-to-toe with more established companies that had decades of experience.

 “On paper, [they had] every advantage possible,” she recalls. But Iman had something else. “I think the edge that I had at the time… was preparation, determination [and persistence]. I spent an enormous amount of time making sure that my proposal was sharp. I was well-prepared. I had done my research. I was educated in the ins and outs of the business as far as I could be.”

Khan-Cummings further detailed, “I was 25 years old. No experience in the fast-food industry. No big capital or liquidity compared to some of the other companies that I know that were going after the same brand. And ultimately, we were awarded [the opportunity]. And [my husband and I], we were at the forefront. We were two young people awarded with that first opportunity to bring that brand here to Guyana. And it just took off from there,”

She proved that being the underdog forces you to fight harder, a reality she acknowledges is often the case for women in business.

“Women are always kind of fighting a little bit harder, which is unfair in many ways. But it kind of prepares you to be resilient, and ultimately, I think it builds character and strength,” she said.

Now, Iman is focused on making sure the women coming up behind her don’t have to fight quite so lonely a battle. At Impact Foods, she’s brainstorming ways to upskill the many women working across their restaurant groups.

She envisions monthly seminars on everything from public speaking and Toastmasters to conflict resolution. Her goal is simple: to ensure there is mobility so women aren’t just holding jobs, but moving into higher positions where they have a seat at a decision-making table.

She is taking this very spirit of advocacy she applies at Impact Foods to the national level through her role as AMCHAM President, ensuring that the U.S.–Guyana commercial relationship is built on a foundation of diverse, inclusive leadership.

Khan-Cummings is moving beyond traditional networking to focus on creating a robust, collaborative commercial architecture between the United States and Guyana. She aims to scale the relationship between Guyana and the U.S. by leveraging networks across Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Specific initiatives would include leveraging the relationship with other chambers throughout the region,” she explains. “Bringing more trade delegations to Guyana, taking more Guyanese private sector businesses to trade delegations in the U.S. and perhaps to other AMCHAMs around the world… the goal really is to drive business and to really facilitate American business here in Guyana, as well as partnerships with local companies.”

When things get exhausting, Iman’s advice isn’t to just “hustle harder,” but to lean on others. “Whenever you hit roadblocks or challenges, I think that’s where community becomes important,” she says. “Whether that’s a mentor or a friend or a chamber, a business chamber. But look for other resources and points of support to really lean in and tap into.”

She also has a very clear message for those who think “grit” has replaced the need for a degree. For Iman, education is the ultimate equaliser. “Nobody could take away that piece of paper, your education. It could get you into any room,” she insists. To Iman, who holds a Master of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Latin American and Caribbean Studies, finishing a degree isn’t just about the subject matter, but it also serves as proof of discipline.

“I tell my kids as well… if I had to approach an international franchise or an international organisation to come to Guyana, the first thing I’m going to look at is, did this person complete their degree? That alone says something about you. It says that you were focused enough to sit down for four years to study, to practice that discipline, to get the task done right,” she divulged.

Behind every milestone in Iman’s career stands a family that she credits as her ultimate pillar of strength and motivation.

As a mother of three, her drive to dismantle barriers is personal; she is not just building a legacy for the private sector, but a future where her children see resilience and leadership as standard. She also emphasised that her husband and business partner has been an equal force in their journey.

For a woman who wears many hats, standing as a pillar of dedication in her role as mother, wife, corporate leader, entrepreneur, mentor and friend, Iman demonstrates the impact of an unwavering spirit, showing that the best way to celebrate International Women’s Day is to be bold, stay educated, and, above all, persistent.

This year’s campaign theme, ‘Give to Gain’ focuses on reciprocity and collaboration. It communicates that when women are empowered to lead, innovate, and thrive, the entire ecosystem gains. For Cummings, this isn’t just a touching sentiment or slogan, but a corporate strategy.

Through her roles, when she gives mentorship, the company gains future leaders, and when she gives voice, the team gains stronger problem-solving perspectives.

Her message for International Women’s Day is a call to action for every woman in the country.

“Guyana is entering a defining economic moment. All we have is now and women have to actively be a part of that, of building the future for Guyana,” she asserts. “So, I would say get in, be bold, step out of your comfort zone… even if it’s uncomfortable.”

Cummings’ career reminds us that when we open doors for others, whether through a seat at a boardroom table or a connection across international borders, we build a stronger, more resilient future for everyone.