IIRise Rise

How a Fearless Bahamian Woman ‘Embraced’ the Power of Her Dream

By Tyrone L. E. Fitzgerald Photographs Courtesy Of Embrace Resort

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise.

I am a black ocean, leaping and wide welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Bringing the gifts my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise.

Maya Angelou

Imet The Phoenix on Staniel Cay – that mythical, mystical, immortal bird forever resurrecting itself and becoming reborn again and again. The one whom folklore and legend say rose from the ashes, overcame adversity, declared her freedom and independence, and “embraced” her power. Only, she was in human form, and she manifested herself as Nicole Ferguson-Taylor (affectionately known as Nikki) – a pioneer, philanthropist, and persevering spirit, who worked painstakingly and vigilantly to build the beautiful and charming Embrace Resort, which opened in 2011, on Staniel Cay, Exuma, despite insurmountable odds.

I sat down on my birthday with her daughter, Natajia, an articulate, emotionally intelligent young entrepreneur and hotelier, born and raised in Staniel Cay, with two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree, and who has worked in Dubai and China (a “formidable force” herself), at the Embrace Resort, to discuss her mother’s personal journey and the powerfully resilient way she overcame the “doubting Thomases” who thought her dream of owning and operating a resort was too big or too much for a fearless, striving Black woman from Exuma.

Natajia credits her success as part-owner and general manager of Embrace Resort and her academic and professional success to her mother, Nikki, whom she said made many personal sacrifices for her education, and always encouraged her to pursue her dreams and goals – fearlessly and unapologetically.

Nikki was a focused and relentless “go-getter” who started sweeping floors at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, was promoted and became a manager at the yacht club and Sandals (Fowl Cay) and overcame countless rejections from banks and other lending institutions for decades, even with a rock-solid business plan, to obtain a loan to finance her dream of creating and building a “down-home”, family-oriented, and aesthetically tasteful resort.

She started with one villa, Mayaguana, paying for her “passion project” out of her own pocket, and building the resort, brick by brick, despite the naysayers, which eventually morphed into seven amazing, culturally inspired villas, whose interior design are Nikki’s own creative vision and work, and which are named, designed, and themed after major islands in The Bahamas (A-Andros, B-Bimini, C-Cat Island, E-Eleuthera and E-Exuma, M-Mayaguana and R-Ragged Island).

The Bimini Villa is a particularly special addition to Embrace Resort, as it is a two-bedroom lock-off, complete with interior design and furnishings reflecting the island life of Bimini.

A humble, hard-working, deeply spiritual woman, who was inspired by a courageous, inspirational, “praying mother”, Nellie Ferguson, an entrepreneur herself, and who works 12-15 hours a day in her numerous businesses under the 3Ns moniker (which represents three generations of entrepreneurial women – Nellie, Nikki, and Natajia), Nikki’s gifts and talents have truly made room for her.

Her dream of building Embrace Resort was never too big to overcome the detraction and distraction of other people’s limitations or their well-intentioned, but unsolicited advice to quit before she faced personal and financial hardship and ruin.

In a world driven by social media influences, clout-chasing, “likes” and creating “space” superficially and materialistically, I found the “Embrace Experience” to be one of warmth, exceptional service, personal connection, and passion – an authentic oasis of nostalgia, familial bonding, and carefree island-living – in a word – “home”.

The resort’s core values are based on “PEPA” – passion, empathy, premium [service], and authenticity. Values that are certainly demonstrated from the first greeting you receive from the friendly, warm staff at Embrace, the minute you step within its doors.

In the 50th year of our nation’s independence, I asked Natajia what the vision of Nikki Ferguson and Embrace Resort is, 50 years on. She bravely said that its vision is to be “the Sandals of The Bahamas” and to reflect the power and potential of a personal vision when one steps courageously in the direction of their dreams.

Natajia believes that Bahamian women, more than ever, from the growth and development of our nation 50 years since our independence in 1973, have an opportunity to be more resilient, brave, and powerful in pursuing their passions and purpose in building our country to its greatest potential – financially, socially, communally, and spiritually.

She embodies so much of her grandmother’s and mother’s tenacity, strength, and foresight – a generational blessing that is a positively refreshing departure from the “generational curses” that often pervade the Bahamian spiritual vernacular.

The Good Book implores, “Where there is no vision, people perish.” Perishing was never Nikki Ferguson-Taylor’s fear nor her fate, because it was her vision of building Embrace Resort and creating the “Embrace Experience” that has motivated and inspired her to singlehandedly speak truth to power and overcome insurmountable odds with little resources and a lot of faith!

Like The Phoenix rising from the ashes, Embrace Resort is on the rise! And like a tree planted near water, it shall certainly not be moved. UA