Venice Mundle Harvey — Business Professional, Entrepreneur, Community Leader, and Service to the Least Among These

 The Ward Post’s Series profiling Caribbean Diaspora Leadership, Professionalism, Entrepreneurship, and Community Engagement 

(Second in Series)

Written by Ambassador Curtis A. Ward with the cooperation of  Venice Mundle Harvey

(07 October 2025) — After meeting Venice and later learning about her achievements in the insurance business, her commitment to community leadership and service, guided by the tenets of her religious upbringing — as Jesus said, “What you do for the least of these, you do for me,” — you will conclude that Venice punches above her weight. Back in her homeland, Jamaica, it would be said of her: “You little but you Talawah.” Yes, Venice’s soft voice and calm demeanor belie her gutsiness, strength, and resilience. Not to be underestimated, Venice is a proven giant among her peers.

Here is Venice Mundle Harvey’s fascinating story.

Venice Mundle Harvey — Business Professional, Entrepreneur,  Community Leader, and Service to the Least Among These

Born 10th in a family of 14 siblings — four boys and 11 girls — in the rural parish of Clarendon, Jamaica, Venice learned early the meaning of competition. Her early family experiences followed her into academia where she excelled and, later, as she ventured into the extremely competitive world of insurance as a businesswoman. Being a woman in the insurance business she faced misogynistic and chauvinistic barriers, but as difficult as that would have been it did not prevent her from ascending to the highest level of her chosen profession. Faced with such challenges made her more determined to succeed. Thus, her success was not by happenstance.

Every journey to success and fulfillment of one’s dream and destiny is different. And each person has to overcome different challenges. But one thing is certain, having a remarkable foundation, strength of character, and resilience are foundational to success. No hurdle is too high to clear.

Foundation of enduring values

As can be imagined, raising 15 children would have been a challenge in any society including Jamaica. But Venice’s parents imbued Christian values in their children, and Venice absorbed and lived these values in her own right.

When asked about her parents’ influence on her life’s journey, Venice said there were many things about her parents’ own lives that impacted on her own. She said, “I always felt like I could do anything because my mother was a prayer warrior.  She always reminded us we are fearfully and wonderfully made and can do anything.” Her mother’s words resonated with her — she could be what she wanted to be. She learnt early that none but herself could set limits on what she could achieve.

Venice said her father was a man of few words but a hard worker who led by example. Also, that her parents were also very community-focused — her mom on service and helping others, while her dad saw politics as a way to serve the community. It is not unusual for the male in the Jamaican family to view politics as a means to procure service for the community.

Based on what I learned about Venice’s parents it was easy for me to deduce that their commitment to family was an important aspect to their lives, which served as an example for their children. Her parents held daily family prayer and worship keeping them well  grounded in their faith.

Growing up in the Seventh Day Adventist Christian faith, Venice attended the Edwin Allen High School in Clarendon and then the West Indies College on the outskirts of Mandeville, Manchester parish. Her academic environment was firmly grounded in Christian values, personal health, and well-being.

Nestled in the pristine environment of the Mandeville suburbs in central Jamaica, the West Indies College, predecessor to the Northern Caribbean University, prepared Venice for her journey into becoming a successful businesswoman.

She knew from high school she wanted to be a businesswoman and began to prepare herself. She studied business-related classes in high school. At West Indies College she majored in Business Administration. Venice’s career path began to take shape while she was still in college. There she worked in the business office.

The immigrant story

In 1987, Venice migrated to the United States following her mother and some of her siblings. Her father who also migrated chose to commute between the U.S. and Jamaica because of his business commitments back in Jamaica.

She settled in Montgomery County, Maryland which borders on Washington D.C., the U.S. capital. Central Montgomery County is a mere 20 miles from the seat of the U.S. government — the White House, the Congress, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Venice said she fell in love with Montgomery County for reasons among which she described as “the area’s rich diversity of cultures and its easy access to Washington D.C.”

After arriving in the U.S., Venice worked in financial institutions and the print sales industry, which gave her  a strong foundation in customer service and relationship building. She had picked up where she left off in Jamaica working in the financial sector.

Early experiences and career preparation

Entrepreneurship was implanted into Venice’s DNA by her father’s own history as a business owner. He owned a huge farm which provided employment for several members of the community and her parents owned a grocery store catering to community needs. As though that was not enough, Venice’s father worked for the government as a banana selector for the banana export trade.

A giant of a woman at five feet tall, Venice is someone never to be underestimated. Her business acumen has served her well to make her into a successful entrepreneur and insurance professional.

Upon leaving college, prior to migrating, Venice worked for Jamaica’s largest bank, National Commercial Bank, in several branches — Montego Bay, Christiana, and the head office in Kingston.

Entrepreneurship and a Career made to order

After working in the banking and sales industry for several years, it was a natural transition for Venice to become an insurance sales agent. Her experience in the financial field played a significant role in her decision. After two decades in the financial industry, a career that began in Jamaica, Venice entered the insurance industry as a sales agent in 2002.She entered a career where the rate of success in the  insurance industry is very low. An industry with very high attrition rate. When she started, there were ten individuals in her entry batch, and after two years, she was the only one remaining.

Venice moved quickly from salesperson to business owner. She was driven, not merely by ambition but by a spirit of entrepreneurship. Venice faced several challenges, including access to working capital and operating in a male-heavy environment. But, Venice was undaunted. She set her sights on moving up the ranks to be an insurance agency owner, and she worked to fulfill her dreams. There were qualifications to be met and stiff competitive challenges to overcome. Yet, Venice seamlessly established herself as a premier insurance provider.

She opened the Venice Mundle Harvey Insurance Agency in Montgomery Village, in Montgomery County, in 2005. This area is home to several members of the Caribbean diaspora community.

In the 20 years hence, Venice grew her insurance business opening three locations across Maryland. Her clientele spread across four states — Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware— the District of Columbia in the pre-COVID-19 period. Faced with challenges posed by the pandemic, Venice strategically merged the three locations into one large, centralized office, in 2021, to ensure better services to her customers and community.

Venice’s excellence of service in the insurance industry has been marked by significant milestone achievements. She has consistently ranked in the top 10 percent of Allstate agents nationwide—across the entire United States. That is no ordinary feat. This achievement reflects Venice’s dedication, expertise, and passion for helping others protect what matters most.

Venice notes that when she entered insurance sales, in 2002, she found the industry quite challenging. “Some rooms were hard to walk into or break into but I managed to fit in.” She said. And her first strategy “was to find the most successful agents and build a relationship.”

To open her own agency, Venice had to obtain the necessary licenses. But already having acquired her Property, Casualty, and Life and Health licenses she only needed to obtain her Series 6, and she had to show reserve cash.

Venice treats the Insurance profession not merely as a business but also a call to service. She sees insurance not merely as a product but, to her, insurance provides assurance and peace of mind and helps to protect individuals and businesses from property loss, provides for security of assets, and compensates for accidental and inadvertent losses—losses due to natural disasters, such as storms, flooding, fire, and trauma. Insurance makes you whole again. That’s what Venice strives to do—keeping her clients secure and assured, and to make them whole when they suffer loss.

In 2012, Venice was honored with Allstate’s most prestigious company-wide award, which is given to agents who perform in the top 2% of the company. This award recognizes exceptional achievement in profitable growth, leadership, and outstanding service to the community, and reflects Venice’s commitment to excellence both in business and in giving back to members of her community.

Venice is, and should be proud of her highest experiences as an insurance professional. Among which she won Allstate’s number one award countrywide. She did nationwide commercials for Allstate, including appearing on the covers of Black magazines, such as Jet magazine.

Community Service and Philanthropy

For Venice, community service and philanthropy are not options. These are imperatives for her.

In Venice’s own words, “My mission has always been to serve with generosity and abundance, building lasting relationships with my customers and supporting the community I love.”

Beyond her business, Venice has devoted over 25 years to serving the homeless community, as the Community Service Director at her church. She also proudly supports local youth, including providing volunteer and financial assistance to Magruder High School’s Teen Safe Driver Program. Additionally, she served as Co-Chair of the Caribbean American Advisory Group to the Montgomery County Executive, where she advocated for and amplified the voices of  the Caribbean community. But Venice’s community service doesn’t end there.

She served two years on the board of the Montgomery County Black Collective — a non-profit organization with the purpose of empowering small business owners to achieve sustainable growth and navigate challenges , some of which she experienced during her early years. Also, she is currently secretary to the board of the Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce, and treasurer of the Silver Spring SDA Church.

Venice also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Research & Policy Center, a Washington DC based Caribbean think-tank.

 

Importance of Family and Faith

In addition to being fully engaged with her very large family, working as a volunteer, community leadership, Venice dedicates time to her husband, her four children (all grown-ups), and four grandchildren, Venice describes her perfect weekend as “worship at church on Saturdays and quality family time on Sundays.”

©The Ward Post / Curtis A. Ward/Venice Mundle Harvey