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Earl McDonald: Building a Jamaican-Owned BPO Success Story
Jamaica’s business process outsourcing (BPO) industry is worth billions. However, it has mostly been controlled by foreign multinationals. Our co-founder and CEO, Earl McDonald, aimed to change that when he built VLBPO. Today, we proudly stand out as a locally owned BPO competing at the enterprise level.
Our journey has recently been featured by Outsource Accelerator, and we wanted to share the story in our own words.
From a Home-Based Startup to a Growing Enterprise
Our story started in 2019. We launched as a work-from-home service, providing remote admin and back-office support to clients around the world. What began as a small effort has steadily grown. Recently, we won a big client, which nearly doubled our team size (from about 100 to nearly 200 employees). This move brings us closer to mid-market BPO status.
That growth didn’t happen by accident. It shows years of careful investment in our people, infrastructure, and global presence.
Putting Our People First
A defining feature of how we operate is our commitment to our employees. In an industry known for entry-level jobs, slow advancement, and low wages, VLBPO stands out. We offer performance-based salary raises, full health benefits after probation, and a real commitment to employee growth.
The reasoning is simple: when a Jamaican company earns more from international clients, that value can benefit our local workforce. This means better pay, better benefits, and real chances for advancement. Instead of profits going to a foreign company, they stay here.
As Earl has put it, our goal has always been to make sure our people “leave better than when they came.”
Backed by Institutional Support
Our growth has been supported by a combination of public and bilateral institutions. A Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) grant funded our new digital presence. Also, a six-month UK Trade Partnership program in 2024–2025 helped us with pitch development and our market strategy.
We’ve also taken our story onto the international stage, pitching VLBPO at major industry events, including:
A Jamaican High Commission networking session in London, hosted by JAMPRO, opened new doors for us globally. This access is rare for early-stage, locally owned BPOs.
Looking Ahead
Our ambitions extend well beyond Jamaica’s borders. Earl aims to rank VLBPO among the top five BPOs in the Caribbean. He wants to reach the top two, competing regionally instead of just focusing on local success.
From a 2019 home-based startup to a nearly 200-person team, we’ve grown fast. This shows what can happen when local owners, government support, and global goals unite. We’re proud of our growth story and thankful to Outsource Accelerator and the Jamaica Information Service for helping us share it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Earl McDonald is the co-founder and CEO of VLBPO. He founded the company in 2019 and has grown it to nearly 200 employees. Today, VLBPO serves enterprise-level clients across multiple industries around the world.
VLBPO is a locally owned business process outsourcing (BPO) company based in Jamaica. Since launching in 2019 as a work-from-home operation, we have expanded into a growing mid-market BPO providing remote administrative and back-office support services to international businesses.
Unlike many foreign-owned BPOs operating in Jamaica, VLBPO is locally owned and committed to investing in its people and community. We offer performance-based salary increases, comprehensive health benefits after probation, and career development opportunities for our employees.
VLBPO nearly doubled its workforce from around 100 to almost 200 employees after securing a major enterprise client. This growth was supported by a Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) grant, the UK Trade Partnership programme, and participation in global events such as Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and Tech Show London.
VLBPO has received support from the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), the UK Trade Partnership programme, and JAMPRO. These initiatives have helped strengthen our digital presence, refine our international growth strategy, and create valuable global networking opportunities.
VLBPO's long-term vision is to become one of the top five BPO providers in the Caribbean, with the ambition of reaching the top two. The company continues to focus on sustainable growth, innovation, and delivering exceptional outsourcing solutions for clients worldwide.