5 May - August 2021 | VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica The 8th Annual Joan Duncan Memorial Lecture which was broadcast live on TVJ on Sunday, May 16, 2021 offered practical and timely lessons on “Leadership During Crisis” with expertise imparted by guest speaker, Keith Duncan, CEO, JMMB Group; President, Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) and Chairman, Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC). Leveraging his vast experience in leadership, Duncan offered applicable advice on navigating crisis, such as the ongoing disruption brought about by the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. The annual Joan Duncan Memorial Lecture is hosted by the Joan Duncan School of Entrepreneurship, Ethics and Leadership (JDSEEL), University of Technology, Jamaica in partnership with the JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation. The memorial lecture honors the vision, mission and passion of the late corporate leader and JMMB co-founder, Joan Duncan who championed wealth creation and empowerment for all Jamaicans. Her vision led to the creation of the Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB Group), currently one of Jamaica’s leading financial institutions. The live broadcast format of this year’s lecture featured a conversation with Mr. Duncan moderated by Rochelle Cameron who is also Chief Project Coordinator, PSOJ. In studio, the opening and question and answer segments of the lecture were moderated by Mr. Hector Wheeler, Associate Vice President, Advancement, UTech, Jamaica. Participating in the discussion with the moderator, were Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President, University of Technology, Jamaica and Mrs. Patricia Duncan-Sutherland, Chair, JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation. Mr. Duncan explored the role of transformational leadership at the corporate, industry and national levels and delved into the need for public/ private sector partnerships in creating a pathway for nation-building and the realization of a shared vision. He also offered perspectives on myriad opportunities presented in this crisis and the importance of digital transformation. He highlighted the importance of social partnerships and building an environment of trust as paramount to successful leadership and emphasized the need for leaders who cultivate an environment of trustworthiness. “You have to trust people, to be able to delegate and allow people to manifest their greatness. It begins with you trusting yourself, and trusting the people that you work with,” he noted, adding that people are at their most creative at problem-solving particularly in periods of crisis. In underscoring the need for social partnerships, and the importance of having competent and talented leaders who collaborate for the benefit of society, Mr. Duncan pointed to his involvement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where as chair of the COVID Economic Recovery Taskforce, he assisted with assembling a team of highly skilled leaders, which included private and public sector organizations, to identify vulnerabilities in the economy and threats to employment. In this regard, Mr. Duncan noted that the health and wellness of employees in the workspace was a paramount consideration, even as efforts were made to safeguard economic viability, in seeking to balance lives and livelihood. Through the efforts of this team, which he used as an example of social partnerships and social engagement, contributions were made to the health sector and to the aging population, especially in underserved communities. In the riveting conversation, he further urged leaders to invest in human capital development, specifically in realizing digital transformation, and reallocating resources and investments into social transformation, targeting those with the greatest potential to make Jamaica a global leader, including athletes and musicians, and those from rural and inner city communities. Mr. Duncan Mr. Keith Duncan, President, PSOJ and CEO, JMMB Group in conversation with Ms. Rochelle Cameron, co-host of the 8th Joan Duncan Memorial Lecture, broadcast live on Television Jamaica (TVJ) on May, 16, 2021. 8th Annual Joan Duncan Memorial Lecture Examines Leadership During Crisis
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