BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, June 20th 2011 (CUOPM) – The lone Kittitian Representative to the Caribbean–Canada Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue 2011, Ms. Sonia Boddie, regard the two weeks of accelerated and intense leadership training as the most profound life changing experience she ever have had in the 27 years of her life.
“I was not only able to travel to various places in Canada and the Caribbean, but I had the esteemed opportunity to literally rub shoulders and exchange ideas daily, with other emerging leaders from various disciplines and countries and the great honour of dialoging with some very influential and powerful leaders in the Western Hemisphere and Great Britain,” said Ms. Boddie in an interview with the Communications Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister (CUOPM) on Monday.
Amongst the leaders Ms. Boddie interacted with were, Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, Princess Anne of Great Britain; former Premier of Quebec, Canada, The Honourable Lucien Bouchard; The Vice President of the Dominican Republic, His Excellency, Dr. Rafael Alburquerque; The Governor of Bermuda, Sir Richard Gozney; The Prime Minister of Barbados, the Hon. Freundel Stuart; The Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Sir K. Dwight Venner; Canada’s Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, His Excellency Todd Kuiack and one of Canada’s most prominent business people, Mr. Paul Demarais Jr., Co –CEO of Power Corporation of Canada, a leading diversified management and holding company with assets in North America and Europe in a number of industries.
Ms. Boddie noted that four key leadership qualities that resonate in her mind, that were shared with her by Mr. Demarais are: “1. Energy- Every leader must have the physical and mental energy to deal with the inevitable day to day challenges 2. Empathy- Leaders should be able to put their selves in other people’s shoe, and anticipate the effect of their decisions and actions 3.Flexibility- Leaders should be able to adjust and adapt easily to varying circumstances and situations with very little notice and 4.Curiosity-Leaders must be curious about new ideas, interests, new cultures, new opportunities, new people, new investments and new obstacles.”
Ms. Boddie noted that she discussed with HRH Princess Anne, who is the President of the Caribbean Canada Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue Committee, the importance of adding St. Kitts and Nevis to the itinerary for the next Dialogue, which would be held in 2015.
“I firmly believe we have some very outstanding leaders in various sectors here in the federation, who can help to shape and mould the minds of the region’s next generation of leaders. Also, with direct flights from United States and the United Kingdom, our federation is now more easily accessible. Our highly competitive tourism product would also compliment their stay in the federation and indeed am certain with our great pride in hospitality; we will do a great job of hosting these future leaders,” she said.
Ms. Boddie noted that during her discussions with the Vice President of the Dominican Republic he noted that he was very impressed with her fluency in his mother tongue Spanish, and they discussed the importance of speaking more than one language.
“The ability to speak two or more languages is indeed an asset to any leader in today’s global environment, as it gives one a competitive advantage, affording him/her the opportunity to improve communication, foster better relations, expand negotiations and increases the possibilities of broadening horizons.”Therefore, I encourage everyone to learn another language, and equip one’s self with that added linguistic tool, “affirmed Ms. Boddie.
She noted that her travels across Canada and the Caribbean proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the countries in the region share similar challenges at varying magnitudes and that its only through mature regional cooperation and diplomacy will our small island developing states be able to overcome and thrust forward.
Ms. Boddie highlighted that the course was very intense, as most days were spent in discussions and debates up until midnight. Nonetheless, she said she was extremely grateful for the opportunity because the lessons learnt could not be learnt in a classroom and the networks established could not have been made sitting behind her desk.
She said she is determined to put into practice her learnt leadership skills and techniques, as she goes about her everyday life. She also noted that she avails herself to any group, organization or workplace who wishes to tap into her acquired knowledge of Leadership.
Ms. Boddie, who hails from Tabernacle, wishes to thank first and foremost the Almighty God, for blessing her with the wisdom to be able to actively participate in a study tour of such high caliber, her mother Sylvina Boddie-Ellis for her undying prayers and moral support, her family, friends, teachers, boss, coworkers and church family for their continued motivation and the Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis for allowing her the opportunity to represent them.
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