FIRST CITIZENS Group Financial Holdings Ltd has reported a profit after tax of $989.6 million for the year ending September 30, an increase in profits for the same period last year, when it earned $956.9 million.
The financial figures come from a summary financial statement from the group for the period ending September 30, 2025.
The report said the group earned $2.1 billion in net income. It earned $2.46 billion in interest income but lost $359.9 million in interest expenses.
The group reported $54.4 million in impairment costs but got a credit impairment writeback on financial assets which contributed to the group reporting $1.3 billion in profit before taxes.
For the same period in 2024, the group earned $2.3 billion in interest income and incurred $290.5 million in interest expenses, resulting in a net income of $2 billion.
The group reported impairment costs valued at $13 million, but credit impairment writeback on financial assets was reported at $9.6 million. The impairment and the writeback contributed to a profit before tax of $1.2 billion.
First Citizens Group was one of the financial institutions that saw significant changes in its group for the year.
A new board of directors, led by Shankar Bidaisee, was elected for the group at special general meeting at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) on October 8, replacing board members who had been at the group for more than ten years.
Deputy Group CEO Jason Julien was picked as Group CEO at the end of October.
THE First Citizens Group has announced officially introducing Google Pay – a mobile payment service from Google through First Citizens bank.
The group made the announcement in a media release on December 3, saying it was the first ever launch of such a service in Trinidad and Tobago.
In the release, First Citizens Group CEO Jason Julien said the launch reaffirms the group’s commitment to advancing the country’s digital transformation and delivering world-class banking experiences for customers.
“As a forward-thinking financial institution, First Citizens is proud to deliver Google Pay to TT, elevating the way customers pay through smarter, safer and frictionless digital experiences,” Julien said. “This launch reaffirms our commitment to advancing the nation’s digital transformation and delivering world-class banking experiences that seamlessly align with our customers’ evolving lifestyles.”
The release said Google Pay allows users to create a digital wallet which will link to their First Citizens’ credit or prepaid cards to their mobile devices. The feature will enable secure, contact-less payments in stores and online.
Jason Julien, First Citizens Group CEO. –
Customers and merchants were encouraged to embrace the new way to pay noting it makes buying safer and easier and keeps merchants ahead of the curve in terms of customer behaviour.
Merchants can benefit from faster checkout times, reduced fraud risk, and a modern, digital-first customer experience, the release said.
“By simply tapping to pay with Google Pay, they can enjoy a faster, easier and seamless transaction experience,” it said. “The adoption of this technology positions retailers and service providers to stay ahead of changing consumer behaviour while strengthening their competitiveness in an increasingly digital marketplace.”
The introduction of Google Pay signals “important behavioural shifts from traditional card usage to frictionless phone-based payments.”
“As our customers’ lives grow more digital, our goal is to make everyday banking effortless,” Julien said. “This is about providing them with the flexibility to pay in ways that match their evolving needs.”
How it works
Google Pay enables in-store payments using a near-field communication (NFC) enabled device to pay at contact-less terminals, by simply holding it close to the payment symbol.
Google Pay can also be used as a payment option at checkout apps or on websites, giving more options for online purchases. It can also be used for peer-to-peer transactions. Customers do not even have to upload money to the balance, making it another safe and secure option to use existing credit or debit cards.
As far as security is concerned, Google Pay uses tokenisation, which creates a virtual account number for each transaction rather than your debit or credit card details. Payments are also secured with your devices PIN, pass code or biometric authentication such as fingerprints or face scans.
FIRST Citizens Group has announced the appointment of Jason Julien as group CEO.
The announcement was made in a legal notice shared on the TT Stock Exchange’s website on October 29.
According to the notice, Julien’s appointment took effect on October 22.
It added that general manager for retail and commercial banking Sana Ragbir will continue to act as group deputy CEO of business generation.
Julien has an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University and a bachelor’s degree in management studies from UWI.
He is also a chartered financial analyst with the CFA Institute and has a certificate of financial advisors with the Institute of Business and Finance.
Julien goes into the role with more than 25 years of banking and finance experience.
His appointment took effect a day after former CEO Karen Darbasie officially retired from the role.
First Citizens Group confirmed her retirement in a legal notice on October 28.
The notice said her retirement took effect on October 21.
On August 21, Darbasie went on approved vacation leave. An all-staff memorandum by then group chairman Anthony Smart said she would retire effective October 21.
Newsday reported that Darbasie had submitted her resignation to corporation sole, Minister of Finance Davendranath Tancoo but the letter confirmed that she did not.
She went on approved vacation on August 21, ahead of pre-retirement leave.
Group deputy CEO Jason Julien took up the role of acting group CEO in Darbasie’s absence.
On August 22, Tancoo hinted at concerns over the bank’s operations and later appointed a new board to First Citizens Holdings – the majority shareholder in First Citizens Group.
On October 7, a day before a special general meeting was to be held to elect a board and CEO for the First Citizens Group, the rest of the board of directors resigned.
A new board has been elected for First Citizens Group at a special general meeting at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) on October 8.
The new group board members are:
*Shankar Bidaisie
*Dr Sterling Frost
*Crystelle Smith
*Prakash Dhanrajh
*Sandy Roopchand
*Jo-Anne Boodoosingh
*Javan Lewis
*Nichelle Granderson
*Tricia McNeil-Beckles
First Citizens Group confirmed the elections in a media release to shareholders on October 8, hours after the special general meeting.
Jason Julien remains as acting CEO, while Shankar Bidaisee, Udecott chairman and chairman of First Citizens Holdings Ltd was elected chairman of the group’s board. Sterling Frost was elected as deputy chairman. Lindi J Ballah-Tull was elected as corporate secretary.
Javan Lewis was elected to the board despite not being present because of prior travel arrangements.
Noticeably absent from the proceedings were members of the previous board – Anthony Isidore Smart, Cortenay Williams, Franka Costelloe, Troy Garica, Jayselle Mc Farlane, Idreds Omardeen and Ryan Proudfoot.
At the start of the proceedings, the executive advised the shareholders that the previous directors had all resigned and they would be voting on a new list of directors.
Julien confirmed to reporters that the new board was nominated by corporation sole, who is the majority shareholder of the group. Newsday understands that the elections were done by majority vote with just a couple people voting “nay” – one person against Bidaisee’s election as chairman and one person against Julien’s election.
Scores of shareholders went to NAPA to take part in the special general meeting with a total of 200 shareholders packing into the NAPA auditorium which was still undergoing repairs to the air-conditioning unit.
Shareholders expressed mixed views of the new First Citizens Group board, with some expressing optimism and others raising concerns.
“The reason the board resigned is because of this political business,” one shareholder said with concern. “I feel that there was political pressure to change the board. It makes me worried about how it will run.”
Another shareholder said she does not know much about the new board, but commended the group’s professionalism.
“My concern is the decline in share price since this whole hoorah started,” she said. “I believe a lot of people had a lot of confidence in the former CEO and when she departed, I checked immediately and it went down significantly. That is my concern. I hope they do what they need to do.
“Even though there are some new people there are some on the board like Sterling Frost would have been on the previous board,” said a third shareholder. “From listening to the bios, we think it is a good mix of people. We will just have to wait and see.”
In August, Newsday was told that Karen Darbasie, who assumed the role of group CEO in April 2015, went on approved vacation on August 21, ahead of pre-retirement leave.
Then group deputy CEO Jason Julien took up the role of acting group CEO amid Darbasie’s departure.
Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo hinted at concerns over the bank’s operations while responding to questions from Newsday surrounding Darbasie’s departure.
Tancoo appointed new members to the board of First Citizens Holdings Ltd, which represents corporation sole, on August 27. The board at First citizens holdings is now the same as First Citizens Group.
Bidaisee, while speaking to reporters on the way to the new board’s first board meeting, said the special general meeting went according to schedule.
“The resolutions for the appointment of all directors were carried out. There were no objections. First things first is to have our board meeting and get on with the business of the group.”
He said plans for the future will be determined by the board.
Also responding to questions from the media, Julien assured concerned shareholders that First Citizens’ Group has had a strong performance and standing for its 32 years of existence and that will only stand to improve with the selection of the new board.
“There is a consistency of understanding of the strength of our balance sheet, how we serve our customers and how we do better,” he said. “I think what shareholders could be assured by is that this is an organisation that has been recognised, reaffirmed as investment grade, has a solid balance sheet, has one of the largest and most significant capital adequacy ratios in the hemisphere and continues to deliver an investment yield that is superior.”
He expressed excitement over the diverse group.
“As a financial services group that is in the Caribbean and is forward-looking, the skill set that we have available to us in the board room would help us be able to debate, have different perspectives, get advice and the cross-section of skills gives us a diversity of views that helps us to plan strategically.”
This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.
A NEW board has been elected for First Citizens Group at a special general meeting at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port of Spain, on October 8.
The new group board members are:
●Jo-Anne Boodoosingh
●Javan Lewis
●Prakash Dhanrajh
●Shankar Bidaisee
●Dr Sterling Frost
●Crystelle Smith
●Sandy Roopchand
●Nichelle Granderson
●Tricia McNeil-Beckles
Jason Julien remains as acting CEO, while Shankar Bidaisee, Udecott chairman and chairman of First Citizens Holdings Ltd was elected chairman of the group’s board. Lindi J Ballah-Tull was elected as corporate secretary.
On August 21, CEO Karen Darbasie went on administrative leave prior to her retirement which takes effect from October 21.
Scores of shareholders went to NAPA to take part in the special general meeting.
OPPOSITION LEADER Pennelope Beckles called on the government to stay out of the inner dealings of state-owned financial institution First Citizens Group Financial Holdings (FCGFH), parent company of First Citizens Bank (FCB) after news reports indicated that “pressure” from the government led to the resignation of the company’s CEO, Karen Darbasie.
“It is important for us to say to this government keep your hands off FCB,” Beckles said at the opposition’s media conference at the office of the Opposition Leader on Charles Street, Port of Spain on August 25.
“We need to tell them that financial institutions are not playthings,” she said. “Investor confidence is built on trust, and political interference shatters trust.”
“We want to say to this government that the people of TT are the majority shareholders of FCB and they deserve honesty – not back-room manoeuvring.”
Beckles pointed out that, according to the Companies Act, the government had no role in matters relating to employment despite being Corporation Sole.
“Under the Companies Act the board of directors of FCB is solely responsible for matters relating to employment at the bank. This government is giving onto itself power that it does not possess.”
“Corporation Sole is not an employer,” Beckles said. “We know that under the financial institutions act and under the securities act the government does not have the power to do what they are doing.
“The CEO is not an employee of the state and therefore (she) cannot tender her resignation to the state.
“The honourable Minister of Finance or Minister in the Ministry of Finance therefore cannot accept the resignation of any employee. We know that FCB is a listed security and a corporate body. The CEO reports to the board and any matters as it relates to employment is for the board.”
On August 22 Newsday reported that a letter of resignation was submitted to Corporation Sole, Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo on August 20.
But on August 25, another local newspaper reported claims that the letter to the minister was an indication that her retirement date was in May next year, but she was prepared to demit office once the terms of her contract of employment were honoured. However, the report noted that she did not indicate an intention to resign.
The report added that in response to Darbasie’s letter the Ministry of Finance said it “accepts” her “resignation.”
But the paper reported that in a memo to staff on August 22, the board said it held a special meeting on August 21, after which it had agreed to allow Darbasie to proceed on approved vacation from August 21, to October 21, after which her retirement would be effective.
The memo to staff also said that the company’s succession plan was already in place, the report said.
Beckles lauded the board at the bank for “resisting some political pressure,” noting that the situation was akin to the departure of former Central Bank Governor Dr Alvin Hilaire.
“When you think about this situation, what do you think about? You think about the governor of the Central Bank, basically being told to resign or be fired.
“This government needs to know that it is unacceptable to intrude into the affairs of one of the government’s leading financial institutions.”
PNM political leader Pennelope Beckles speaks at a media conference as PNM senator Dr Amery Browne, left, and Port of Spain South/St Ann’s West MP Stuart Young look on at the Office of the Opposition Leader, Charles Street, Port of Spain, on August 25. – Photo by Ayanna Kinsale
Newsday called former minister of finance Vishnu Dhanpaul for additional comments but he deferred comment to the opposition leader.
“The leader of the opposition did an excellent job explaining this. I have nothing else to add,” Dhanpaul said.
Board, government mum on Darbasie’s departure
Government officials and board members of FCB have zipped their lips shut on the peculiar circumstances surrounding the departure of CEO Karen Darbasie.
Newsday called group chairman Anthony Smart, who declined to comment on questions from Newsday on Darbasie’s departure which was reported by Newsday on August 22.
When Newsday contacted acting CEO Jason Julien on the matter he also declined comment.
Newsday also called Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Minister of Planning Kennedy Swaratsingh, who said he could not respond at the time.
Newsday also sent questions to Minister of Finance Davendranath Tancoo.
In response he said: “I have no comment to make on any of these questions save and except that I remain committed to the highest level of governance of our banking sector including the First Citizens Bank and its associated companies.”
However on August 22, when Newsday asked the minister for comment on the issue, asking questions on Darbasie’s departure, allegations surrounding her departure and the government’s probes into the use and distribution of foreign exchange (forex) the minister said:
“Will there be fallout? Yes. Because we will be focused simultaneously on enhanced and multiple streams of foreign exchange generation and a transparent distribution. Obviously then, those who have benefited from the skewed system facilitated by the PNM, those engaged in money laundering or others hoarding foreign currency, will complain loudest.”
In that message the minister said the government is looking at “several options” to deal with the forex crisis, but noted that there were multiple aspects to the forex issue including “the failure of the PNM government to take any steps to focus on improving existing or developing new sources of foreign exchange…”
“Can we fix it? Yes. Will it take time? Yes. You cannot undo a decade of PNM deliberate mismanagement overnight,” the minister said on August 22.
FCGFH share price bounces back
FCGFH share prices rebounded from a 52-week low on August 25, days after the debacle behind Darbasie’s departure became public.
On August 25 the TT Stock Exchange (TTSE) reported that FCGFH opened trading at $40.39, which was the price of shares at close on August 21.
But by the time the market closed on August 25, the share priced jumped to $40.75, an increase of $0.36 or .89 per cent.
First Citizens Group Financial Holding Ltd has appointed Jason Julien as its new group chief executive officer on March 28, replacing Karen Darbasie upon her retirement. The company’s announcement in a statement on April 4 did not specify when Darbasie’s retirement would occur, or when Julien takes up the position.
Julien, previously the group deputy CEO – business generation, holds an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University and a BSc in management studies from the University of the West Indies. He is a chartered financial analyst with the CFA Institute and also has a certificate in financial advising from the Institute of Business and Finance.
The statement says Julien has 25 years of banking and finance experience in both local and regional financial service entities, along with varied board appointments.
The company’s website says Darbasie has over three decades of experience in the financial services and telecommunications industries. Prior to her appointment at First Citizens in April 2015, she held several senior positions at a global financial institution based in TT, including managing director of the merchant bank, country treasurer and head of markets.
She has a degree in electrical engineering from the University of the West Indies, an MBA from the University of Warwick and a MSc from the University of Essex.
Darbasie serves as a director on several subsidiary boards within the First Citizens Group and is a former director at AMCHAM and St Lucia Electricity Services Ltd.
She currently serves as the chairman of Trinidad Nitrogen Company Ltd, a director of the TT Bankers Association and a member of the board of directors of United Way.
FIRST Citizens Bank has announced its continued sponsorship of the National Secondary Schools Entrepreneurship Competition (NSSEC), an initiative aimed at innovation, leadership and business acumen among young students outside the traditional school system.
In a media release, it said the competition exposed secondary-school students to entrepreneurship training via simulation software.
Through gamification, the students experienced the ever-changing culture of running a business enterprise.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, gamification is the process of using game-like elements of a task to encourage greater participation.
Addressing the participants, Jason Julien, group deputy CEO of business generation, said, “At NSSEC, our objectives include developing your competencies and intelligence…your ability to think and more importantly to think creatively, strategically and critically in real-world scenarios and simulations and having to do so as a team.
Jason Julien, group deputy CEO, business generation, delivers remarks at the NSSEC closing ceremony at NAPA, Port of Spain. – Photo courtesy First Citizens
“We at First Citizens, are proud to continue to be a partner with the National Secondary Schools Entrepreneurship Competition and have seen our investment over the last seven years impact the lives of over 4,000 students.”
The initiative emphasised the importance of entrepreneurial thinking by empowering young people to dream big and to develop the practical skills necessary to turn their ideas into reality, the release said.
“In keeping with its continued commitment to youth development and education, First Citizens reaffirms its commitment to projects such as NSSEC and believes in the overall development of young people, equipping them with valuable skills and fostering networking and camaraderie.”
AFTER completing another arduous 26-2 mile trek, former president of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) Brian Lewis said he continues to do it for the betterment of Trinidad and Tobago athletes, by raising money for the TTOC’s Athlete Welfare and Preparation Fund.
Lewis said that without support national athletes will not maximise their potential.
For the past ten years, Lewis has done the walk along with athletes, sports administrators and members of corporate Trinidad and Tobago. The walk is done to raise awareness that financial backing is required.
Yesterday, TTOC president Diane Henderson; former TT boxer Ria Ramnarine; journalist Andre Errol Baptiste; Republic Bank president and CEO Nigel Baptiste; Denise Williams-Blackman and Bertram Blackman (parents of TT junior swimmer Nikoli Blackman); and a team from First Citizens including group deputy CEO – business generation Jason Julien, Neela Kissoon, Larry Olton and Trudy Louison all supported the cause.
The walk, which started at 2 am, took the participants from Freeport to The Harvard Club in St James. Lewis completed the journey in seven hours and 25 minutes. He has stayed committed to the cause as he trained for months leading up to the event.
After finishing on Sunday, Lewis was asked why he keeps taking on such a tedious task. He told Newsday, “The vision and the purpose of the foundation, which is to support the youth, the young people and the athletes who aspire to win Olympic gold medals.”
Lewis said in developed countries athletes have all the assistance they could ask for, so he wants to gather as much support as possible for local athletes to give them a chance to be competitive.
Athletes dedicate years of their life to reaching the pinnacle of sport, said Lewis. “Most of our athletes who aspire to be at a high level (need the help). Remember they dedicate most of their lives to this and there is no fall back position for them, so they make a lot of sacrifices. To allow their talent and potential to be maximised, they don’t need just one source of funding but a number of sources.
“It is about a commitment and a dedication to something bigger than yourself.”
Lewis said a maxi followed the walkers. “One of the features is that we provided a bus, so if you felt that you did not feel (well) at any point in time you were able to make the entire distance or you needed a rest, you could have gone in the bus and rest and come back out.”
Denise Williams-Blackman, left, and Bertram Blackman after completing the walk yesterday. The Blackman’s are the parents of TT junior swimmer Nikoli Blackman. Also in the photo is their friend Satie Millington. –
Henderson, who completed the trek in six hours and 18 minutes, said, “I was extremely happy that I was able to participate and be a part of the team today in its tenth year.”
The Athlete Welfare and Preparation walk and the Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon are normally held on the same morning. With the marathon being held in March this year, Henderson was able to support the cause.
She said, “It is very important to understand their needs because athletes preparation takes a lot and a lot of them don’t have the financial support, and this would help them maximise those efforts, so it is quite important.”
Henderson thanked all those who came out. “Today we got a good turnout, maybe because the marathon was postponed and therefore a lot of people realised they could come out and support the cause…thankful and grateful for that.”
Over 70 people registered to participate in the walk.
In recognition of International Men’s Day, which this year is themed Zero Male Suicide, Newsday spoke with Jason Julien, group deputy CEO – business generation of First Citizens Group, on men’s well-being, leadership and the role of his organisation in fostering a supportive environment.
Julien shared perspectives and shed light on the initiatives undertaken by First Citizens Group to promote positive role models and well-being for men and boys.
International Men’s Day, which is observed on November 19, serves as a platform for promoting positive role models and addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by men – a stark reality.
“Men struggle. Men can be weak and carry deep-seated trauma and hurt. That men wrestle with mental health and emotional issues. That men are underperforming in the classroom. Men suffer from violence and sadly have also inflicted pain, crime and monstrosities.”
He emphasised the need for open discussions on these issues and highlighted the scarcity of “safe spaces” for men to share openly.
Julien’s candid acknowledgement of his imperfections and life lessons positions him as a relatable mentor, aiming to contribute to the well-being of young men, providing guidance and support.
As deputy CEO, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the organisation’s culture. Julien noted the initiatives FCB implemented, particularly the Young Men’s Development Programme (YMDP), and the First Citizens Boys’ Symposium from which it emerged. The YMDP, exclusively mentored by male employees, aims not only to have an impact on the lives of young men, but also facilitates personal growth and development among their mentors.
“The feedback from them, in terms of what the experience of mentorship has done for them, has been phenomenal.”
Addressing gender diversity in the financial sector, Julien highlighted the diverse leadership within First Citizens Group. He emphasised the commitment to continuous improvement in diversity and inclusion, citing the Girls First Festival, Women’s Conference, and the Young Men’s Development Programme as initiatives challenging stereotypes and promoting equity.
On men’s health, both physical and mental, Julien pointed out the company’s comprehensive approach through health screenings, vaccinations and lectures on lifestyle diseases, as part of its Health, Safety and Environment Week activities.
Male suicide
International Men’s Day this year focuses on male suicide, and an important part of its partnership with the Mindwise Project was the recent launch of the website www.preventsuicidett.com, a national suicide prevention and data visualisation platform that will provide resources, showcase partners, include articles and guides, and tell the local story of suicide through data.
Jeremiah McIntosh, Cohort 1 participant of the First Citizens Young Men’s Development programme, receives his graduation certificate from Jason Julien, group deputy CEO – business generation, First Citizens. –
“It feels great to know that our organisation is in touch with the issues facing men and making a difference exactly where help is needed,” Julien said.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, cdc.gov, states: The suicide rate among males in 2021 was approximately four times higher than the rate among females. Males make up 50 per cent of the population but nearly 80 per cent of suicides.
From January 2016-August 2023, 83.5 per cent of suicides in Trinidad and Tobago were male, www.preventsuicidett.com said.
Notably, FCB’s partnership with Mindwise addresses mental health issues, as part of its commitment to addressing issues such as male suicide. The Mindwise Project is a member of the National Co-ordinating Committee of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Network of TT.
Mindwise was formed in 2020 by the Ministry of Health and PAHO-WHO in response to the rising rates of mental-health issues brought on by the covid19 pandemic.
The main feature is a volunteer programme aimed at empowering mental-health influencers with digital skills and mental-health training to equip a new wave of innovation in this space. FCB’s employees are a part of this volunteer team.
Work-life balance
Julien offered advice for aspiring male leaders in the financial industry, and maintaining work-life balance.
“My personal philosophy is that for any individual, male or female, seeking to achieve their full potential and live a successful life, that there must be harmony and balance in all aspects of life. Very early in my career I was introduced to the concept of the wheel of life, which is a great tool to help improve your life balance. “Essentially, the objective is to get harmony in the many facets of life, such as relationships, career, well-being, spirituality, finances, and community. If any one of these is out of harmony, the ‘wheel’ will have a bumpy and ineffective ride. For example, you can’t have sustainable success in your career at the expense of your physical and mental health.
Jason Julien, group deputy CEO – business generation First Citizens. –
“Success has many definitions. Some measure it based on career status, others based on awards and accolades, and others based on accumulated wealth. But my personal belief is that the definition of success is a personal one.”
Achieving it takes sacrifice, he warned.
“This may mean foregoing leisure in the short term for the long-term gain, or making trade-offs on what should take priority for your precious and limited time. This may mean concentrating on the action or activity at hand and being present in the moment.
“This is true for all endeavours of life, in and out of the office. This would mean being very consistent and disciplined over a long period of time.”
Role models
In terms of positive role models, there are both men and women whom Julien admires.
“I don’t have any heroes, not in a strict sense. There is no one that I wholesale hero-worship, but there are quite a few individuals – male and female – that I admire and find that their respective characteristics, mindset, journey, accomplishments or traits are very admirable and that I can learn from, and in some cases, pattern after.
“In terms of mentality – Zlatan Ibrahimovic – (former Swedish professional footballer); in terms of leading teams to outperform their ability on paper – José Mourinho, (Portuguese professional footballer manager); in terms of building winning teams and a culture and dynasty of success – Dawn Staley (US basketball Hall of Fame player and coach); in terms of the use of language to communicate and influence – Barack Obama (44th president of the US); in terms of physical health and longevity – Lenny Kravitz (US singer/songwriter); in terms of courage and conviction – Muhammad Ali (professional boxer and activist); and in terms of grace, intelligence, balance and poise under pressure – Michelle Obama (wife of former US president Barack Obama).
Jason Julien, group deputy CEO – business generation, First Citizens, delivers a financial literacy presentation to students of his alma mater, Queen’s Royal College, Port of Spain. –
In terms of local examples, a wide cross-section of names came to mind, he said, but: “I would like to single out Gervase Warner, Group CEO of Massy Holdings, from a leadership impact perspective. I’ve truly admired the tremendous job he has done in creating a widespread and pervasive company culture that goes beyond the focus on the bottom line and prioritises the need for positive impact in the society and being a force for good in the world. All of this while unleashing the power of their people across the Massy Group. As a student of leadership myself, I know that this is no small feat and is truly admirable.
He admitted it might seem odd that his list wasn’t solely male.
“But to me, that’s the point. To become a better man, I can’t only see the world through the eyes and footsteps of males, I need to understand and appreciate the journey of both male and female role models.
“And I think at the heart of it, International Men’s Day should be about men striving to become better men for there to be a better society and world for both males and females, with equality, diversity and inclusion.”
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