From left: WIB Managing Director Solange Kohinor; WIB General Managing Director Derek Downes; Lead Facilitator Dr. Natasha Gittens and WIB Human Resource Manager Sherry Anne McNamara-Casey.
PHILIPSBURG--Windward Islands Bank (WIB) began a partnership with Training Professionals International Firm (TPI) on March 29 to facilitate a training programme for WIB’s managers entitled “WIB Academy of Effective Managerial Leadership and People Development Excellence.”
WIB’s managers will participate in the accredited training academy over a six-month period and are expected to be equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to manage and lead people effectively, while simultaneously completing specific course assignments that will allow them to apply their learning.
Lead facilitator and developer of WIB’s customised training programme Natasha Gittens of TPI said WIB has always placed enormous emphasis on employee development at all levels of its organisation. “As a bank that is a pivotal player within our community, it is imperative that they continue to carry the torch as advocates for accredited training, managerial leadership and employee development, coupled with fostering a synergistic team-driven, customers-focused work culture.”
WIB Managing Director Solange Kohinor: “At WIB, learning and development of our staff is one of our main focusses. As an organisation, we pride ourselves in providing our employees with the skills and knowledge they need to grow in their roles while helping grow the company.
“As a leader, I can see how the power of effective leadership and coaching inspires greater performance and potential in a team and organisation. Through these training sessions, we are confident that our managers will execute their duties at a higher level, incorporating higher-order thinking skills, while motivating their team members.”
TPI will provide WIB managers with courses that are essential for effective leadership on a global scale such as “John Maxwell’s Five Levels of Leadership”, “How to deal with Difficult Employees”, “Empathy and Building Trust”, “Delegation Skills for Leaders”, “Coaching for High Performance” and “Effective Communication and Self-Assessment in Leadership”. Managers will also be introduced to an array of global leadership methodologies, managerial strategies, best practices and people management key principles.
WIB Human Resources Manager Sherry Anne McNamara-Casey was instrumental in contributing to the customisation of the Academy’s content. She said WIB continues to place great emphasis on its employees’ talent, abilities and expertise to perform and is committed to developing extraordinary employees through rigorous training.
“We are therefore both pleased and elated to provide this information-packed, high-level intensity managerial and leadership training to our managers, as we believe that leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. … We encourage each manager to learn as if you were not reaching your goal and as though you were scared of missing it.”
WIB General Managing Director Derek Downes kicked off the grand opening of the sessions on March 30.
“In today’s ever-changing marketplace, the importance of training has never been greater. Training allows you to acquire new skills, sharpen existing ones, perform better, increase productivity, all while becoming better leaders.
“It is therefore my profound wish that each of you enjoy this journey of educational and career advancement. Get all you can and can all you get; take everything you learn and transfer it into your daily operations within your various departments. It is in so doing we will realise unmatched company success.
“Remember, leadership is about inspiring people to do the things they never thought they could. Through these trainings, we are birthing the leaders within you,” said Downes.
