Dunstanette Macauley, DTM

Relevant work experience and how it relates to Toastmasters and your role as a Board Member:

I started my career working as an administrator and later as a career diplomat serving as a protocol officer and as consular officer. I later worked as Head of Conferences and Public Relations in ECOWAS Fund(Economic Community of West African States). Currently I am a business owner and entrepreneur. This varied and long standing experience serving in teams and as a leader have equipped me with the relevant skills to serve on the Board of Directors

What experience do you have in strategic planning?

I have extensive experience in strategic planning both within and outside of Toastmasters.

As a Board member with Zonta International I conducted a workshop for District Governors during their training on the Topic "Leading your team to great heights through Strategic Planning" As Board liaison for three Districts in Canada, USA and India, I worked with District teams to prepare their strategic plans.

I was also a member of the District 94 Toastmasters Strategic Planning Committee in 2017, helping the trio to prepare a triennial strategic plan.

Moreover, I participated in the Strategic Planning Initiative for FEMNET (African Women Communications Network) to develop a two-year plan for the organization.

What experience do you have in the area of finance?

I hold a BA in Economics, where I gained a strong foundation in economy, financial principles, accounting, and management analysis.
I have over fifteen years’ experience working in finance, as CEO of my company ICBM supervising the finance team.
While working for a financial organization (ECOWAS Investment Fund), I participated as a conference organizer in several meetings during which financial strategies and investment issues were formulated.
 I am proficient in financial management and budgeting and have worked with software such as OHADA Accountant System (used in Francophone Africa) which has enhanced my ability to analyze financial data effectively.

One of my greatest achievements was budgeting and organizing the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Conference which decided on the capital increase of the ECOWAS Bank known as EBID.
This experience taught me the importance of strategic financial planning and effective resource allocation.
I am committed to continuous learning and have completed several trainings which have further deepened my expertise in finance.
Overall, my combination of education, hands-on experience, and commitment to professional growth have equipped me with a solid foundation in finance, allowing me to contribute effectively to any organization.

What experience do you have in developing policies?

While serving on the Zonta International Board, I was actively involved in developing policies for the organization. We developed a policy aimed at combating early and forced marriage of young girls, through advocacy and financing projects in collaboration with UNIFEM. (Now UN Women).

I currently serve on the Board of ANASAP-Togo, where we prepare and develop policies in the areas of public health and sanitation for onward transmission to the Government.

What lessons did you learn from previous leadership positions?

Serving as a leader requires a lot of patience, empathy, trust and above all the ability to listen. Did I possess all those skills initially? No! Did I develop them? Very much so. My greatest take away is learning how to manage conflicts. When I reflect on those times, I realize that most of the lessons learned helped me to empower and motivate district teams when I later served as Region Advisor.

What experience and key strengths would you bring to the Board of Directors?

My professional experience both as a team member and team leader in multi-cultural and diversity environments have afforded me a vast experience in collaboration and team interaction, essential ingredients for serving on the Board.

I have a global perspective and knowledge of world affairs, with experience on strategic thinking, corporate social responsibility and international working environment. My positive attitude easily creates enthusiasm in others and makes them work towards common goals. Furthermore, I place high demands on myself and on others and my dedication to service and commitment to our organization’s core values are the driving forces behind all that I do. I am result oriented with extraordinary capacity for workload, and I never give up!

Why do you want to serve as an International Officer/Director?

I believe in moving through life’s journey one step at a time, whether in the professional or volunteer field. My experience in Toastmasters has allowed me to climb the ladder—serving as a club officer, District officer, and Region Advisor-- and now I am eager to give back to our organization by sharing the knowledge and benefits gained throughout my journey. With my global experience and perspective, I am excited to serve on the Board and help our organization grow.

What volunteer experience do you have outside of Toastmasters?

I grew up in a volunteer environment, where at a very young age I watched my mom actively involved with the Red Cross, YWCA etc. Eventually, in my youth I became involved as a company leader in the Girl Guides Movement, Youth for Christ etc.

I am currently engaged in Zonta at the International, District and club levels, making the world a better place for women and girls, through advocacy and service projects

Furthermore, I am an active member of FEMNET (African Women Communication Network), helping with translations and organizing members’ trips to New York to attend the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women each year in March.

I am also the Past President of AFCET (Women Entrepreneurs of Togo) where I obtained financing to help 500 women obtain birth certificates and identity cards via the project "Every Woman, An Identity"

Additionally, I am the Affiliate President of Business and Professional Women, BPW-Togo

Have you worked with other Boards of Directors outside of Toastmasters? If so, describe your experience.

I have served on Boards of Directors in the past, and currently serve on two Boards.

As International Director on the Zonta International Board of Directors (1996-98) I served in various Board committees. I contributed to the Task Force responsible for a major policy change that introduced staggered terms for International Directors. This policy was presented at the Convention in Paris and successfully passed in 1998. I was also entrusted with the task of resolving a major club conflict in Paris, with positive results.

Additionally, as a member of Sister to Sister (STSI) Inc, International Advisory Board, (New York) I have been involved in developing programs for the association to implement the United Nations SDG,(Sustainable Development Goals) by promoting the STEM/STIM programs for children of color in Westchester and Bronx counties in New York.

In addition, I was a member of the Board of Directors of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, in Togo. This award encourages young people to spend time volunteering in their community, which benefits others and contributes to their own development.

Currently, I am serving on the Board of Directors of ANASAP, Togo ( National Agency for Sanitation and Public Health}.

In your opinion, what are Toastmasters International’s major objectives and how would you work to achieve them?

As Toastmasters International enters its second Centenary, it continues making a positive, life-changing impact on individuals throughout the world. The organization’s major objective is to improve the member experience and adapt the education program to member’s needs while working towards increasing membership, diversity and equity; at the same time continue adapting to changes that occurred due to the global pandemic in order to stay current in an ever-evolving world.

As a Board member I will bring my experience in these fields to work towards achieving goals that have been set out and commit to their success.

Additional information about candidate:

During the COVID crisis, I was in New York at the epicenter of the calamity. At the time, I felt anxious and scared. Then, I started attending Toastmasters meetings online, connecting with people from many countries around the world and taking on various roles. This experience brought me a renewed sense of hope as I achieved my third Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award. Inspired to do more, I decided to continue serving the organization.