Shirley Daley, DTM

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

With dual careers in the educational and financial services sectors spanning 40 years, I have the advantage of a wide breadth of experience at the managerial level. At this level, I have not only led various strategic work groups but have collaborated with diversified management teams to prepare and execute strategic plans for a range of businesses. This has allowed me to interact with boards of national corporations and educational institutions as well as not for profit organizations.

As a Branch Manager, with the Chancellor Insurance Agency, as part of customer responsiveness, we are consistently developing and implementing relevant strategies to meet the needs of our clients.

I currently serve as the President of the Jamaica Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (JAIFA) and being the primary official representative, I interact with government and non-governmental organizations locally and internationally.

In Toastmasters, I have successfully developed policies and strategies at club and district levels while serving as District Director and Region Advisor.

I am therefore informed and able to meaningfully contribute to the formulation of policies and strategies in the interest of Toastmasters members while interacting with diverse teams, in my role as a Board member.

What experience do you have in strategic planning?

I led the District Trio in formulating and implementing the District 81 Strategic Plan 2010-2011 and was a member of the Region Advisor Committee that developed the District Strategies Guide for the District Success Plan in 2023.

I have engaged in the strategic planning process for a number of different types of organizations including corporate, and not for profit.

In my substantive job as Branch Manager, I lead agency managers to identify and prioritize target markets. Understanding the perceptions in these markets, we develop policies and strategies that continue to attract, recruit, and motivate high caliber financial advisors over the last 10 years.

As a Ministry Leader in my Church, I led the Youth Leadership Team to develop its inaugural 5-year Strategic Plan while coaching them throughout the process.

As a member of the Board of JAIFA, I made a significant contribution to the association’s strategic planning process. Now, being the President of the association, as part of my key role, I am currently leading the team in the development of the Association’s 2-5 Year Strategic Success Plan incorporating education, legislation, and members’ welfare.

My experience will be a valuable resource to the Toastmasters International board and members, as we move strategically into our envisioned future.

What experience do you have in the area of finance?

My experience in the area of finance spans over 35 years. Central to my role as a life underwriter, I have helped to guide thousands of clients in establishing a balanced financial portfolio, provided support and expertise in financial management to direct reports and through presentations, at relevant seminars.

During the period 1995-1997, I managed the budget of the branches of the Crown Eagle Life Insurance Company (Jamaica) valued at over1M USD.

I also managed a staff complement of 19 with a budget of over 250,000 USD at the Ministry of Local Government (Jamaica) from 2000-2003.

As the District Director (D81 – Caribbean Toastmasters), I gave oversight to the team in budgeting and spending prudently in order to realize our goals in the District Success Plan.

Currently as Branch Manager at the Chancellor Insurance Agency (Jamaica), I manage a sales team of 24 with a budget of over 1M USD.

As the current President of JAIFA, I have responsibility for managing the association’s budget of 3M USD with prudence.

What experience do you have in developing policies?

In most organizations, I have earned leadership roles from teacher to the level of president which required crafting direction, developing policies and directing diverse groups and individuals towards achieving the desired objectives.

Working with a young team, I directed the development and formulation of human resource policies at the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (2003-2006) and formulated and implemented policies in the Administrative & Asset Management Department of the Ministry of Local Government, Jamaica.

In Toastmasters, as the District Director, I collaborated with the District Executive Committee in developing communication and training policies to suit cultural context based on the uniqueness of our district with 29 sovereign nations speaking 5 different languages.

I am a significant member of the policy development and review team at Chancellor Insurance Agency. We have developed policies to ensure quality engagement and output from our staff and sales team.

As the President of JAIFA, to ensure service excellence, I engage the Board and Secretariat in constant review and formulation of policies to respond to the changing needs of our membership. This results in empowerment and support towards the realization of their personal and professional goals.

What lessons did you learn from previous leadership positions?

• The importance of listening attentively which helps in being able to probe and ask the right questions leading to a strategic response.
• The strategy of managing and leading team members based on outcomes/results, not only on methodology used in problem-solving and policy development.
• The ability to make timely, well-considered decisions, especially under pressure while allowing team members to contribute to the decision-making process as this helps to create “buy-in” and has proven to be an effective strategic approach.
• The significant impact of affirmation and adaptability while building credible relationships with team members which is fundamental to a healthy team and conflict management.
• The role of vision and strategic thinking in helping team members to realise personal and organizational goals
• The need for inspiration and constant motivation of team members in helping them to stay the course.
• The power of empathy in giving feedback leading to trust.
• The empowerment of others by assigning tasks according to their strengths, while also trusting the team to carry out responsibilities. This fosters growth, accountability and self-management.

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

I bring over 40 years of experience in both corporate governance and strategic leadership, having served on several boards and held managerial roles in the finance and not for profit sectors.

My key strengths include a strong background in strategic planning, where I have successfully led initiatives that enhanced organizational growth and streamlined operations. I have a proven record of financial oversight, having managed multi-million-dollar budgets and driven efficient cost-management strategies.

I am passionate about people, their growth and success, which are key tenets of the Toastmasters mission. I uphold the vision and mission of Toastmasters and have a deep conviction about the value and power of Toastmasters in influencing communication and leadership roles as evident in my own growth.

In Toastmasters, I have successfully developed policies and strategies at club and district levels. In multiple leadership roles at Church, as Branch Manager, Board member and President and community partner, I lead and interact with multigenerational groups and have established strong, mutual respect and trust relationships.

I am also committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion within organizations, which I believe is essential for continued, long-term success of our Toastmasters organization.

With my ability to build strong relationships and influence stakeholders, I am confident that I would bring valuable insights and a collaborative leadership style to the Board of Directors. Additionally, with a discipline for finishing, I have understanding on how to direct and guide policies to support and lead individuals across generations.

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

I desire to serve as an International Director because that next step represents the very spirit of Toastmasters which is growth and development of individuals. This is my true story, having served with excellence at various levels and roles in the organization locally, and regionally. I believe, I have garnered a deep understanding of and appreciation for the vision, mission and values of Toastmasters and I would like to bring this knowledge to bear on the future of the organization at the international level.

As a Toastmaster, the lion's share of my accomplishment has been serving in District 81, comprising 29 sovereign nations, speaking five languages with its roots in Africa, Asia, and Europe. In 2003, I served as the First Council Governor Education & Training of the Caribbean Territorial Council of Toastmasters. As we built the Council into District 81, we learned the meaning of cultural diversity, equity, inclusion, and adaptability through mutual respect, hard work, and the importance of cooperation. I served as the District 81 Governor 2010-2011, the Region Advisor (2022-2023) for Region 8 and continue to serve my District and the international community.

With my experience and sense of industry, I am willing and able to serve as an International Director in helping to take Toastmasters into its envisioned future – “to be the first-choice provider of dynamic, high-value, experiential communication and leadership skills development,” as the organization plays its part in responding to the needs of a changing world.

What volunteer experience do you have outside of Toastmasters?

I am the current President of the Jamaica Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (JAIFA) having served on the Board of Directors for the last 5 years.

I served as Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Master of Science Workforce Training and Education at the University of Technology, Jamaica with responsibility for reviewing the study program to ensure its optimal value and relevance to the academic community and wider society.

I served as the Chairman of the Board of Fast and Furious Track Club (Jamaica) and am a member of the Board of the Hyacinth Lightbourne Memorial Association Ltd (Jamaica)

I work as a ministry leader, voluntarily mentoring/coaching youth leaders in Churches and the disadvantaged in the wider Community – helping to enhance their interpersonal communication and leadership skills.

The experience through volunteering has strengthened my knowledge base, ability to focus, boosted my confidence as my contribution has influenced strategic direction and policy decisions.

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

I was a Board member representing the EMBA students – Mona School of Business, University of the West Indies.

I have interacted with Board of Directors at Crown Eagle Life Insurance Company and the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica where I made presentations.

I served as the Chairman of the Board of Fast and Furious Track Club (Jamaica) and am a member of the Board of the Hyacinth Lightbourne Memorial Association Ltd (Jamaica)

I am the current President of the Jamaica Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (JAIFA) having served on the Board of Directors for the last 5 years.

The experience has taught me that the duties carried out by Board of Directors are the backbone of successful business planning. It also strengthened my knowledge base, informed my working relationship building and leadership skills as directors came from across disciplines. My confidence in corporate governance was boosted as a result of positive feedback from satisfied stakeholders.

The ability to influence strategic direction and policy decisions while working with the Board of Directors was as a result of being empowered by the principles and best practices of Toastmasters International.

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

Being a non-profit educational organization, a major objective is to continue supporting members in achieving their personal and professional communication and leadership goals by providing tailored learning and development opportunities.

Another major objective is to expand global recognition of Toastmasters International programs by leveraging technology and resources resulting in world-class operations.

In working to achieve these objectives, through networking, I would be an ambassador of the Toastmasters-learned principles/guidelines and product.

My work would include making Toastmasters International, the communication organization of choice by fostering a collaborative and supportive environment for the membership.

I would engage with the Board to expand strategic partnerships towards extending the organization’s reach locally and internationally, ensuring global relevance while retaining the core values of the programs.

Additional information about candidate:

My strong personal and professional communication and leadership skills underscore the ability to function as a workshop facilitator, guest speaker and master of ceremonies among other roles on the local and international stage.

Fluency in English, Spanish and French gives me an opportunity to help enable cultural adaptability, which augurs well in taking Toastmasters into the future.

Writer/Author – Produced and published the book, La France La Jamaique Arrive for 1998 World Cup in France.

e-Tutor – Business Communication, Open Campus at The University of the West Indies – 2013 to present

Completed Master Mind Study – John C. Maxwell’s book, Put Your Dream to the Test – 2017 February

On the personal side, I am a courageous, gregarious and fun-loving individual who loves people. I am also a travel enthusiast extraordinaire.