Middle managers from across Jamaica’s corporate and public sectors were urged to step into a higher standard of leadership, accountability, and influence at the Annual Make Your Mark: Middle Managers’ Leadership Conference, recently held at The Jamaica Pegasus in New Kingston.

Staged under the theme “Stewards of Power: Bridging Vision and Results,” the conference brought into sharp focus the pivotal role middle managers play in translating strategy into action, and vision into measurable outcomes. 

At the centre of the dialogue was a clear message: Jamaica’s continued growth and competitiveness will depend not only on visionary leadership at the top, but on empowered, capable, and courageous leadership in the middle.

Delivering the keynote address, Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, challenged participants to embrace stewardship as a defining leadership principle.  “Stewardship begins with the individual,” he asserted. “What do you stand for? Where do you stand when there are issues of controversy? Leadership requires the courage to act, even when it is uncomfortable.”

Minister Hill underscored that effective middle management is essential to national development, noting that Jamaica’s economic resilience, strengthened fiscal discipline, and expanding global trade relationships are all sustained by organisations that are well-managed at every level. He encouraged managers to stretch their thinking, deepen their capabilities, and actively contribute to value creation within their organisations.

Adding to the discussion, Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Richard Byles, highlighted a critical gap in leadership development, noting that many professionals are promoted based on technical excellence but are often unprepared for the demands of managing people.

“As a leader, the job is no longer to do it yourself,” Byles noted. “The job is to create the conditions for others to do it excellently.” He emphasised that trust and respect, not authority alone, are the true currencies of effective leadership.

Representing CIBC Caribbean, Product Owner- Deposits, Horace Watson contributed to panel discussions, offering practical insights on navigating complexity, fostering collaboration, and driving performance within dynamic organisational environments. His participation reinforced the bank’s commitment to leadership development as a cornerstone of sustainable growth.

Watson added, “I found the conference to be an excellent forum for managers to reflect on leadership and explore practical ways to become more effective leaders. The panel discussion was especially valuable because it allowed us to speak openly about building resilient leadership. We focused on the three Cs of resilient leadership: Conflict: how to address workplace conflict constructively and maintain alignment across teams. Crisis: how to manage crises, communicate clearly, keep everyone on the same page, and deliver needed results and Customer care: how to continue serving customers effectively, even while navigating conflict or crisis.  In every case, the emphasis was on helping managers lead with resilience, clarity, and a strong commitment to the people they serve.”

The conference served as a powerful platform for reflection and recalibration, equipping participants with the mindset and tools needed to lead with intention and impact. As organisations navigate an increasingly complex and competitive landscape, the role of middle managers as connectors, catalysts, and culture-builders has never been more critical.

The message resonated clearly throughout the day: leadership is not defined by title, but by action. And in Jamaica’s journey toward continued progress, middle managers will remain at the heart of execution, innovation, and transformation.