In 2001 when Cecil Scott indicated his intent to pursue FIU’s EMBA programme and requested part sponsorship, Cable & Wireless Jamaica I had no hesitation in supporting the request. Given FIU’s reputation and Cecil’s undoubted aptitude, we were confident that the combination would also yield distinct benefits for the Company. He had been working in the Organization for sixteen (16) years, the last nine (9) as an Earth Station Engineer. We certainly felt the move was timely.
In August 2002, just about the mid-point in his FIU-EMBA programme, we promoted Cecil to the position of the Earth Station Manager. In addition to his already proven technical prowess, his promotion was influenced by, among other fact .

• The vision he was able to articulate – including the urgent need to do more with less resources and enhancements to our customer service
• Clarity in his views on some non-technical issues
• Demonstrably improved competence in building staff relationship and team work
• Sensitivity to the bottom line and attendant financial issues
Among the major tasks he was immediately faced with was the need to develop initiatives to better optimize resources so as to reduce overheads. This was critical to ensuring the facility operated in harmony with revised fiscal targets.
The outurn, ten months on, has been quite positive with significant achievements in the rationalisation of operations at the Earth Station.
Given the increasingly competitive telecommunications environment Cable & Wireless Jamaica will certainly be seeking to benefit further from the judicious blend of an EMBA qualification with that of a Eng as found in Cecil Scott our Earth Station Manager. Our expectations are certainly founded on the outstanding reputation of FIU and supported by the competencies so far demonstrated by Cecil Scott.
Claude Petgrave
June 13, 2003

Re: Hughton Leslie, Product Manager – Electronic Services
I believe that an organisation’s success is directly proportional to the extent to which it can harness and optimise the productivity of its human resources. When an employee is cognizant…… not only of his individual role and how that integrates with other functions but has full appreciation for the context within which that business operates, the success factor is multiplied ten-fold.

The EMBA programme offered by FIU cemented Hughton’s bigger-picture view of the business environment and this knowledge and exposure facilitated his ability to make an even greater contribution to the Retail and Electronic Banking team at Scotiabank. The comprehensive and practical approach and increasingly complex cases requiring resolution by himself and team members, as they worked assiduously through the programme, were effective simulations of real life business situations and adequately positioned the need for value-added contributions from all members. He was not satisfied with simply learning theories and constantly made representations within the division and through cross-functional teams to secure appropriate changes that would improve overall efficiencies.

Hughton was a Programmer Analyst when he first came to work at Scotiabank in 1991 and was soon promoted to Assistant Manager Systems Support. He possesses innate ability, focus and drive which has been acutely honed by participation in the 18-month EMBA programme. He demonstrates a positive attitude, excellent judgment and is decidedly analytical in decision-making. Since he assumed the position of Product Manager for Electronic Services 8 months ago, we have received extremely positive feedback from satisfied internal and external customers as he combines both technical and management expertise in the execution of his responsibilities.

My division has benefited significantly with Hughton on the team and we are very proud of his academic achievement.