Speaking Engagement

On Tuesday evening, I headed off to speak with local business and education leaders in Haiti. My father's friend, Edouard Lafontant set up the speaking engagement.

I was picked up at 2pm at my hotel in Petionville and we drove toward the road leading to Montaigne Noir, the road I used to take home everyday. It was as I remembered, narrow streets and high walls surrounding the homes. We drove up a steep driveway to a home situated on a hill. The bright orange colors of the patio jumped at me. I was a bit nervous. What would I tell them that they already didn't know?

The topic was rebuilding Haiti with Haitian eyes. By that I mean, trying to understand and point toward a vision, a Haitian vision, of Haiti that builds on her assets vs. focusing on the overwhelming needs. In other words, what does Haiti have to offer to the world. What might be her competitive edge, what are her strengths, and what already works in Haiti that we might be able to harness and build upon? Once we have a clear sense, a clear vision of Haiti and what we want her to be, I suggested we might be better able to lead the charge in that direction. We might be able to better determine what will work in Haiti and what won't.

After the talk, Edouard Lafontant spoke about the importance of leadership, what it means and how to build it. How it's important to build capacity in the leaders by instilling in him the idea that great leaders lead others to greatness in such a way that they don't know that they have been led.

The discussion after the talk was insightful, lively and engaging. We discussed how to do everything at the same time, we discussed some frustrations and we thought about what works in Haiti and what doesn't. We also talked about how MIT might contribute.

At the end of the talk, I felt charged and refreshed. I felt the doors begin to open, especially the doors to a group of strong women who attended the discussion. Lots to do.