‘Leadership is more than being at the front’

For Shevauni Powell, Mr Supranational Jamaica 2025, leadership is not defined by position, visibility or title’ but is grounded in influence, service and the ability to inspire transformation in others.

Powell underscored this view as keynote speaker at the recent launch of the book, Mile Gully High: A Principal’s Reflection on its Transformation, authored by his former principal now clergyman, Reverend Ulit Brackett.

Addressing civil leaders, corporate partners and community stakeholders attending the book launch at The Garden Hotel in Manchester, Powell, a former head boy at Mile Gully High, challenged the conventional image of leadership, arguing that true leadership “is more than being at the front”.

“It is about lifting others up, creating pathways that those behind you can walk further than you ever did,” he said, pointing to Brackett as an example of that principle in action and noting that it was at Mile Gully High that he first learned what leadership truly was. He described Brackett as a principal whose leadership was widely respected and instrumental in driving change.

Reflecting on both the transformation chronicled in the former principal’s book and his own time at the institution, Powell emphasised that transformation is also “never accidental”, crediting Brackett’s ability to build meaningful partnerships with helping set Mile Gully High on its trajectory and for creating opportunities for students, including himself.

“Mile Gully High School did not become what it is today by chance,” he said, adding that “At my high school graduation, the guest speaker was the Hon Earl Jarrett, who was at the time general manager of the JN Group. At the end of the ceremony, he offered me summer employment and from that I got a full university scholarship. That opportunity became my first step into Jamaica National where I remain employed today and this was a direct result of the relationship Rev Brackett helped to build.”

A broader definition of leadership

That lived experience, Powell said, is what allowed him to internalise a broader definition of leadership, one that aligns with the values he now carries as a banker, youth leader and a representative of Jamaica on the international stage.

Powell said the significance of Brackett’s book launch, therefore, goes beyond a literary celebration, serving instead as a reflection on what effective leadership looks like.

“This book is more than a collection of memories, it is a testament to vision, sacrifice and enduring influence of leadership,” he said.

Echoing those sentiments and joining in celebrating the launch of the book, Earl Jarrett, chief executive officer of the JN Group, said the publication documents lessons learned, particularly from the five-year Centres of Excellence education transformation programme delivered nearly two decades ago through the Mutual Building Societies Foundation, involving Jamaica National.

He explained that the programme supported the holistic transformation of six secondary schools across Jamaica, including Mile Gully High, not only by focusing on classroom interactions but by strengthening leadership to ensure that changes could positively influence student outcomes.

“We’re pleased and proud that the lessons garnered through the Centres of Excellence Programme are documented in this book by Rev Brackett, which is yet another lesson of our journey together, as we must document what we have done and practised thereafter. If we don’t document things, it will be forgotten, and the fact is many people don’t even know what we have achieved,” he said.

Transform rural areas

The book’s foreword, also contributed by Jarrett, highlights that the publication is not only about the school, but also about the historical development of the community and how rural areas can be transformed through sound national policies and the support of partners, both local and international.

Speaking about the inspiration behind the work, Brackett said that, after much contemplation, he undertook the project to leave a legacy that would educate, enlighten and challenge future generations.

“As you turn the pages, you’ll not only gain a profound appreciation for the school’s evolution but also a broader understanding of the community’s rich historical landscape,” he said. “This work stands as a testament to the resilience, determination and vision of those who came before, and is intended to inspire future generations to build on the foundations laid by their predecessors.”

The book is available for purchase on Amazon.