Chief executive officer of Massy Gas Products (Jamaica) Limited Rohan Ambersley has a passion for leadership and service. He recognises leadership as not just the mere role of being in charge, but as a process of adding value to the space around him, making improvements and developing those who he seeks to lead. These qualities, he identifies, are crucial to who he is a leader.

Ambersley acknowledges that his leadership style helps him to be his best self in terms of the impact he is able to make and how he can contribute to a space. The CEO reveals that his influence and drive to take to this path of leadership comes from the perspective through which he views his life’s purpose. He believes in being different and making a difference.

As a person of faith, he also accepts his life of leadership as a calling from God. His perspective leads him to believe that his life and his ability to lead are all gifts that have been given to him and, therefore, it is his responsibility to use them wisely and to return to God based on what has been given to him. He acknowledges that God has invested in him; therefore, he must in turn invest in lives of others and business leadership provides him with a great opportunity to do this.

He recounts his earlier years as a leader as time spent around and interacting with other leaders in order to learn as much as he could from their experience. During this time he would have gained valuable advice which helped to shape the way he approached his own life of leadership. Ambersley also shared that he is an avid reader, and believes that exposing himself to the writings of other leaders would have been crucial in him grasping as much knowledge as he could.

He makes mention of the writings of John C Maxwell, citing the following: “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” From this statement, he opines that “…the leader and leadership is core to goal achievement and, therefore, my own approach to leadership is guided by that idea of making a difference and understanding how what I do and what I say makes a difference.”

He also mentions Robert Greenleaf and his body of work on servant leadership as an inspiration for his own life of leadership. Recalling a leadership training he participated in, Ambersley shares a key takeaway from the session. He says, “The training highlighted that I am the message. It highlights the power that a leader carries… the power to create an impact.”

Thinking back, he has one message for his younger self: “Keep learning, keep growing, keep going.” He continues by highlighting that, “In life one of the biggest things that happens is that sometimes, at different times, particularly when times are challenging, there is the sense sometimes to shrink back and to think I won’t make it.” He counters this, however, by advising that if one remains strong and remains focused in the end they will be in a better place.

At different times, Ambersley notes, each ‘obstacle’ will seem like the biggest thing we will have to face, but as we keep going and growing each step will become representative of our progress in life.

As a progressive leader, Ambersley admits that if there was anything he would have done differently as it relates to his life of leadership, it would be to take tough action and make challenging decisions with a lot less apprehension. He believes that if it is the right thing to do then it should be done without too much re-evaluation.

He goes on to reveal that his leadership is most fulfilling when he is able to inspire someone to do something big. Ambersley shares that the bold investment decisions and transformation strategies that he was able to make and implement with the help of his team is gratification enough. The boosting of business through meaningful investments and seeing his workers and mentees advance from stage to stage makes the journey even more fulfilling.

Ambersley admits that it can be challenging to maintain confidence when things are not going as planned. He advises, however, is that a negative occurrence is not the end of the road. It is important, he says, to re calibrate and reassess this situation. One must believe that he/she can overcome, believe that they can fix the problem, and with that belief they can get back on track. He offered that this is why it is important to read or talk to someone, and also to pray about it.

The CEO hopes to continue adding value to organisations and to the lives of others as he continues in his career. He wishes to serve in organisations that add value and makes a difference in people’s lives. For those who wish to follow this path of leadership, he notes that it is important to learn that, “If you are interested in leading you must also be interested in learning.” The more you know the better you will do in whatever situation you are placed, and the more opportunities you will receive. It is therefore crucial, he adds, that one invests in his/her skills and knowledge.

Learning about leadership, he believes, will make one a good leader. He ends by reiterating the need to keep learning growing and going: “The person who keeps learning will never become stale-dated… if you don’t keep current you might be prepared today, but realise you are unprepared for tomorrow, because you are relying on today’s knowledge to meet tomorrow’s challenges… Don’t set limits for yourself, always endeavour to be the best.”

Dr Jacqueline Coke Lloyd is a transformational leader and managing director of MYM Group Limited. She is a people, organisational, and middle manager development professional. She is also the founder of Young Entrepreneurs Association, national productivity ambassador, speaker, author, and adjunct professor. Send responses to the Jamaica Observer or jackiecokelloyd@gmail.com.