On Friday 7th November, 2025, the University of the Southern Caribbean came alive with energy as students gathered for the Future Forward Leadership workshop, an event created to shape, stretch, and empower the next generation of leaders. From the opening moments, it was clear this workshop offered more than just information, it offered transformation.
At the center of this experience was Mr. Laurence Modeste, a dynamic, engaging, and deeply impactful alumnus and presenter whose presence instantly captivated the room. Currently serving as the Deputy Chief National Digital Officer at the Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, Mr. Modeste has built an impressive career across the telecommunications, energy, and government sectors. He is known not only for his achievements but for translating real-world leadership into lessons anyone can grasp and apply.
What set him apart was not his resume, it was his authenticity. Before diving into his presentation, he invited students to stand, place their hands over their hearts, and declare: “I can, I will, I must become the leader I am made to be.” It wasn’t just an exercise but a mindset shift, a call to step into the leadership awakening within each student.
Mr. Modeste guided the audience through what leadership really means, not titles, not applause, not popularity, leadership, he emphasized, begins with the discipline of leading yourself. With humor, vulnerability, and years of experience, he unpacked how purpose is embedded in each person long before they recognize it and how every gift, skill, and challenge is part of that design.
He reminded students that thriving isn’t something that happens by accident, it’s intentional. It comes from understanding who you are, protecting your purpose, and committing to growth even when it feels uncomfortable. One of the workshop’s most powerful threads was his explanation of pruning, the process of cutting away habits, mindsets, and relationships that stunt growth. Problems aren’t punishments, he shared, they are catalysts, pushing us forward, shaping stronger character and clearer purpose.
Students listened closely as Mr. Modeste revealed how purpose, gifts, and authenticity work together to create the kind of leader the world actually needs. He encouraged them to value kindness over niceness, to build meaningful connections, and to stop shrinking themselves to fit places they’ve outgrown.
More than a keynote, this was a pivotal moment of transformation. Mr. Modeste pushed students to think bigger, dig deeper, and believe fiercely in the values they carry. His message was clear: you were created with everything you need. Your job is to become someone God can trust with the weight of your purpose.
Surrounded by interactive activities, giveaways, student engagement, and collaboration, the workshop provided the perfect environment for this message to take root. But it was the words of Mr. Laurence Modeste that lingered the longest, reminding students that leadership isn’t a distant goal,it starts now.
The USC leadership workshop set out to equip students for the world ahead. With Mr. Modeste’s powerful message at its core, it did something far greater, it turned potential into confidence, direction, and purpose, inspiring students to rise as the powerhouse leaders they were designed to be.
