An Iron Fist In A Velvet Glove

On Wednesday 09 June 2010, the Executive Committee of the Financial Toastmasters Club unanimously decided to entrust the future of the club in the hands of Ms Ouma Cuniah. Ms Cuniah will take office as from 1st July for a one year term. She will be the third President of our club.

Ms Cuniah is a seasoned toastmaster, she is a competent communicator who has served the club in the past two years as treasurer and vice-president membership respectively. She was voted 2009/2010 Toastmaster of the year by fellow members.

The outgoing President says of her that she is passionate and committed to the highest standards. He added that she is the right person in the right place, an iron fist in a velvet glove.

Outside of Toastmasters, Ms Cuniah is the Chief Internal Auditor of a well-known listed company, she plays tennis and practises yoga. Her perfect English stems from the long hours she spends reading.

She is also known for the charming smile that she wears in all circumstances................. "Smile at life, life will smile back at you".

She shares her views below......................have a pleasant reading.

1. Who is Ouma Cuniah?

This simple question generates quite a very strange feeling actually… as I realise that I don’t actually know the answer to that! You can never be sure what image you are projecting, don’t you agree? You feel and act in a certain way but then the feedback that people give on you throws you off track sometimes. Well… since I can only speak for myself, I would say that I’m a very outspoken and honest person. My fundamental values would be sincerity, integrity and a passion for excellence.

2. Why did you join a toastmasters club, what were your objectives?

Two years back a friend of mine advised me to join or create a toastmasters club and that stuck in my mind and then one day, by sheer coincidence I learnt that Dario Adolphe belonged to one and this is how things got started. And I must confess that I didn’t have any clear or defined objectives as such. I just came to the club one day and I got such a warm welcome by everybody that I decided to stay on.


3. Have the objectives been met?

Since I came in with an open mind, what I have gained from the club far surpasses what I could have had as expectations. The Toastmasters experience has enhanced all aspects of my life – you definitely cross to the next level once you’ve faced an audience. You learn all the small synchronising details which make or break an event. You even become a humorist, despite yourself! And also, as a committee member, it has been a fantastic journey with a lot of exhilarating moments.

4. How do you fit toastmasters in your already packed schedule?

I like this one! It actually doesn’t fit in!!! I have to sacrifice on other activities each time I’m in a Toastmasters meeting.

5. How does it feel to be president of Financial Toastmasters?

It is the nicest and warmest feeling to form part of the dream team.

6. What’s your views on the club?

This club is going places! As the youngest club on the island, our track record is impressive. The only DTM on the island is our founder president, we bagged the Select Distinguished Club award at the end of our first year itself and we are well on track to obtain the highest award from the Toastmasters International this year, the President’s Distinguished Club.

We have unfailingly held our two monthly meetings for the past two years. We love to advertise the fact that at Financial Toastmasters we talk about anything and everything under the sun except financial matters! We have a fantastic mix of members – coming from different lines of profession, countries and age groups. So, it is a very buoyant club with lots of freshness, new ideas and energy.

7. What are your objectives for 2010/2011?

The past two years have been focused on setting up and strengthening the foundations of the club. This year, in consensus with the IPP and the committee members, we are going to apply a particular focus on the performance and track record of each and every member. Clear targets will be set, there will be ongoing monitoring with the help of the mentors and at the end of the year we want to see these set hurdles already crossed and goals attained.

Notwithstanding our internal objectives, we are also going to open up externally. We will maintain our commitment to promote our club externally and we also intend to encourage more members to participate as speakers or Emcees in real life situations.


8. What’s your views on level of attendance at meetings?

I have to confess that a lot of efforts is devoted in contacting and encouraging members to come and participate at the meetings. I understand that professional or personal obligations sometimes come in the way but our biggest source of strength is our members. As it is, our committee members volunteer a lot of their time and other resources in keeping this club together and making things happen and it would really mean a lot to them if our members could show their support by participating more in the club’s activities.

9. How do you plan to deal with this?

I believe that we have to go out and discuss with our members and learn more about their aspirations about the club and their own targets. This will help us to align our club’s activities to satisfy our members’ needs more efficiently.

10. Any message for the members?

It is a prestigious reference to be known as a Toastmaster. But this designation comes with a lot of responsibilities too. We have a duty to continuously maintain and improve our speaking and presentation skills and this can only be done with practice and more practice.




Best of luck to Madam President.


D.