Leadership Fiji values helped shape my family – Joshua Dean

Greenhouse Studio Co-Lead and Leadership Fiji alumnus Joshua Dean believes that while some people are born to lead countries or big organisations, his own journey taught him that powerful change can start in small spaces, like a creative studio or even at home.

Speaking during the 25th anniversary of Leadership Fiji, Dean says after graduating from the program, his work at Greenhouse became more meaningful as he engaged more deeply with development agencies.

He says the biggest change he could make started in his home — with how he chose to raise his son, using the values he learned through Leadership Fiji.

Dean says not everyone will lead from Parliament or the President’s Office, but the values we practise in our homes can have a ripple effect.

He says one day his son will grow up and share those same values at work, with friends, or with his own family, and that’s how change begins to grow.

Insert: raising my son 2nd Feb 26 

Dean adds that change doesn’t happen overnight it takes time, commitment, and small actions within our circles.

He compared the spread of change to the way COVID-19 spread, saying a person’s influence for good can touch someone and continue to spread.

He says change works the same way — when you inspire one person, they go on to inspire the next, and that’s how it grows.

Leadership Fiji CEO Sharyne Fong says that through the Leadership Fiji Core Program, every person is challenged to contribute to building a better Fiji.

Fong says the issue of drugs is not new and continues to be driven by deeper social issues like the breakdown of families.

She highlights that a national dialogue on illicit drugs was held in 2019, led by Leadership Fiji, and resulted in 14 outcome points.

She adds these were presented to the country’s leaders, but nothing was done.

Fong says a follow-up dialogue was held in 2024 and was meant to lead to a national narcotics strategy.

She says one of the strongest messages from the 2019 dialogue was that family breakdown is at the core of many social problems facing the country today.

She stresses that leadership must be at the forefront of change, and the Leadership Fiji program is helping prepare individuals to step up.

Fong says some alumni have gone on to become ministers, permanent secretaries and election candidates — and even standing for office takes courage and helps drive national conversations forward.