Kathy Lalazarian
Joan Underwood is a strong technical specialist in public sector management, civil service reform and in the overall area of government efficiency. As a government counterpart in Antigua and Barbuda she has served her country well in diligently and doggedly pursuing reforms to increase management efficiency for the betterment of the people she served. Joan’s style of directness, tact and a high amount of intellectual acumen gets people’s attention. I hope to have the opportunity to work with Joan again in the future.
Mariano Lafuente
Joan worked with us recently in the preparation and delivery of a high level mission to China to discuss leadership development in Latin America and the Caribbean’s public sector, and explore opportunities for collaboration with the Chinese government. Her in-depth knowledge of the topic, her actual expertise as practitioner and her superb interpersonal skills were crucial for the success of our mission. We are now starting a partnership with China’s Executive Leadership Academy Pudong (CELAP) and we are looking forward to continue working with Joan on this project!
Mark Lambrides
If you have a program or project that you really need to be implemented carefully and on-time, then Joan Underwood should be seriously considered for its implementation. I have had an excellent experience in working with Joan to support the execution of energy policy work in the Caribbean. I give Joan my highest recommentation.
Marjorie Wharton
Joan Underwood has long been a lecturer/facilitator for the programmes offered by the Cave Hill School of Business. Over the last six months I have had the opportunity to work more closely with Joan on two projects; one focusing on leadership development and the other on change management in a client organization. Throughout that time I have found myself repeatedly impressed by the knowledge that she possesses, her skills in putting learners at ease, helping them be open to learning, her comfort with new concepts and her ready access to cutting edge information which is always easily incorporated into her consulting, coaching, training and facilitation sessions to ensure that participants and organizations have ready access to up-to-date and relevant information. I would unconditionally recommend Joan as a leadership development specialist and as a change management practitioner.
Kithinji (KK) Kiragu
Joan was the key client contact/director in a consulting project to address issues of public service employment and payroll management in the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, in 2011. She directed the assignment with a high degree of resourcefulness, diligence and amity. Joan not only guided the successful completion of the assignment but also made me enjoy performance of the tasks. She is an exceptionally endowed public servant.
Marsha Lewis, Principal, Human Capital Development Division, LCI Inc.
I have had the good fortune to work with Ms. Joan Underwood of Underwood Talent Development Services (UTDS) in the capacity of fellow coach and facilitator specifically in the areas of Talent management and human resource development. Joan’s understanding of the primal context of human resource development is second to none. This coupled with an intimate and grass root feel of the socio-political frameworks which undergird our Caribbean region, makes Joan and her practice, the go to firm for organisation’s who really want to hone and realize the potential of their human capital.
The business of talent development is not one that is often given much attention by organisation’s until crisis stage at which time the ask is often for a quick fix. With UTDS the focus is not only on just in time solutions but timely and sustainable solutions that are created with the client in mind. The environment created through the UTDS programmes are punctuated with best practice methodologies with high doses of common sense intended for practical application. For this reason, what is shared by Joan and her team not only sticks with the participants engaged in the training/coaching but transforms and modifies their outcomes – a true mark of success in human behaviour modification.

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clients we've worked with...






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THE MANAGER LEVEL UP: Make Difficult People Disappear
Learn how to make difficult people disappear – legally.
February 23, 2021 -
THE MANAGER LEVEL UP: 5 Step Action Plan to Jumpstart a Stalled Career
This 5 step plan could be just what you need to redesign the job you’re in into the one you want.
February 15, 2021 -
THE MANAGER LEVEL UP: Getting Others to Say YES
High Stakes Negotiation In June 2004, I was appointed as Antigua and Barbuda’s Non-Resident Ambassador to several Latin American countries. Among my assigned portfolio was Brazil. As a congratulatory gift, a colleague commissioned a special lapel pin for me. It consisted of the intertwined flags of the two countries. He was thoughtful and kind enough
January 26, 2021 -
THE MANAGER LEVEL UP: Don’t Stop Until You’re DONE
One rainy Friday morning, I decided to do a YouTube workout rather than hitting the highway for the four-mile walk that I had originally planned for that day. I settled on a HASfit video. I chose that video because it promised a full body resistance band workout – sounded like just the thing I needed
January 8, 2021 -
THE MANAGER LEVEL UP: How To Take Management Performance To The Next Level
During a quiet moment of reflection have you ever thought “I know that our team has the potential to excel, but we’re not there yet? What can I do to help take our performance to the next level?” Management performance is one of the key determinants of success factors such as profitability, employee engagement and
January 1, 2021 -
THE MANAGER LEVEL UP: Three Simple Tips On How To Become A Manager
Do you feel that you have the potential to make a greater contribution to your organisation? Do you believe with every fibre of your being that you have so much that you could contribute if you were to become a manager? Have you ever found yourself thinking “If I were the boss…”? Are you ready
January 1, 2021 -
Achieve Your Full Managerial Potential – #TheManagerLevelUP
Greetings from UTDS Publishing – the new division in the UTDS family. We hope that you, your family, friends, and colleagues are well in these unprecedented times. What’s new with me? I am delighted to share that I have finished my long-awaited book and will be launching it in December – just in time for
November 7, 2020