For immediate release

January 19, 2012


It’s all about trust and team-work for Tony Mankowski

Every Saturday morning Tony Mankowski and his wife make lists.  They like to focus on what’s next, and that’s his leadership style too – until his son pointed out that “you guys don’t know how to have fun.”

It was an epiphany. Mankowski realized this was an area of weakness and that he need to ask his team to remind him to stop and smell the roses – to celebrate the milestones.  That is exactly what they do now.

Mankowski is the Vice President of Operations, Oil Sands, at Nexen, Long Lake.  He shared insights about leadership from his 30-year career during his keynote speech for the third Leadership in Action speaker event at Keyano on January 18.

A 10-course program Leadership in Action was started at the College as a result of community demand.  Janis Lawrence-Harper, Associate Dean, Lifelong Learning, Keyano College, said the certificate program is beneficial to seasoned and emerging leaders, encompassing varied topics like planning meetings to building effective teams.

Mankowski enjoyed being at Keyano and emphasized the need for trust and team-work.

“Creating the understanding in your team of why your mission matters and why it’s worth it, is fundamental to leadership.  As a leader it is important for me to instill this feeling as to how they can make a difference and why it matters to the organization. It is a contagious feeling.  It makes others think what drives leaders,” he explained.

Tahnee Rose, Production Manager at TS Signs attended the event and was impressed with Mankowski.

“The most important thing I took from him is developing trust.  With trust you can do anything,” said Rose, who has taken a Leadership in Action course at Keyano College.

Mankowski also emphasized the need for communication, adding, “if people don’t believe you; they won’t give you feedback.  And feedback is a gift.”

Sarah Imran, Coordinator, Leadership in Action program at Keyano College was delighted with the event.

“Tony's formula for leadership success resonated well with the participants; they enjoyed his frank and realistic approach to issues during the question and answer session. The feedback I got was that the participants felt inspired to carry their learnings and motivation into their workplaces and Keyano classrooms,” Imran said.

Visit http://keyano.ca/continuing-ed/professional-certificates/leadership-action for further details about the Leadership in Action program.

For more information, please contact:
Kiran Malik-Khan
Communications Specialist
Marketing & Communications
Keyano College
780-791-8971
Kiran.Malik-Khan@keyano.ca