Leading from Behind

Generations of Afghan people have suffered through war, oppression and a collapse of civil order and government. Attempts to rebuild since the fall of the Taliban regime have been hindered, and not only by the ongoing conflict in which 2,500 Canadian troops are currently fighting. Decades of enduring strife have left gaping holes in the country’s civic institutions. Among its many problems, Afghanistan suffers from a leadership gap that desperately needs to be closed if the country is to finally take the future in its own hands.

Bernie Derible (BSc’84) is no stranger to conflict zones, having served as a Canadian Armed Forces officer in Africa and the Middle East. His role in Afghanistan, however, is quite different from that of other Canadians fighting in the country’s southern regions. Mr. Derible just finished a year as senior officer in a unique organization called the Canadian Strategic Advisory Team (SAT), whose members act as advisors to government officials. Mr. Derible served as the special advisor to President Karzai’s Senior Economic Advisor, Professor Ishaq Nadiri.

“What has been missing in the Afghanistan government is experience that we here in Canada take for granted,” Mr. Derible explains. “The basics of leadership, HR policies, business planning and sometimes even literacy are lacking. The war and ongoing conflict in the country has left a two-generation void in skills essential for running a successful governmental organization capable of aiding its citizens. We’re working with government officials on everything from how to effectively run a business meeting to top-level strategic planning for the country.”

“They will give you the shirt off their backs. It’s a rarity, even here in Canada, that you can walk into someone’s home and have a place to stay the night if you need one. It is amazing that after all that they’ve been through, they’re still willing to offer the olive branch.” — Bernie Derible

“Reinforcing success” is one of the phrases that Derible uses to describe SAT’s role in Afghanistan. It means ensuring that any military successes achieved in the mission are not rendered moot by the government’s inability to provide basic, functional services to the Afghan people. Another phrase is “leading from behind.” You won’t find Mr. Derible’s name on any press releases or on any of the detailed plans that he worked on with Afghan officials in areas ranging from agriculture to the economy. SAT is in no way trying to run the Afghanistan government, but are mentoring and assisting some of its leaders to manage it themselves. “Afghans are the ones who need to be leading the change, not us,” Mr. Derible explains.

The Chief of the Defence Staff, General Rick Hillier, hand-picked Mr. Derible for the 15-member team based on his wealth of leadership and management experience. After graduating from Dalhousie with a psychology degree, Derible followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Canadian Army as part of what he refers to as “a three-year thought process that turned into a 22year career.” Quickly elevated to officer ranks, his career highlights include serving as a squadron commander in his regiment; acting as Equerry for His Royal Highness Prince Charles and Her Royal Highness Princess Diana; chaperoning and providing security for several visiting heads of state including the Queen; serving as a senior military advisor to the Canadian minister of national defence and managing the department’s human resources and recruitment strategy; and being granted the rare opportunity to study at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, Kansas where he earned distinguished graduate honours.

What was his biggest surprise upon arriving in Afghanistan? “It was without doubt the will of the Afghan people to be a part of change,” he says. “Their country may have a troubled history but they want a stable platform to move forward.” Mr. Derible mentions his experience lecturing at Kardan University and Institute, teaching classes on English communication, organizational behaviour and basic leadership skills: “I found out one day that some of the students had driven 45 minutes to go to my 6 a.m. class, after which they work nine or 10 hours before returning for my evening classes. And these classes sometimes cost them a month’s salary to take. It’s really quite remarkable — they truly want to be the drivers of their own future.”

“These are also very, very hospitable people,” Derible continues. He describes one encounter with a group of local elders where almost all the conversation was in gestures and hand-drawn illustrations because of the language barrier. Yet, their shared taste for kebobs came through loud and clear, inspiring the elders to present the Canadian with a full meal cooked fresh from their own livestock. “They will give you the shirt off their backs. It’s a rarity, even here in Canada, that you can walk into someone’s home and have a place to stay the night if you need one. It is amazing that after all that they’ve been through, they’re still willing to offer the olive branch.”

He also expresses his frustration that the significant improvements that he’s witnessed do not seem to be resonating back home in Canada: “There is a tremendous amount of stability and progress in the country — not necessarily in the south around Kandahar where our men and women are fighting the Taliban, but in the east, particularly Kabul and throughout the northern regions. In these areas you see significant construction— more so even than in Halifax — and you see boys and girls going to school. There are beautiful parks where people who used to stay home in fear for their safety are having picnics on their days off. These examples are a big part of the untold story going on in the country.”

His optimism for the mission reflects a competitive spirit that dates back to his years with Dalhousie’s volleyball squad. He was team captain and a conference all-star. “Defeat — I don’t even know how to spell it,” Mr. Derible jokes. But his serious side returns as he ponders the implications of the broader work that Canadians are attempting to accomplish in Afghanistan: “The world can’t afford us to lose.”