When I first started the Laidlaw Scholarship, I thought research and leadership were two separate things. My mind was changed after these two years of devotion. My research summer was focused on software security: working with the HKU Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science on fuzz testing and using automated techniques to identify vulnerabilities in widely used software libraries. My Leadership in Action summer, however, brought me into a very different environment. Through Engineers Without Borders – Vancouver Chapter, I worked on improving digital literacy for disadvantaged groups.
Looking back, these two experiences taught me that leadership is not simply about being good at what you do. It is about understanding why your work matters, who it affects, and how you can use your abilities responsibly.
Learning Through Research
During my research summer, I worked on software security and fuzz testing. I developed Hopper++, an LLM-assisted fuzzer designed to discover bugs in commonly used code libraries. The work required me to think critically, investigate problems independently, and learn from failures.
This experience strengthened many of the capacities in the Laidlaw 3 C’s framework, particularly critical thinking and reflection, research and analysis, problem-solving, and communication. Research rarely proceeds exactly as planned. I had to question my assumptions, investigate unexpected results, and distinguish genuine software vulnerabilities from false positives. I learned that good research is not simply about producing an interesting result; it requires patience, accountability, and intellectual honesty.
It also changed how I think about technology. Software security may seem highly technical and distant from everyday life, but the libraries we worked on are used by countless applications and systems. A small vulnerability can therefore have consequences far beyond the code itself. This made me increasingly aware that technical decisions carry ethical responsibilities.
Impacting Through LiA
My Leadership in Action summer gave me a completely different perspective.
Instead of working primarily with code, I worked with people. Through Engineers Without Borders - Vancouver Chapter, I contributed to work aimed at improving digital literacy among disadvantaged groups. I quickly realised that a technically sophisticated solution is not necessarily a useful solution. What matters is whether it actually responds to the needs, circumstances, and experiences of the people it is intended to serve.
This experience taught me the importance of collaboration, humility, empathy, and communication. Leadership was not about arriving with the answers. It was about listening first, understanding different perspectives, and working with others to develop something meaningful.
This was perhaps one of the biggest lessons of the Scholarship for me: impact begins with understanding people.
Becoming a More Responsible Leader
The 3 C’s framework helped me understand these experiences in a broader way. Character is not something separate from leadership; it determines how leadership is exercised. Values such as accountability, courage, collaboration, humility, integrity, and judgment are particularly meaningful to me after this year.
My research taught me the importance of integrity. When analysing a potential vulnerability, it is tempting to focus on an exciting result, but responsible researchers must also be willing to conclude that something is a false positive when the evidence does not support the claim.
My Leadership in Action experience taught me humility and collaboration. When working with communities that have different experiences from my own, I cannot assume that I understand their problems simply because I have technical knowledge. I need to listen, learn, and work together with others.
Together, these experiences have changed my understanding of leadership from "having the ability to lead" to having the responsibility to use one's abilities well.
Developing a Global Mindset
The international and global aspects of the Laidlaw Scholarship also helped me develop a broader perspective. Working and learning in different environments exposed me to people with different backgrounds, experiences, and ways of approaching problems. The Scholarship's emphasis on international experience, global networking, and sharing work with others encouraged me to look beyond my immediate academic environment.
I have come to understand a global mindset not simply as knowing about different countries, but as being willing to question my own assumptions and recognize that the same problem can look very different from another person's perspective.
Looking Forward
The Laidlaw Scholarship has given me more than research experience or leadership skills. It has given me a clearer idea of the kind of person and leader I want to become.
In the future, I hope to continue working at the intersection of technology and social impact, particularly in areas such as software security and responsible AI. I want to build technology that is not only technically capable, but also secure, accessible, and beneficial to the people who use it.
As a global citizen, I also want to remain open to perspectives different from my own. I will continue to seek opportunities to work with people from different backgrounds, listen before acting, and use my technical skills to address problems that matter beyond myself.
Ultimately, the most important lesson I have taken from Laidlaw is that leadership is not defined by a position or a title. It is reflected in the choices we make, the people we include, and the impact we leave behind. I hope to carry the Laidlaw values of character, capacity, and positive change into everything I do next, and to lead with both ambition and responsibility.