When I initially applied for the Laidlaw programme, much of what I understood of leadership surrounded how well a person could mobilise a group. Whilst through this programme, some of the best examples of leadership I have seen have all been through people who could communicate effectively across a range of people in order to organise groups, they have more importantly all been people who have led by example. I think that leadership is truly believing in your cause, work, and your team’s ability to succeed. The best leaders can uplift their teams and foster environments conducive to creativity and new ideas as opposed to simply directing them through a rigid plan. So, whilst leadership is being able to access and direct a wide range of people, it is also trusting yourself and your team to follow new ideas. I have always thought that successful leadership requires empathy, self-awareness, and inclusivity in order to truly lead ethically or you risk not knowing how your actions can affect all parties involved. This has only been emphasised by my leadership-in-action project and research work as I have been able to see first-hand the negative impact policy decisions can have when certain groups are not considered and how charities and local communities have to organise themselves to try and combat this. Overall, I have come to find that leadership begins with how you view your work and the confidence you have in yourself as this translates into your trust in your team, and the emotional intelligence you need to understand the range of perspectives and adapt accordingly.
I think I have significantly developed in my confidence and the belief I have in my skills through the Laidlaw programme, and this has allowed me to push myself out of my comfort zone to be a leader and has made it much easier to be adaptable when in leadership positions. By presenting my research at the Laidlaw Scholars Conference and conducting interviews I have sharpened my ability to articulate my ideas clearly and persuasively as well as my active listening which has overall improved my communication. When applying for the programme, I commented on how I think I am good at understanding lots of different perspectives and making sure that people feel heard and over the last two years, I have been able to develop this further. I have done this by playing a proactive role in finding ways to blend suggestions and mediate between conflicting perspectives during my research project allowing me to further develop emotional intelligence but with a solution-oriented approach. I have developed many practical competencies like my analytical and research skills during my Laidlaw journey as both years have been very research focussed. This has allowed me to develop my problem-solving skills outside of a quantitative capacity as I spent a lot of time researching very intense topics that didn’t always have the most readily available data like incest rate, child pregnancy and refugee experiences around the world but are crucial areas of research.
Having exposure to such a range of very important topic in a more in-depth capacity than you would in daily life has given me a much deeper understanding of some of the struggles people are facing and the kinds of policy issues that are negatively affecting vulnerable people. I think that has helped me become a much more educated and proactive global citizen. The interdisciplinary approach to my research project has also made me look at global issues through multiple lenses. I think I am much better at understanding how whilst a decision might be best economically for example, that does not mean there are political or social repercussions and I think this will help me have a much more holistic approach at understanding future and current changes in the world. The programme has had an invaluable effect on my professional future as I am interested in pursuing a career in social research and charity work as a result of my Laidlaw journey. I have also put a much stronger emphasis on working with companies that have a strong moral standing as opposed to high status as I have seen how much believing in a shared cause can make a good working environment. I have also sustained a great relationship with Wonder, the charity I did my leadership-in-action project with and have continued to work with them and attend their event two years on. The Laidlaw programme has helped me develop long-lasting personal and professional relationships, my confidence and problem-solving skills and I know I am a much better leader for it.