Since writing my initial application, my understanding of leadership has been deepened through firsthand experience. Through the Laidlaw Scholars Programme, I have been exposed to a broad set of leaders operating in different fields, tackling different problems and at the helm of different types of teams.
Uniting them all has been purpose. Clearly defined in their minds and pervading their passion, it informs how and why they lead. At Allia, the organization’s mission to support impact-driven businesses brought people from all backgrounds and disciplines together. Entrepreneurs were leading the way in creating and implementing solutions to complex problems whilst remaining true to the communities whom they aimed to support. Some even with PhDs from leading institutions, they would always be receptive to new ideas for improving processes or approaches to tackling particular issues. They reflected that true leaders engage those with different perspectives. In this way, a central tenet of leadership is assimilating diverse points of view to keep innovating to find new ways of realizing impact in their work.
I have developed many leadership attributes during my time as a Laidlaw Scholar. Influenced by the many leaders at Laidlaw workshops and events who discussed how they discovered their unique styles of leadership, I have sought to embody a charismatic and collaborative approach. Whilst remaining clear on objectives, managing workloads and organizing effectively, I believe success at the interpersonal level facilitates success in all other dimensions of teamwork. Here, honest and frequent communication has been paramount. Actively listening to team members, always encouraging feedback and allocating time to reflection are proactive measures to help achieve objectives whilst encouraging self-awareness and continuous personal development. Leadership is dynamic and shaped by successive learning. It is not one size fits all; it must be adapted and honed.
In the future, I will apply the many lessons that I have learned over the course of the programme to my career. Motivated to tackle new problems and explore new environments, the scholarship has opened doors previously closed to me, allowed me to engage with global leaders and given me a fantastic network of international scholars.