At the beginning of the Laidlaw Scholarship, global citizenship and ethical leadership felt like abstract ideas. Through my research, leadership training, and my Leadership in Action (LiA) project with the Timothy Smith Network (TSN) in Boston, I have come to understand them as values-driven practices shaped by action, reflection, and responsibility.
Being invited to attend the European Drosophila Research Conference 2025, following my Laidlaw research, was a pivotal moment. It highlighted the importance of being curious, asking questions, engaging critically, and contributing to a global academic community. At the same time, it reinforced the need to act with integrity and responsibility, ensuring that research is shared ethically and accessibly. This experience showed me that global citizenship in academia is not only about discovery, but about contributing knowledge in ways that are collaborative and beneficial to others.
The Laidlaw leadership training sessions were instrumental in developing my understanding of ethical leadership. They emphasised that leadership requires being both brave and determined, to be willing to step into unfamiliar situations, take responsibility, and learn from failure. Leadership is not inherently just having authority, but also should be service to the people you are leading, grounded in empathy, accountability, and a commitment to doing good.
These lessons became particularly meaningful during my LiA at TSN. Working as the Administrative Scholar for the Boston Design Academy, I supported a programme addressing the digital divide in Roxbury. The organisation’s ethos closely aligned with Laidlaw values, particularly being good, acting with respect, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to equity. My role required me to be adaptable and fast, responding to challenges in real time while ensuring that students and scholars felt supported.
Introducing weekly feedback forms allowed me to actively listen to participants and adapt the programme accordingly. This experience reinforced that ethical leadership is not about imposing solutions, but about creating space for others to be heard. It required both empathy and courage, as well as a willingness to step back and prioritise collective outcomes over individual input.
Global citizenship became most tangible through my interactions with students and fellow scholars. Conversations about culture, education, and global issues demonstrated the importance of being open and curious, while also recognising the value of diverse perspectives. Global citizenship, to me, is defined by mindset of engagement, reflection, and mutual respect.
Spending time with other Laidlaw Scholars further reinforced the value of collaboration. Living and working alongside individuals from different backgrounds highlighted how being extra-ordinary is about bringing together diverse perspectives to create something greater, instead of individual achievement. These shared experiences fostered a strong sense of community and purpose.
Reflecting on my Laidlaw journey, I believe that ethical leadership as an ongoing process that requires balancing ambition with responsibility. Ambition as a leader requires that you strive for meaningful and equitable impact, instead just aiming high. Similarly, being a global citizen involves recognising interconnectedness and acting in ways that contribute positively to others.
Moving forward, I aim to carry these values into my academic and professional life, within science and education. My Laidlaw Scholarship has shown me that your personal leadership is defined by actions, not position, by being curious, brave, and determined, while always striving to do good.
Ultimately, this experience has reshaped my understanding of leadership and global citizenship. It has taught me that meaningful change comes from consistent, value-driven actions, and that even small contributions can have a wider impact when guided by integrity and purpose.