As part of the second summer of the Laidlaw Scholars Programme, I undertook a six-week self-defined Leadership in Action project with FORWARD UK (Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development). FORWARD is the UK’s leading African women-led organisation working to end violence against women and girls, with a particular focus on the African diaspora. My project was centered within the Youth Leadership Team, where I contributed to the TuWezeshe Akina Dada programme an initiative that equips young women of African heritage to become leaders in the fight for gender justice.
One of the most meaningful aspects of my LIA was my involvement in the TuWezeshe Leadership Residential, a three-day programme designed to foster leadership, empowerment, and community among over 20 young African and Black women. In the lead-up to the residential, I worked closely with the Youth Team to coordinate logistics, shape the structure and content of sessions, and help ensure the programme was accessible and engaging. During the weekend itself, I supported the facilitation of workshops, built relationships with participants, and gathered real-time feedback that would later inform programme improvements. The sessions which focused on intersectionality, public speaking, movement-building, personal storytelling, and healing-centred leadership were powerful and emotional. Participants openly shared experiences of marginalisation, cultural identity, and violence. I was deeply moved by the vulnerability and strength present in the room. My role required me not only to contribute practically but also to hold space, listen actively, and be fully present.
Another highlight was an unexpected but transformative opportunity: a visit to Sky Studios, where our group was challenged to produce and pitch a short film. Each of us took on different roles actors, producers, editors, scriptwriters and in just a few hours, we had to collaborate under pressure to create something cohesive. This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me the importance of adaptability, creativity, and trusting a team’s diverse talents. It also underscored that leadership is not fixed to a single role sometimes it means stepping forward to take initiative, and other times it means stepping back to allow others’ ideas to flourish.
Beyond these experiences, I played a significant role in reimagining and strengthening the TuWezeshe leadership offering. I worked with FORWARD staff to co-create a new leadership development framework that would replace the existing model and better reflect the programme’s intersectional, trauma-informed, and community-led values. This process involved reviewing past iterations of the programme, analysing participant feedback, and drawing from current research in youth leadership. I also contributed to the strategic redesign of the TuWezeshe Fellowship, helping to reframe its goals, improve accessibility, and ensure long-term sustainability. In addition, I was responsible for editing and updating the TuWezeshe brochure to reflect these changes, ensuring that the language and presentation aligned with the ethos of the programme and clearly communicated its purpose to future applicants and stakeholders.
These outputs had both immediate and long-term impact. The women who attended the residential left with new skills, deeper confidence, and a sense of solidarity that will carry them into their future leadership journeys. The framework I helped to design is already being used as a foundation for future TuWezeshe cohorts, while the revised brochure and strategic input will support FORWARD’s ability to reach and empower more young women.
This project significantly shaped my understanding of leadership. I learned that effective leadership is not about taking control, but about enabling others, sharing power, and actively listening. Working within FORWARD’s Black feminist framework, I saw leadership expressed through care, community, and collaboration. The fast-paced NGO environment required me to adapt quickly, make strategic decisions with long-term impact in mind, and recognise when to step back to let others lead. Most importantly, I experienced the value of co-creation building with people, not for them. These lessons challenged me to let go of perfectionism, trust the process, and remain open to learning in every interaction.
Working in this environment also taught me valuable lessons about immersing myself in a community that, while not entirely unfamiliar, was not my own. Although I share elements of identity with some participants and staff, I became conscious of the importance of positionality and the need to approach my work with humility. I had to unlearn assumptions, decentre myself, and truly listen to understand what leadership meant in this context. I learned that solidarity means more than shared values it means recognising difference, stepping back, and showing up consistently without seeking credit. It also means working in a way that prioritises healing, justice, and sustainability over speed or perfection.
This Leadership in Action experience with FORWARD UK has left a lasting impression on me. It challenged me to translate academic theory into ethical practice, strengthened my confidence in my ability to lead collaboratively, and reaffirmed my commitment to social justice. Whether facilitating workshops, designing frameworks, or producing a film at Sky Studios, I learned that leadership takes many forms but at its heart, it is about amplifying voices, building trust, and creating spaces where people can thrive together. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to an organisation whose mission aligns so closely with my own values, and I carry forward these lessons into every future leadership space I enter.