Reflecting on Leadership in Action: My Project with RCube Health
This summer, I embarked on a Leadership-in-Action project with RCube Health, focusing on their mental health application, Resony. The app's innovative approach to managing anxiety through personalized mindfulness and breathing exercises represents a significant step forward in digital mental health support. My role involved analyzing user data to evaluate the app's effectiveness, providing crucial insights to the team on potential areas for improvement. For a quick summary, feel free to check out the poster attached to this blog. For those who wish to read more about this LiA project, do keep reading!
Project Overview and Objectives
The main objective of my project was to analyze the effectiveness of Resony in improving users' mental well-being. By examining data from over 3,000 users, I aimed to identify patterns and outcomes that would help refine the app's functionality and user experience. The ultimate goal was to enhance Resony's impact on managing anxiety, contributing to the broader mission of democratizing access to mental health support.
Stakeholders and Experiences
Working closely with the CEO and Technology Director, I was plunged into the dynamic world of a mental health start-up. My stakeholders were not only the RCube Health team but also the users relying on Resony for support. The experience was eye-opening, teaching me the importance of data-driven decisions in improving health outcomes. The fast-paced start-up environment was both challenging and rewarding, pushing me to adapt quickly and work independently.
The initial apprehension about keeping up with the start-up pace eventually gave way to a profound appreciation for the dynamic environment. It taught me that flexibility, curiosity, and a willingness to learn are as important as technical skills. The project became a mirror reflecting my own potential and the areas where I could grow. The self-directed nature of the work, once a source of anxiety, transformed into a valuable space for self-discovery and initiative.
Leadership Learnings
Leadership in this context required initiative, analytical thinking, and the ability to work autonomously. I learned that effective leadership often means navigating uncertainty, making informed decisions with available data, and taking responsibility for those decisions. Engaging directly with technology to impact mental health taught me the value of evidence-based solutions and the critical role of leadership in driving innovation.
Impact and Sustainability
The analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between app usage and improvement in users' wellbeing scores. Specifically, data showed an increase in wellbeing scores across five assessments, with around half of users experiencing varying levels of positive change in wellbeing. These findings underscore Resony's potential as a valuable tool in anxiety management. However, the project also highlighted the importance of continuous improvement, particularly in integrating user feedback and enhancing engagement strategies to sustain and amplify the app's impact.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
One of the main challenges was the lack of qualitative feedback, which could have provided deeper insights into the user experience. This experience taught me the importance of comprehensive data collection and the need for balancing quantitative analysis with qualitative insights. I learned that while technology offers incredible potential for mental health support, its impact is maximized when combined with traditional therapeutic methods.
Reflections on Personal Growth
This project was a profound journey of professional and personal growth. I learned not only about the intricacies of data analysis in a health-tech start-up but also about my capacity for leadership in challenging situations. It reinforced my belief in the power of technology to make a difference in people's lives and my desire to contribute to this field.
Concluding Thoughts
The Leadership-in-Action project with RCube Health was more than an opportunity to apply academic knowledge; it was a real-world experience that tested my abilities, expanded my skills, and deepened my understanding of leadership's role in innovation. As I reflect on this experience, I am grateful for the challenges and the growth they spurred, underscoring my commitment to leveraging technology for mental health support.
You can look at the poster below, which illustrates the highs and lows of the project, and what I learnt from this experience.