After eighteen months of developing my leadership and research skills, I am approaching the end of my Laidlaw journey. During this time, I have learned valuable lessons about myself and leadership, through both the Oxford Character Project, and real life experiences.

Overview of my journey

In my first Laidlaw summer, I conducted independent research, whilst staying in Cambridge for six weeks. My research project was titled ‘Scroll Share, Speak: Examining Generational Engagement with Feminist Content on Social Media’. I investigated how women in the UK use social media as a tool of feminism, approaching the topic with the lens of generational differences. To complete my research, I collected quantitative and qualitative data about women’s patterns of engagement with feminist content on social media. During these six weeks, I was supported by my project supervisor, Dr Juliana Santos de Carvalho. My research project and the report I produced at the end of the six weeks is an achievement I am proud of as my first experience of independent research in my undergraduate carrer. The experience of conducting my own research taught me valuable lessons about project management, which has equipped me for my final-year dissertation research this year, as part of my degree.

This summer, my Laidlaw journey continued with my Leadership in Action (LiA). I spent six weeks in Mexico City with sixteen other Laidlaw Scholars from around the world, working with Make_Sense Americas and their partner organisation, Genera Territorios. Over the six weeks, my immediate group of three other Laidlaw Scholars and I collaborated to create an AI chatbot to deliver a course in ‘Everyday Economic Strategy’ for women in rural Mexico. Working on a project for such a meaningful cause, with a tangible, real-life positive impact was a great experience. A highlight of the project was delivering a workshop in Everyday Economic Strategy to thirty people in Iztapalapa, in the peripheries of Mexico City. The opportunity to meet one of the communities our product will benefit, and interact with them in such a positive and collaborative setting was valuable to my personal growth and leadership journey. Living in the vibrant Mexico City for my LiA allowed me to enhance my project management in a collaborative setting, and advance my leadership in a teamwork setting. My LiA also allowed me to meet some of the amazing Laidlaw Scholars from around the world, and make great friends.

Throughout my eighteen months with Laidlaw, I completed the Oxford Character Project. I attended six webinars throughout the year, and learned valuable lessons about strengthening character and leadership. A highlight of the OCP was connecting with other scholars in breakout rooms and collaborating to learn about leadership through conversations.

Development of 3Cs

Capacities

Collaborative mindset - In both my independent research summer and my LiA, I developed my collaborative mindset. Most obviously, working in a group project with other Laidlaw Scholars to create our AI chatbot required collaboration and an ability to work in a team. However, this capacity was also developed during my independent research summer, as I worked with the support of a supervisor, and worked hard to communicate my progress and respond to feedback.

Project management - I developed my capacity of project management greatly during both summers. In my research summer, I learned about working independently and setting my own realistic deadlines. In my LiA summer, I then experienced working collaboratively in a group setting, and working to external deadlines set by the organisation. The experience of both independent and collective project management taught me how to manage my time and priorities in both contexts, and how to deal with this differently between the settings.

Creative ideation - I developed my creativity in projects through both my research summer and my LiA. When conducting my independent research, my creativity was required to design my project and its aims, as well as write my report of findings. In my LiA, my team required a creative mindset to design our product, with the added challenge of user experience. Through both summers, I learned that creativity also requires being realistic in order to succeed. I learned to consider what was feasible with my time and resources in the design stages of my projects. I also discovered that creativity is not only required at the initial design stages of a project, but is ongoing, especially when there are unexpected challenges.

Change Maker Values

Brave - My Laidlaw journey has required and developed my bravery in countless moments, big and small. Whilst my bravery has shown up in everyday moments, even down to applying and interviewing for the programme, getting up every morning to work on my research project, and attending the 2025 European Laidlaw Scholars Conference, there have been a few standout occasions. Travelling to Mexico City, to an unfamiliar environment with unfamiliar people, and learning about new skills such as coding and animation shows my bravery in the Laidlaw journey. Pushing myself out of my comfort zone in this way showed me the rewards of bravery, as I had such an amazing experience and met the best people as a result.

Determined - I remained determined throughout my eighteen months as a Laidlaw Scholar. I worked hard to complete both my independent research project and group project in my LiA, even when faced with challenges and time pressure.

Character

Temperance - I have developed my temperance through Laidlaw. During my research summer, I remained patient and controlled when I was overwhelmed by the uncertainty of my project, and new skills required of me. Similarly, when my team and I encountered challenges with our project during my LiA, we approached the obstacle calmly and rationally, whilst keeping sight on the end goal and intended impact, to produce a useful product.

Collaboration - My LiA summer was especially important to developing my collaboration, working with a group of Laidlaw Scholars and a partner organisation in a professional setting, but also connecting with people in a social setting, spending time with other Scholars.

Global Mindset

Throughout my Laidlaw journey, the importance of a global mindset has been displayed to me. From working and living in Mexico City, and experiencing this vibrant culture, to working in a team of international scholars, I have experienced first-hand the value of a global mindset and international experience. The international context of my LiA also taught me the importance of constant and clear communication in project management, especially when there are cultural and language differences.

Conclusion

Although my time as a Laidlaw Scholar is coming to an end, my leadership journey is ongoing. I will carry forward the lessons I learned about myself and effective leadership, and continue to learn through daily experiences.

I am extremely grateful for the Laidlaw Foundation, for giving me the opportunity to learn about myself and leadership, make a meaningful impact on communities in Mexico, and meet amazing people at every stage of the process.