Leadership to me is about how well one collaborates with others. Previously I had thought of it as being about communication. One must not be an authoritative person when delegating work. I feel that I now have more experience to understand how that manifests in practice. Being a leader that others genuinely respect means more than just planning and delegating - it means getting just as involved as everyone else. Leading by example is a necessary tool and to do that one needs to be on top of everything which involves a multitude of factors. Passion for the project, organisation, knowledge on the subject matter as well as being able to assess the abilities of others. Not to mention the confidence required to communicate all of this knowledge. One could possess all these virtues but if they lack the confidence to showcase their skills, they will come off as timid and unsure. Being confident in oneself is what allows for others to trust your abilities and follow your ideas or plans. 

I believe the experience I have gained during my time with the Laidlaw programme has given me the confidence I need to be a better leader. Having seen many good leaders in action has allowed me to understand what it means to have trust in my abilities without being overconfident. Having worked in an environment like BID I have been able to maintain calm under pressure, my actions had direct impacts on people’s lives which I found to be very meaningful. I also got to explore a long standing interest of mine (the criminal justice system) through gaining practical experience which has also allowed me to build my knowledge base on the subject matter. This helped me gain more clarity on what exactly I want to do in the future as well. I am now considering pursuing masters programmes in related topic areas. 

The programme has provided me with both the skills and resources needed for meeting and making connections. I have had the chance to meet some truly inspiring individuals and learn from them. From other scholars to those I met during my LIA to those we interviewed for our research project - have all been crucial to this journey. Laidlaw has also allowed me to build necessary work and research experience. I feel prepared to do both further study or enter the job market. The group research project showed me how much I enjoy planning and conducting primary research, even in topics slightly unrelated to my study. The research project allowed me to branch out of my degree as well and explore quantitative research.