When I applied to the Laidlaw Programme two years ago, leadership meant how I related to others in groups and teams, taking initiative, contributing my best work, and helping people move forward without dominance, grounded in empathy, cooperation, and trust. I still believe this today, but through the programme I have come to understand leadership as equally about my relationship with myself. Rereading the letters I wrote to myself in Toby’s workshops, I can see my earlier confusion and self-doubt across academic, professional, and personal life, and how often I looked outward for reassurance rather than inward for clarity. Leadership now feels like the ability to guide my own direction with intention, to manage my feelings without ignoring them, to bring structure to my schedule, and to stay accountable to the goals and values I want to live by. It means listening honestly to what energises me, what I care about, and what kind of life I am trying to build, then choosing to act on that knowledge. In this sense, leadership is not only about influence over others, but about self-authorship and the courage to take responsibility for my own life.

The biggest development in my leadership over the past two years has been confidence. Through my leadership-in-action project with Child.org as a Community Engagement Lead, as well as the group research programme, I have strengthened my ability to communicate clearly and persuasively, both verbally and in writing. I became more comfortable speaking to different audiences, adapting my tone and message, and representing a shared goal with professionalism. I was also surprised by how much I grew into responsibilities that initially felt far beyond my comfort zone, particularly managing large groups of volunteers, clarifying logistics, supporting fundraising campaigns, and communicating the charity’s values in a fast-paced festival environment. One of the most unexpected parts of this experience was how quickly I had to adapt to an entirely different way of living and working. I had never camped before, yet the leadership-in-action project required me to stay on site and camp for three weeks in a row. Learning to lead while being physically tired, constantly 'on', and surrounded by unpredictability taught me that leadership is not only about planning, but also about staying calm, flexible, and supportive when conditions are not ideal. This experience helped me build resilience and trust in my own ability to handle new situations. Looking back, I can see that my leadership skills have developed not only through taking on responsibility but through learning to remain confident and grounded when things change quickly, and still showing up for others with energy and purpose.

Completing the Laidlaw Programme will support me in the future, first and foremost because it has been a reassuring affirmation at a time when I was still doubting my abilities, especially during my first year at LSE. It reminded me that growth does not require certainty, and that leadership can begin with curiosity, commitment, and the willingness to keep learning. As a human being and global citizen, Laidlaw has strengthened my open-mindedness and my sense of responsibility towards others. Working alongside people with diverse perspectives and shared intellectual drive has encouraged me to think more critically about impact, ethics, and the wider implications of the work I choose to do. Academically and professionally, the programme has given me both connections and foundational skills that I will carry forward. It created valuable opportunities to engage with scholars and supervisors, and to learn within a community of students with similar research interests. The research component in particular helped me build practical skills in planning a project, collaborating effectively, and developing ideas into structured arguments. I gained confidence in writing and presenting research, and the experience of producing a full paper and working towards publication made academic work feel more achievable and purposeful. Beyond any single project, Laidlaw has shown me that leadership is not confined to a role or title, but is a transferable practice that I can apply across professional, academic, and personal contexts as I continue to navigate new challenges and opportunities.