I will soon graduate from the Laidlaw Programme. Looking back at the person I was when I wrote my application, I would like to reflect on how I grew thanks to the opportunities I was presented with during my time with Laidlaw. Today, having completed a group research project and leadership in action venture, my conceptions of leadership are more nuanced than they were before. Years ago, I thought a good leader was two-dimensional – if you earn your colleague’s respect and make good decisions for the company then you are a good leader. Now I know that leadership is a multi-dimensional concept, containing more facets than I ever thought. For example, the level of empathy a leader needs is a skill I underestimated in the past. While it is obvious that empathy is a useful trait in every area of life, now I see that a leader can only really grasp what their actions result in if they are emotionally attuned to their team. And a leader is only as happy as their team.

Moreover, social and cultural intelligence and awareness are skills that every modern-day leader needs to possess without a doubt. In an environment as diverse as ours, these skills may make or break the cohesion and satisfaction of the people working with the leader. Thus, the ultimate responsibility falls on the leader to ensure an environment where differences are valued. These are just some of the skills that someone might overlook, but Laidlaw has taught me to value just as highly as confidence or an impressive career path. In my journey, I will continue to advocate for an empathetic and culturally sensitive leadership style over an authoritative one.

Over the course of the Leadership in Action venture, I built several skills that I will always be grateful for. Firstly, I believe that it made me a better communicator. Effective communication was paramount for the success of the project I undertook at the charity, so I had to learn to be in touch and give continuous upgrades, both online and in-person, and with people from different generations and communication styles. In addition, it is clear that my resilience and determination to achieve improved as well. I learnt to balance my personal life with work, and to stay committed to my projects despite occasional hardships due to external circumstances. All in all, this was my first time working in an office environment, an experience through which I gained transferable skills that I will rely on at each step of the way in my future career.

The following summer, throughout the research project, I once again developed and bettered numerous invaluable skills that will come in handy in any professional environment. My group chose to conduct research on a highly international scale, as the project covered five different countries. Therefore, we had to learn how to effectively navigate foreign situations, improving our social and cultural intelligence and awareness. In summary, this project has taught me that it is of utmost importance to factor in cultural differences while designing a research project of such scale. What is more, conducting a project of this scale required new research and project management skills. Espousing a mixed-methods approach meant that we had to be proficient in both to successfully synthesise conclusions from each approach. We had to keep to strict internal deadlines to be able to research, edit and write up while on the road as well. Lastly, doing research in a group setting has opened my eyes up to the importance of honing in on the different strengths and weaknesses of group members. In summary, throughout the research project, I learnt what it takes to make group projects succeed – a skill which I am excited to put to the test later in life.

I am immensely grateful for my journey with Laidlaw. My undergraduate years were greatly enriched by the experiences I got to be part of thanks to this programme. The skills I developed, which I have already outlined, are just one part of the story. The friends I met throughout the experience taught me just as much about leading with love and compassion as any workshop did. I can happily say that the skills I built and the friends I made will forever be by my side throughout my professional journey.