How do I plan to leverage the experiences and achievements from this project to pursue larger goals in the future? (Ambition)

The LIA projects are an intense six-week experience, set in a new country and culture, demanding quick adaptation and learning. This immersion has sharpened my ability to absorb new skills and knowledge rapidly, a vital trait for me to set more ambitious goals for the future. Our project’s goal of training an entire company is substantial, and I’ve learned that with the right support, people can exceed their limits. We’ve reflected this understanding by adapting our training materials to be bilingual, ensuring accessibility, and tailoring our approach to meet the unique needs of each team. This detailed planning, informed by user research and volunteer feedback, has expanded our goals and equipped me with strategies to pursue larger aspirations in my future career.

What recent challenge have I faced that pushed me beyond my comfort zone? (Brave)

Learning to practice Spanish with native speakers has been a significant challenge, one that has pushed me beyond my usual my comfort zone. The faster pace and different accents have been more challenging than my usual lessons, but I’ve embraced the opportunities to practice, to show a greater respect to those around me. Additionally, I’ve developed new skills, like graphic design and understanding business structures in real-world scenarios. These skills require in depth attention to detail, ensuring that our teams work is both appealing and impactful. Through this process, I’ve grown in confidence and capability, ready to apply these skills to make a meaningful impact.

How has curiosity driven my approach to this international project? (Curious)

My curiosity has been a driving force throughout this project. Each weekend I have explored the rich history and culture of Mexico, visiting cultural sites and museums to deepen my understanding. These explorations, coupled with team visits to places like Iztapalapa and Xochimilco, have given me a broader perspective on the region’s development and sustainability efforts. Listening to locals share their pride and daily life such as at the U.T.O.P.I.As of Iztapalapa and the traditional Chinampa farms, highlights how they are aiming to revive and improve the experiences of the people from the different areas.

What future aspirations have I developed through this experience, and how do I plan to reach them? (Determined)

This experience has taught me the value of cultural immersion, not just for personal growth but for professional development. I’ve been inspired by the openness and warmth of the people in Mexico, and I aspire to bring that same attitude into my life and work. I’m now determined to seek out opportunities that allow for cultural exchange, such as future secondments, to broaden my understanding of global working culture.

I also aspire to continue to develop my Spanish speaking ability and become fluent by the end of my degree. My experience here in Mexico has allowed me to realise my current level, both regarding the progress I have made, alongside how far I have left to go.

How do I strive to exceed expectations in my role within this project? (Extra-Ordinary)

Our team has aimed to go above and beyond by creating a training program and manual tailored to each team within Rennueva. This required mastering our knowledge of the new digital platform and understanding the company’s workflow in great detail. By creating an in-depth manual, we’ve ensured that our project will have lasting value, enabling future applications like video training and more efficient onboarding for new staff. For a 6-week project, this is not a goal we originally thought we could complete, but with hard-work and a collaborative team effort, we were able to exceed this.

How do I ensure quick and efficient decision-making and execution in this project? (Fast)

Working quickly and efficiently has been crucial in this project. Our team adapted rapidly to changes, such as shifting from developing a video to creating high-quality alternative training materials. We also leveraged our volunteer team’s strengths, holding one-on-one meetings to align their skills with our project’s needs, which significantly boosted our work rate and overall impact by allowing us to leverage their previous professional experiences within consultancy, waste management and staff training to contribute to the outputs of our projects.

In what ways do I ensure a positive impact on stakeholders through my work on this project? (Good)

Throughout the project, we conducted thorough user research to ensure our final deliverables would benefit the entire company, not just a select few. This approach has allowed us to create solutions that are both practical and widely applicable, ensuring a positive and lasting impact on Rennueva and its employees.

We planned training for every team, to ensure that we could have a direct connection with them, rather than relying on the already high workload of the company coordinators. This will also allow us to collect individual feedback for each team, which will allow us to understand what future support they will need in the ongoing digital transformation of Rennueva.