Over the course of the Laidlaw Scholarship, I’ve come to see global citizenship and ethical leadership not as abstract ideals, but as daily practices that shape the way we work, collaborate, and create change. My journey has been defined by three key experiences: my research into hustle culture, my work in Kerala, and the Oxford Character Project certification.

Through my research, I explored the pressures of hustle culture and how narratives of constant overwork affect young people’s wellbeing, opportunity, and inclusion. This taught me that leadership is not only about productivity or achievement, it is also about questioning the systems we participate in and creating environments where balance, fairness, and sustainability matter. Ethical leadership, for me, now means resisting narrow measures of success and recognising the human impact of the cultures we reproduce.

In Kerala, India, working with women-led enterprises (SEWA, Forest Post, AWC, and Swara) showed me the power of listening, humility, and co-creation. Leadership in a global context requires stepping back, recognising privilege, and ensuring that collaboration is not extractive but empowering. This experience was about responsibility, respect across difference, and a commitment to amplifying voices that are too often unheard. The LIA was profoundly impactful, deepening my understanding of feminism and its intersection with the world of work. It has challenged me to question existing structures, recognise persistent inequalities, and consider how leadership can be used to foster more inclusive and equitable professional environments, insights that I will continue to carry with me throughout my academic journey and future career.

Finally, the Oxford Character Project gave me a framework to embed these lessons. Reflecting on virtues such as integrity, humility, and courage helped me think about how to lead in ways that are not only effective, but ethical and value driven. It reinforced the idea that who we are as leaders matters as much as what we achieve, expertly demonstrated by founders and leaders in Kerala committed to social entrepreneurship.

Looking forward, I will continue to act as a global citizen by researching and advocating for gender equity in finance, particularly around female access to venture capital in the UK through my research, and by ensuring my work always considers whose voices are included and excluded. I want to lead ethically by bringing integrity and inclusivity into every project, whether academic, professional, or personal, and by encouraging others to do the same.

The Laidlaw Scholarship has shown me that global citizenship and ethical leadership are never finished achievements, but commitments that must be renewed and lived out each day. I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a Laidlaw Scholar, as it has provided me with the tools, experiences, and mentorship to grow as a thoughtful and ethical leader in a global context which I will carry forward in all my future endeavours.