This first week marked the beginning of our menstrual equality project. My primary responsibility was to set the direction of our work and ensure the team felt motivated and clear about our goals. We collectively designed a survey to understand perceptions and experiences around menstrual health, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and anonymity.

From a leadership perspective, I learned that clarity is crucial. People work best when they understand not only what to do, but also why it matters. I had to balance being directive (to keep us on track with the six-week timeline) with being open to suggestions, as team members brought valuable insights on phrasing sensitive survey questions.

The impact at this stage is more potential than tangible: the survey is our foundation, and I feel proud that we have created a safe, respectful instrument that can genuinely capture lived experiences. This week reinforced for me that leadership is about creating an environment where others feel ownership of the mission.