The Leadership Training and LiA preparation sessions have significantly deepened my understanding of what it means to lead with purpose, responsibility, and adaptability. Across the two days, I came to see leadership not simply as directing others, but as a process rooted in self-awareness, values, and meaningful relationships.

On Day 1, the Leadership Foundations sessions introduced the Laidlaw 3C’s framework, which emphasised values, identity, and trust. This helped me reflect on the importance of knowing my own principles and motivations before attempting to lead others. I realised that effective leadership begins with authenticity: people are more likely to trust and follow someone whose actions align with their values. The focus on a leadership mindset also showed me that leadership is not fixed, but something developed through reflection, resilience, and continuous learning.

The preparation for LiA was especially valuable in making leadership feel practical rather than theoretical. Discussions on leadership challenges, cultural awareness, and communication highlighted that working in a new environment requires humility and sensitivity. I understood that entering a community means listening first, recognising different perspectives, and avoiding assumptions. Risk assessment, travel planning, and managing uncertainty further reinforced that strong leaders must be proactive, organised, and calm under pressure. Resilience is therefore not just about overcoming setbacks personally, but about maintaining confidence and supporting others in uncertain situations.

Day 2 challenged me to think more critically about community engagement through the session on voluntourism versus volunteering. This was one of the most impactful discussions, as it highlighted the ethical risks of entering communities with a “helper” mindset rather than a partnership mindset. I learned that meaningful engagement should prioritise the needs, agency, and long-term interests of the community, rather than the personal experience of the volunteer. This has reshaped my approach to LiA: I want to contribute in a way that is respectful, sustainable, and collaborative.

The workshop on ethical leadership built on this by showing that leadership decisions must be guided not only by outcomes, but also by fairness, accountability, and empathy. Similarly, the session on communicating resilience to hazards demonstrated the importance of clear communication during crises and uncertainty. Leaders must be able to convey complex risks in a way that informs and reassures others.

Finally, the guidance on LiA outputs and developing a Leadership Journey workplan encouraged me to think about reflection as part of leadership development. Producing blogs, vlogs, or other outputs is not just about documenting experiences, but about sharing lessons learned, amplifying community voices, and critically evaluating personal growth.

Overall, these sessions have shaped my understanding of leadership as values-driven, ethical, and relational. They have shown me that community engagement requires humility and partnership, while successful LiA preparation depends on adaptability, planning, and reflection. Moving forward, I hope to approach my LiA experience not only as an opportunity to contribute, but also as a chance to learn, grow, and lead responsibly.