For my leadership-in-action project, I spent six weeks in Geneva, working at a cybersecurity NGO called the ‘CyberPeace Institute’. During my time at the Institute, I worked on a range of projects, ranging from drafting grant applications for funding, evaluating the company website and suggesting improvements as well as creating a plan to put new content for the website. In addition, I wrote a series of blogs exploring emerging technologies such as quantum computing and AI (artificial intelligence) and their impacts on cybersecurity and created a both a publicly available strategic plan for the Institute, as well as a paper exploring the importance of multi-stakeholder approach when approaching the field of cybersecurity. Working in the ‘Business and Strategy Development’ section of the Institute meant that the objectives of my work were to support the promotion of a safe and secure cyberspace, and thereby my work needed to be well-researched and to a very high standard. I worked on both internal facing pieces such as the Institute’s policies regarding the use of AI in the workplace, as well as external facing pieces such as a post on how the Institute’s work aligns with the ESG goals. I felt very proud to make a sustained impact to the organisation, through making lasting changes to their website to make it more user friendly and informative about the different areas the Institute work on, as well as writing grant applications which brought money in, thereby providing the Institute with vital resources to continue carrying out its fantastic mission. My blog posts also helped to educate the wider community about the implications of emerging technologies on cybersecurity, and the measures needed to put in place in order to guard against the potential harms from this. 

Throughout my time at the Institute, I closely collaborated with a range of stakeholders, from those in the academic field, cybersecurity experts, NGOs, and civil society. Many of my projects did not only involve collaboration with others from the Institute, but also other sectors of society. For example, the Institute was asked to write the abstract for an academic paper exploring AI and philanthropy, which I was tasked with carrying out. The experience of the Institute in exploring cybersecurity threats associated with the use of AI meant that the Institute could provide value to a different type of stakeholder.  Similarly, the academic sector supported many of the papers published by the Institute, as they were able to carry out research which could illustrate where the Institute should focus its expertise upon and highlight the vulnerability many NGOs faced through malicious actors acting within the cyberspace. I also collected information and created databases regarding social investment networks in which collaboration with a range of stakeholders ranging from NGOs to private companies and international bodies and organisations can collaborate to support the development of cyberpeace. Throughout the experience, I learnt a vast amount regarding the challenges to cyberpeace and online security, and the importance of collaboration in bringing about this ideal. It also challenged me to think about the significant human impact that cyberattacks can have and realise that the impacts of cyberattacks are not limited to the cyberworld, but rather can devastate the provision of vital goods and services such as healthcare or poverty and aid relief.  Moreover, the study of the implications of emerging technologies on cybersecurity was not an area I had previously closely explored, and I found the research I conducted in this area fascinating, developing my interest for understanding the implications of emerging technologies such as AI.

Yet the leadership-in-action project also taught me the importance of strong interpersonal skills within the workplace, and the fact that leaders look out for others in the team and ensure effective collaboration to both ensure top quality results, as well as a strong team spirit. Throughout my experience, I learned how to fit into a professional working environment, and work effectively independently through taking the initiative on tasks, whilst also ensuring that I turned for help when necessary and was not scared to ask for further guidance or support if needed. Through doing so, I was able to make strong connections and a positive impression on those around me, whilst supporting the Institute as best I could. I also realised how having a positive social impact while working can provide significant additional motivation to carry out every task to as high a standard as possible. Whilst there were significant challenges such as working in a different country away from my friends and community where I didn’t speak the language, and I was initially very nervous, I felt that I was able to overcome these challenges and took a real sense of pride in doing so. A highlight for me was going out for drinks at the end of the day with my team, and realising how well I had managed to settle into the role and how much I had learnt from and enjoyed my time working at the CyberPeace Institute.