Here’s what stood out for me the most:

1. Values shape everything: One of the first things we explored was identifying our core values and connecting them to the Laidlaw 3C’s framework - Character, Capacities, and Change Maker. It sounds simple, but sitting down and asking yourself ‘what do I actually believe, and how does that show up in the way I act and the impact I create?’ was genuinely challenging. Leadership is truly tested when values conflict, and knowing your own gives you an anchor when that happens.

2. Community is built intentionally: From day one, we built a group contract which the Secretaries (including myself) formally wrote. Together, as a cohort, we agreed how we’d communicate, support each other, and hold ourselves accountable. That structure created a sort of psychological safety, and made the hard conversations possible. (I'll make sure to create a more in depth post about this:))

3. Real leadership means solving real problems: During the leadership trainings lead by Guy Richardson, the Founder and CEO of EIGER Performance, we worked in groups on scenarios tied to the UN Sustainable Development goals, from reducing inequalities to life on land and zero hunger. It pushed us to think beyond our disciplines, collaborate under pressure, and present solutions with conviction. It was a delightful experience working with my teammates on project management specifically conceptually hosting a Reducing Inequalities event focused on encouraging STEM studies for young girls through an outreach day.

Guy Richardson’s five stage planning framework - research, design, planning, delivery, and evaluation - gave our work real structure and direction. In brief, my team and I targeted three root causes: social pressure, structural bias, and women’s lack of confidence in pursuing STEM studies and careers.

Followed by a networking and formal dinner, I had the pleasure of getting to know my 2026 Laidlaw teammates.

As an important note, I also got to reflect on my own growth at the midpoint of the programme, something the training built in deliberately. Reflection isn’t a soft skill; it’s a core driver of rapid learning. As I write this, I am reflecting on the past week and recognising just how much I’ve learned along the way.

Grateful to the entire Laidlaw team and my fellow scholars. The summer research period stars now, and it’s safe to say that I am ready!!