Post by Abo Obhakhan

A major aim of the Research & Leadership Programme is to build future leaders among 
participants. Over the course of the programme, I’ve had the chance to connect with people 
from all kinds of backgrounds, each bringing a unique perspective and story. These 
interactions, along with the challenges I’ve faced, have pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t 
expect. My problem-solving skills have sharpened, my resilience has deepened, and I’ve 
gained a stronger sense of self-assurance. 

The programme gave me the space to test myself, step outside my comfort zone, and begin 
to see myself as a leader in the making. 

I carried out my LiA in Boston, Massachusetts in the USA. Stepping into this unfamiliar 
environment was both challenging and exciting. I was pushed to fully immerse myself in a 
new setting that reshaped the way I think, approach problems, and evaluate situations. It 
was an invaluable experience in my journey toward becoming a leader. 

In time, I established a home away from home. In the melting pot that defines so many 
American cities, I crossed paths with so many others who had also created their own sense 
of belonging, and I was always eager to learn from them. In these moments, I truly felt like a 
global citizen. What struck me most during my stay in Boston was how, beneath the surface, 
it wasn’t so different from Ireland in terms of the subcultures and communities that flourish 
there and I kept coming across reminders of home. I even spoke with someone of Caribbean 
heritage who remarked that Ireland shared surprising cultural and architectural similarities 
with certain Caribbean countries. It was nice to see how the world and the people in it are so 
inter-connected. 

That said, I also learned how important it is not to assume that these places and the people 
living in them all have the same stories or can be approached the same way. Just because 
places may feel familiar, or communities may share certain qualities, doesn’t mean their 
stories or experiences are identical. Each culture, and each person within it, carries unique 
perspectives that deserve to be understood on their own terms. 

A major aspect of my LiA involved open discussions with community members. I very quickly 
realised that open and honest discussions are not at all possible if the questions are coming 
from someone with no understanding of the community. I spent the majority of my time in the 
Roxbury neighbourhood, where Boston’s racial history runs deep and understanding this 
history was very important in informing my conversations with community members. This 
taught me the valuable lesson that much about being a leader is being able to adapt your 
approach to situations depending on the context and leading with compassion for other 
people’s backgrounds/stories. All of this helped me strengthen leadership skills which 
assisted me in my project.  


I spent 6 weeks working with a Non-Profit organization called the Timothy Smith Network. 
Timothy Smith Network (TSN) provides a series of computer programming programs to high 
school students as well as community digital literacy classes to various community members 
such as elders and veterans. They have an aim of lessening economic disparities through 
bridging the digital divide. 

In a location like Boston where STEM innovation and careers in technology and biotech 
spaces are commonplace, I felt incredibly drawn to TSN’s mission and wanted to find a way 
to broaden opportunities for educational and professional advancement in the community. 
My project centered on creating a community technology hub space designed to serve as 
both a resource and a gathering point. Here, TSN staff can collaborate, host workshops, and 
run classes, while community members can access tools for self-development in the 
technology space. To bring this vision to life, I conducted extensive desk and field research, 
as well as a series of focus groups and surveys with community members, ensuring the hub 
reflected their needs and aspirations. In addition to research and community engagement, I 
also held meetings with potential partners and collaborators to help shape the future of this 
space. These conversations not only strengthened the project’s foundation but also 
highlighted the importance of collaboration in building something sustainable and impactful. 
What excites me most is the potential of this space to inspire young people and foster a new 
generation of leaders.

While I developed invaluable leadership skills throughout my Leadership in Action experience,
the true achievement of this project lies in its ability to empower others.
By opening doors for youth in Roxbury, this hub has the capacity to broaden the scope of future
leadership far beyond my own journey. 


As for myself, I plan to apply my leadership skills to a career in scientific research and in the 
performing arts. My deep interest in biomedical research was reinforced through the work I 
conducted during Summer 1 of the programme. I came to appreciate just how vast the world 
is and filled with opportunities to connect with others, to learn, and to adapt through my 
international experience. Science is no exception to this spirit of discovery and collaboration. 
The adaptability in my thinking that I strengthened through my Leadership in Action 
experience will undoubtedly support me as I pursue these ambitions!