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Recent Comments
Anqi,
Lovely to hear of the progress being made with the database. I wonder if some of the organisations we encountered in Blackbird Leys, such as Communi-tea, CDI, Compass, and RAW have a place in the database?
It would lovely to have some of you reflections on how you are finding Laidlaw so far, what you have learned as a researcher, and your thoughts on the leadership sessions we have had with Anjali, Catherine, and Matthew.
Best wishes
Ben
Dear Amy,
Thank you for sharing your Week 2 reflection. It is clear that this has been an important week in helping your team move from the initial scoping stage towards a more defined research direction.
I was particularly pleased to read about your meeting with the project's principal stakeholder for the RLT. Learning how to engage with stakeholders is a vital aspect of the research process, especially within applied and community-focused projects such as this one. The fact that each member of the group prepared questions relating to their area of responsibility demonstrates good preparation and professionalism, and it is encouraging to see that the discussion helped refine both your thinking and your research focus.
Your participation in the referencing and Zotero workshop is another positive step. Developing good referencing habits early in a project will save considerable time later and will strengthen the academic quality and credibility of your work. Research often involves managing large volumes of information, and becoming confident with tools such as Zotero is an investment that will continue to benefit you throughout your degree and beyond.
I was also pleased to see you reflecting on the wider experiences offered through the programme. Activities such as the team-building event, the lunch in Blackbird Leys, and supporting pupils at Powerhouse Games may seem separate from the research itself, but they are often where researchers begin to develop a deeper understanding of the communities they are studying. Research on issues such as educational inclusion, belonging, and trust is strongest when it remains connected to the lived experiences of the people affected by those issues.
As you move into the methodology and methods phase next week, I would encourage you to think carefully about the relationship between your research question and the methods you choose. One of the most important lessons in research is that methods are not simply technical choices; they reflect assumptions about what kinds of knowledge we value and how we believe evidence should be gathered. As your team develops its approach, consider why particular methods are appropriate for capturing the experiences and perspectives that sit at the heart of your project.
I would also encourage you to begin reflecting not just on what your group is doing, but on what you are learning about yourself as a researcher. For example, how did the stakeholder meeting influence your understanding of the project? Did it challenge any assumptions you had made? What skills are you beginning to develop through these interactions that you did not possess at the start of the programme?
Overall, this reflection demonstrates steady progress and a growing engagement with both the practical and human aspects of the research process. You have built effectively on the foundations established in Week 1, and I look forward to seeing how the methodological workshops and stakeholder engagement continue to shape your project's development.
Best wishes,
Ben
Dear Maria,
Thank you for sharing such a beautifully written first reflection - with brilliant photos! There is a real sense of curiosity, openness, and anticipation running throughout your entry, which feels very appropriate for the beginning of a Leadership in Action experience. I particularly enjoyed your description of arriving in Kerala with both excitement and uncertainty; it captures something that many scholars experience but do not always articulate so eloquently. The recognition that a transformative experience may be unfolding, whilst acknowledging that you do not yet know what shape that transformation will take, demonstrates maturity and self-awareness.
One of the themes that stood out most strongly was your appreciation of learning beyond formal settings. Your observations about the backwaters of Kerala, conversations with local people, and the lessons embedded within everyday life all suggest a willingness to remain attentive to learning in unexpected places. I was especially interested in your reflection on sustainability, and how witnessing the various uses of the coconut tree shifted your understanding from an abstract concept to something tangible and lived. Leadership often begins with this kind of curiosity: taking the time to understand systems, communities, and perspectives before attempting to influence or change them.
I was also pleased to read about the supportive relationships developing amongst your cohort. The way you describe being 'moulded together' hints at an important aspect of leadership that is sometimes overlooked. While leadership is often portrayed as an individual endeavour, much of our growth happens through the people around us. As your placement progresses, I would encourage you to reflect further on how these relationships are shaping your thinking, challenging your assumptions, and influencing the way you approach your work.
Looking ahead, I would be interested to see you draw even stronger connections between your experiences and your leadership development. At present, the reflection beautifully captures what you are observing and feeling, but I would be interested to hear more about how these experiences are affecting your understanding of leadership itself. For example:
Your comment about keeping an open heart and mind struck me as particularly significant. Effective leadership, especially in international and community-based contexts, often begins not with having solutions but with listening deeply, remaining humble, and being willing to learn from others. There may be rich opportunities over the coming weeks to reflect on how this mindset shapes both your work and your relationships.
Overall, this is a thoughtful and promising start to your LiA reflections. Your writing conveys genuine excitement about the journey ahead, and it is clear that you are already engaging deeply with the people, culture, and experiences around you. I look forward to seeing how your work with Forest Post develops and, perhaps more importantly, how your understanding of yourself as a leader evolves throughout your time in Kerala.
Best wishes,
Ben
P.S. the coconut curry sounds fantastic!
Dear Albert,
Thank you for sharing such an honest, thoughtful, and uplifting reflection.
What hit me most was not simply what you have been doing in Kigali, but how much you have already grown through the experience. Arriving alone in a completely unfamiliar environment, stepping into a teaching role for which you felt underprepared, and then finding yourself thriving in that environment demonstrates a significant degree of courage and adaptability. Many people would find teaching mathematics for five hours a day daunting, particularly when working with students who have experienced interruptions to their education, yet it is clear that you have embraced the challenge wholeheartedly.
I was particularly pleased to read about the relationships you have built with your students. The fact that you are finding ways to make lessons engaging and enjoyable, while maintaining high expectations, speaks to an important aspect of leadership: creating an environment where others can succeed. The feedback you have received from fellow volunteers and the enthusiasm of students from other classes suggest that your impact extends beyond simply delivering content. It sounds as though you are helping to build confidence, motivation, and enjoyment of learning, which can be just as important as the mathematics itself.
As you continue your Leadership in Action journey, I would encourage you to reflect even more explicitly on your leadership development. You note that teaching came more naturally than expected, which is a fascinating insight. What do you think this has taught you about your own leadership style? Have you discovered strengths that you were previously unaware of? Sometimes our most significant leadership growth comes not from overcoming our weaknesses, but from recognising capabilities we did not know we possessed.
I was also impressed by your reflections on resilience. Between the food poisoning, challenges surrounding your dissertation, significant personal changes, and your decision to quit nicotine, you have experienced more than your fair share of obstacles during your first two weeks. What stands out is not that these challenges occurred, but how you responded to them. Leadership often reveals itself most clearly during difficult periods, and your ability to remain positive, purposeful, and focused on supporting others despite these setbacks is something you should be proud of.
Your plans to organise football and cricket sessions also provide an interesting opportunity for leadership reflection in the coming weeks. Similarly to the classroom, sport often requires leadership through encouragement, inclusion, motivation, and relationship-building. I would be interested to hear how you approach bringing people together, creating a positive team culture, and encouraging participation from students with different levels of confidence and experience.
Finally, I was moved by your reflection on speaking with your mother. The observation that, despite a series of personal and academic challenges, you feel genuinely happy and proud of who you are being while in Rwanda is a powerful one. Leadership is not only about what we achieve, but also about the kind of person we become through our experiences. That sense of purpose, perspective, and self-awareness comes through very clearly in your writing.
This is an excellent start to your LiA reflections. You are already demonstrating many of the qualities we hope to see in Laidlaw Scholars: curiosity, resilience, humility, service, and a commitment to supporting others. I look forward to hearing how your teaching, sports activities, and understanding of leadership continue to develop over the coming weeks.
Best wishes,
Ben
P.S. For maths resources, there's a larger treasure trove here: Videos and Worksheets – Corbettmaths
Dear Ben,
Thank you for sharing your first Leadership in Action reflection. It is an engaging, witty, and highly readable account of your first week in Berlin, and I particularly enjoyed the way you interweave observations about the project, the city, and your own experience of adapting to a new environment. Your enthusiasm for both the placement and the opportunity that Laidlaw has provided comes through very clearly.
I was especially struck by your reflection on purpose and contribution. Your observation that you and Albee were anxious not to 'serve no purpose' resonated with me because it touches on a challenge that many emerging leaders experience when entering an established organisation. Leadership is not always about arriving with answers or immediately taking charge; often it involves learning how best to contribute, identifying where you can add value, and being comfortable with a period of uncertainty before your role becomes fully defined. The fact that you are already thinking critically about where your skills can make a meaningful contribution is a positive sign.
Your description of the Impact AI project also raises some interesting leadership questions. Auditing organisations that claim to be acting in the public interest is, in many ways, an exercise in accountability and ethical leadership. As you become more familiar with the methodology, I would encourage you to reflect not only on the research itself but also on what it is teaching you about leadership. What responsibilities do leaders have when introducing new technologies? How should organisations balance innovation against potential harms? What does responsible decision-making look like in contexts characterised by uncertainty and competing interests?
I would also encourage you to build more explicit links to your own leadership development in future entries. For example, you mention providing feedback on papers, learning new methodologies, and beginning to identify potential contributions to the framework itself. How are you approaching these conversations? Have there been moments where you've needed to challenge assumptions, ask difficult questions, or advocate for an idea? Equally, what have you learned about following and listening within a team of experienced researchers? Some of the richest leadership learning can comes from observing others and understanding how influence operates in practice.
One theme I would be particularly interested to see explored further is your transition into an unfamiliar professional environment. Moving from libraries, kitchens, and rehearsal rooms into an international research institute inevitably requires adaptation. What aspects of this environment bring out strengths in you? Where have you had to adjust your habits or expectations? Effective leadership often begins with self-awareness, and there is considerable scope for reflection here.
Overall, this is a strong start. Your curiosity, humour, and thoughtfulness are evident throughout, and it is clear that you are approaching the placement with both ambition and humility. As the project develops, I would encourage you to move beyond describing what you are doing and increasingly focus on how these experiences are shaping your understanding of leadership, influence, responsibility, and collaboration.
I look forward to reading how both the project and your thinking evolve over the coming weeks.
Best wishes,
Ben
The Aubergine stew sounds great. I would also like to humbly recommend Senf (German mustard) which has a balanced, herbal, medium-hot profile and is quite different to French or English mustard.
Dear Albee,
Thank you for sharing this week's reflection. It is an entertaining and engaging read, and your personality comes through very clearly. I particularly enjoyed the way you balanced humour with thoughtful observations about the work of the Impact AI team. It is evident that both you and Ben have embraced the opportunity to contribute meaningfully from the outset and have already begun adding value through proofreading, methodological discussions, and qualitative coding.
I was particularly interested in your description of entering an established research environment and being asked to provide 'fresh eyes' on both the methodology and the data. This is a significant responsibility, particularly in a project that is itself concerned with accountability, ethics, and public interest. Your reflections suggest that you understand the importance of approaching this role with both confidence and humility, which is a balance that many leaders spend years trying to develop.
As you continue your Leadership in Action journey, I would encourage you to also consider the leadership dimensions of your experience. I would be interested to hear more about how you are exercising leadership in practice. For example:
Your comment about maintaining 'a good balance between humility and challenging our colleagues' is particularly interesting and potentially rich for reflection. Leadership often involves precisely this tension: being confident enough to ask difficult questions while remaining open to the possibility that your own perspective may be incomplete. I would encourage you to unpack this further in future entries, perhaps with specific examples of situations where you found this balance difficult or rewarding.
I also think there is an opportunity to reflect further on the ethical dimensions of leadership. You note that the project itself keeps 'the ethical spotlight' on both the organisations being audited and the researchers conducting the audit. This raises fascinating questions about responsibility, accountability, and power. How has working on a project that evaluates the actions of others influenced your own thinking about ethical leadership? Has it changed the way you approach your own decision-making or interactions within the team?
Finally, I appreciated your honest acknowledgement that more preparation might have been useful. It is difficult to fully prepared for every situation; but I know you will recognise gaps, adapt quickly, and learn from experience. The fact that you are already reflecting critically on what could have gone better is a positive sign of that mindset.
Overall, this is a very strong start. Your enthusiasm for the project is clear, and the reflective elements around humility, challenge, ethics, and collaboration offer excellent foundations for deeper leadership reflection in the weeks ahead. I look forward to seeing how your understanding of leadership develops as you continue to navigate both the research environment and life in Berlin.
Best wishes,
Ben
P.S. Sorry to hear about the camera and charger. Did you file a report with the police? If so you might be able to claim it through your insurance?
Dear Peter,
Thank you for sharing your first Leadership in Action reflection. There is a great deal to admire here, particularly the way you balance honest reflection on the challenges of living and working abroad with thoughtful consideration of your project's aims and methodology.
I was particularly interested in the work you are undertaking with Genera Territorios. The idea of developing a financial education approach that recognises and values existing social capital, community networks, and non-financial forms of knowledge is both innovative and responsive to the needs of the communities you are working with. Your suggestion of combining animated learning materials with a WhatsApp community also demonstrates creativity and an appreciation of the importance of peer-to-peer learning and local ownership. Importantly, I was pleased to see your acknowledgement of the limitations of your own knowledge at this stage. Recognising what you do not yet know, and designing mechanisms that allow communities themselves to shape the solution, is often a hallmark of effective and ethical leadership.
Your reflections on adapting to life in Mexico were equally valuable. The challenges you describe around food, health, neurodivergence, and navigating an unfamiliar environment highlight a form of leadership that is not always discussed openly: the resilience required to function effectively while managing personal challenges. It is clear that considerable problem-solving, perseverance, and self-awareness have gone into establishing routines that allow you to participate fully in the project. These experiences are every bit as important to your leadership development as the formal project work itself.
As you continue with your journal, I would encourage you to push the leadership reflection slightly further. You mention the Changemaker Values of being Brave, Ambitious, and Fast, which is an excellent starting point. The next step is to examine how these values are influencing your behaviour and decisions in practice. For example, when you suggested the WhatsApp-based approach, what leadership skills were you drawing upon? Were you persuading others, facilitating collaboration, managing uncertainty, or encouraging innovation? Similarly, how has working within a cross-cultural environment affected your understanding of leadership? Have there been moments where listening has been more important than directing, or where adapting your assumptions has been necessary to move the work forward?
One of the themes that stood out to me was the tension between expertise and humility. Your reflection suggests an awareness that meaningful social impact work cannot simply impose solutions from the outside. I think there is a rich leadership lesson here around co-creation, partnership, and the importance of sharing power with the communities that projects are intended to serve. I would encourage you to explore this theme further in future entries, particularly as you begin engaging more directly with the women and cooperatives who will ultimately use the resources you are developing.
Overall, this is an engaging and thoughtful start. You communicate both the excitement and uncertainty of being in a new environment, while demonstrating a clear commitment to learning from the people around you. I look forward to seeing how your understanding of leadership evolves as the project develops, particularly in relation to collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and leading through uncertainty.
Best wishes,
Ben
P.S. You have brought back undergrad memories of Fourier Series and Transforms :)