Find your mantra
I really enjoyed the guest speakers sharing their inspirational stories about their leadership journey. One speaker shared two powerful quotes that particularly resonated with me and helped shape my perspective on success and personal growth. The first was, 鈥淗ard work puts you where the good luck can find you.鈥� It reminded me that success isn't just about waiting for opportunities to fall into your lap. Instead, it鈥檚 about laying the groundwork through consistent effort, even when things don鈥檛 seem to be going your way. It鈥檚 easy to get discouraged when it feels like others are getting amazing opportunities, but we often don鈥檛 see the countless hours of hard work they鈥檝e invested.The second quote, 鈥淲ork so hard on yourself that you shine without a spotlight,鈥� struck a chord with me. It emphasises the importance of self-improvement鈥攂ecoming the best version of yourself, not for recognition, but for your own growth. This is what true leadership is about: working quietly in the background, knowing that your efforts will speak for themselves, even when you鈥檙e not in the room.
Your vulnerability is your strength
Throughout the course, I had the opportunity to learn more about Emotional Intelligence (EI): the ability to recognize, understand and manage our own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. During our group project on EI, I found myself stepping into one of my greatest fears: public speaking. I used to avoid presentations at all costs, terrified of making a fool of myself. My body would go into fight-or-flight mode 鈥� heart racing, palms sweating and voice trembling. Despite my nerves, I pushed through, knowing that every moment of discomfort was an opportunity for growth.
The experience taught me the importance of self-awareness. Acknowledging my fears allowed me to manage them better and ultimately gain confidence in myself and my abilities. Even though I stumbled over my words, I shared my thoughts openly with the group about how I was feeling. And you know what? The world didn鈥檛 end. I survived, and more importantly, I learned.
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable
The presentations we did throughout the academy became a powerful reminder of how far I鈥檝e come. Each time I stood up in front of the group, my anxiety diminished. On the second day, when my team pitched an idea in a 鈥楧ragon鈥檚 Den鈥� format, I could feel my heart racing, but it wasn鈥檛 as deafening as before. When our project wasn鈥檛 chosen, I didn鈥檛 let it discourage me and actually I was invited to join the team that won the competition. The experience was a testament to resilience: even when things don鈥檛 go as planned, there are always opportunities to grow and improve.
In fact, one of the biggest lessons I took away from SLA was that leadership is not about being perfect or always winning. It鈥檚 about being willing to face discomfort and persevere. As a nursing student, I know that true leadership is about showing up for others鈥攚hether that鈥檚 for my team, my patients or myself. I now have the tools to help me build strong relationships, make informed and sometimes difficult decisions, and support others in their journey.
The value of mentorship
A pivotal moment for me came when Nicola Davis-Job, 九游体育 Wales鈥檚 Acute Care and Leadership Adviser, offered to be my mentor. Her journey resonated with me, especially when she spoke about understanding my imposter syndrome, as it is something she has felt too. Her support and guidance, particularly in relation to leadership styles and personal growth, have been invaluable.
We took a personality quiz and discovered that we share the same personality type. It was reassuring to see that someone with the same personally type can be a successful leader despite our shared imposter fears. It was also interesting to be aware that there鈥檚 no 鈥渙ne-size-fits-all鈥� approach to leadership.
I was invited to the International Nurses Day event at Swansea Bay University Health Board through Nicola, where I had the chance to network with senior nurses, directors and other health care professionals. The event highlighted the importance of leadership within the nursing profession and gave me a broader perspective on the impact of strong leadership within health care.
九游体育 Wales hosted a corridor care workshop at their HQ in Cardiff, where I had the opportunity to collaborate with other health care professionals to discuss ways to improve patient care in the NHS. The experience opened my eyes to the value of networking and the power of collaborative, collective leadership in driving change.
Taking my experience forward
I鈥檓 so grateful I took the leap and applied for the SLA. My experience dismantled any misconceptions I had about what a strong leader looked like. I鈥檝e learned to lead with emotional intelligence, embrace vulnerability and grow through discomfort. It鈥檚 all about understanding ourselves to better understand others, navigating challenges with resilience, and empowering those around us to reach their full potential.The journey of becoming a true leader never truly ends; it鈥檚 a process of constant learning, evolving and growing 鈥� one step at a time 鈥� and I know this is just the beginning of my leadership journey.
