On Monday, 7 July, our CEO Helen Lami delivered a compelling leadership talk to international students at Sidcot School, Bristol. Helen’s engaging presentation explored what it truly means to be a leader in today’s world – highlighting empathy, respect, courage and curiosity as essential qualities, rather than merely authority and status.
Everyone can lead
Helen opened by challenging students’ traditional views of leadership. “You don’t have to be bold, perfect, or loud to lead,” she said. “Real leadership is about listening, supporting others and making positive choices every day. It starts with small acts of kindness.”
Key qualities of effective Leadership
Helen discussed important qualities that define true leaders, including:
- Courage: Doing what’s right, even when difficult.
- Listening: Giving your full attention and genuinely understanding others.
- Empathy and kindness: Demonstrating care and respect to build trust.
- Teamwork and responsibility: Supporting peers and owning your actions, including mistakes.
- Curiosity and communication: Asking questions, learning constantly, and effectively interacting with others.
Students actively participated, sharing everyday leadership examples such as helping classmates, standing up against unfair treatment, and promoting inclusivity across different cultures.
Human skills in an AI-driven world
Helen emphasised the significance of human qualities such as empathy, critical thinking, and creativity, particularly in a world increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence. She illustrated this by mentioning a robot she saw cleaning the floors at the Hilton Hotel on transfer day, highlighting how rapidly AI is becoming integrated into daily life.
“AI and robots like the hotel’s cleaning robot might handle practical tasks efficiently, but they don’t have empathy,” Helen pointed out. “This is where your human skills become crucial. Empathy, creativity, and critical thinking are skills machines cannot replicate easily, setting you apart in the future.”
Encouraging self-belief
Drawing from her personal experience, Helen reassured students: “When I was your age, I hated school and lacked confidence. Leadership didn’t come naturally. But through small steps, experiences and courage, anyone can grow into a leader.”
She encouraged students to build strong relationships and networks during their summer camp experience, emphasising that these connections could become lifelong friendships or professional contacts.
Students were encouraged to break up into small groups to explore opportunities to lead in specific scenarios and then present their input to the wider group.
Preparing students for the future
As part of Academic Summer’s Be a Leader Programme, our students explore various leadership topics, complete aptitude and career tests and hear about the the importance of corporate social responsibility. These activities are designed to help them better understand their strengths and potential career paths, preparing them for future success.
A lasting message
Ending her inspiring talk, Helen reminded students: “Each of you is special and unique. You can make a difference right now. Leadership isn’t just a future title, it’s how you live your life every day.”
We look forward to seeing how these young leaders continue to grow during their time at Academic Summer.
The Clever Fox Journal is the online news section of Academic Summer Camps, inspired by our logo – a wise fox wearing a graduation cap. Just like our summer programmes, The Clever Fox Journal is a place of curiosity, learning and discovery, bringing you the latest updates, insights and stories from our academic camps in the UK and Canada. Stay informed, stay inspired – and think like a clever fox!