The roles I take on in collaborative work and my approach to leadership have evolved over time. Back in high school, when working on group projects, I often had a clear vision of the final product, which naturally pushed me into a leadership position. However, my fixation on achieving that exact vision sometimes came at the expense of open communication within the group, and ultimately led to burnout. Going into college, I took more of a backseat in group settings and allowed others to step into leadership roles. This shift gave me a better understanding of different leadership and communication styles.

Working at Flexpenser has changed my understanding of teamwork and leadership in new ways. While I do attend meetings and gather input from others, I’m solely responsible for the web design, meaning I’ve had to develop a different kind of leadership. Rather than guiding a team, I lead meetings with senior staff and take initiative in managing my own projects. I’ve learned to brainstorm and generate creative ideas independently, often with limited input. Instead of collaborating with peers in the same field, I now interpret the vision and goals of the executive team and translate those into my web design.

Collaborating with people from diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and nationalities in a completely different country has been incredibly valuable. While I’m not entirely sure how this will translate to group work in the classroom or in future jobs, I’m confident that it has strengthened my ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people who may come from different backgrounds or have different communication styles.