LeadLUU is our annual student leadership race, where University of Leeds students can run to become a Student Officer and lead the Union for a year.
LeadLUU is one of the biggest student elections in the country, and a highlight of campus life.
This is not just a regular student election…
It could change your life.
Why did you decide to run in the LeadLUU elections?
LUU and specifically the societies gave me so much in my time as a student, I think my life would be very different if I didn’t have the experience I had at LUU, and this made me want to be in a position to give back.
The idea of being able to contribute to students having as impactful an experience as I had was something that really excited me.
How did campaigning to become a Student Leader shape your future career?
For starters, it showed me that I did want to work in the Students’ Union!
It helped me build connections with the staff here, but also gave me a bit confidence that I might not have had before as campaigning pushed me out of my comfort zone.
Did running open up any career opportunities / paths that you hadn’t previously considered?
I hadn’t really thought about working in the SU too much before running, so mostly that!
I think I probably had quite a narrow idea of what I wanted to do before running and this definitely opened it up a bit more.
What did the process teach you about confidence, leadership, and handling challenges?
Campaigning really pushed me out of my comfort zone.
How has running in the elections strengthened your CV or helped you stand out professionally?
It’s a good conversation starter! I learnt a lot about myself during the process and it’s always fun talking about it with people.
Looking back, how might your career have been different if you hadn’t run in the elections?
I imagine very differently! I don’t know if I’d be working in the Student Union if I hadn’t run.
And if I wasn’t working in the Student Union, I have absolutely no idea what I might be doing instead!
What would you say to students who don’t feel confident about running, but want to run.
I’d say that it is entirely fair to be nervous or hesitant to do it. But that there are some amazing staff members and teams behind the elections that provide the best support.
LeadLUU is your chance to shape your Leeds experience, gain leadership skills, and make real change on campus.
Step up. Stand out. Lead your Union!
How Running In LeadLUU Can Shape Your Career: Fabiha Chowdhury
LeadLUU: Why Should I Care?
