From data to confidence: Stepping beyond my comfort zone

When the opportunity to join the Future Leaders Programme at Housing LIN first came up, I wasn’t immediately convinced.

As a data analyst, my world is usually numbers, models, and spreadsheets. I enjoy working quietly, analysing patterns, and building projections. Public speaking or networking? Not really my comfort zone.

So naturally, my first thought was: Is this really for me?

But after speaking to colleagues who had already taken part, I decided to give it a try and I’m really glad I did.

Before the programme, my understanding of housing mostly came from data projections, trends, and need estimates. Through this experience, I started to see the sector beyond just numbers. Meeting people from different parts of the sector, from providers to architects to social care professionals, helped me understand how broad and complex the sector really is. It felt like looking at something I knew from one angle and suddenly seeing the whole picture. It also made me realise the social value of working in this sector that housing is not just about buildings or numbers, but about people’s lives, independence, and wellbeing.

The biggest shift for me was stepping out of my comfort zone. I found myself speaking more, sharing ideas, and engaging in conversations that I would normally avoid. My confidence has definitely improved, and even though I still prefer working with numbers, I now see the importance of being able to communicate and connect with others.

Hearing different leaders talk about their journeys also made me reflect on myself what kind of leader I want to be and where I can improve. I don’t have all the answers yet, but I’ve started thinking about it in a way I hadn’t before. What stayed with me most is the realisation that no one really has everything figured out and that’s okay. It’s okay to have doubts about your career, to question your path, and to not always know what comes next. What matters is showing up, putting in the effort, and being open to learning. With the right amount of hard work and dedication, things do fall into place maybe not exactly as planned, but often in ways that are even better. What started as something I was unsure about turned out to be a really valuable experience, and one that has helped me grow both professionally and personally.

For me, the Future Leaders Programme by Housing LIN is not just about leadership in the traditional sense it’s about understanding the bigger picture, building confidence, and stepping beyond your comfort zone. It’s about connecting people, ideas, and perspectives across the sector, and realising that growth often comes from the spaces we initially hesitate to enter.

---

Cicily's blog is one of many by members of the 5th cohort of Housing LIN’s Future Leaders Programme who have agreed to share what they learned on the 2025/26 programme. We are excited to publish these ahead of recruiting for the 2026/27 Future Leaders programme, sponsored by Sovereign Network Group.

And, if you found this of interest, do check out the other blogs in this series, along with the TikTok videos recorded, which will be available here.