By Kiyasha Singh
Honestly, before I joined d-lab, I didn’t have a plan. I wasn’t sure whether I should continue studying, start working, or take a completely different path. I knew I wanted to move forward, but I didn’t know what that would look like or where I would fit in the working world.
d-lab didn’t give me a fixed path. Instead, it gave me the confidence and practical skills to move forward without one.
Before d-lab, unfamiliar tasks could throw me off completely. If I didn’t have an immediate answer, I often took that as a sign that I wasn’t capable. New responsibilities felt intimidating, especially when I didn’t feel fully prepared. Sometimes, not knowing where to begin stopped me from beginning at all.
It wasn’t the normal classroom setup at d-lab, it was different from what I’d experienced before. Instead of simply being given existing solutions, we were encouraged to learn by doing. We worked through real problems, collaborated with others, and had to think critically about the challenges in front of us.
I learnt how to ask useful questions and break complicated problems into smaller, more manageable parts. I also realised that I didn’t have to solve everything alone. Working with other people taught me to listen to different perspectives and recognise the strengths that each person brought to the task.
Most importantly, d-lab changed what not knowing meant to me. I began to understand that not having an answer didn’t mean I was incapable. It just meant that I still had something to learn. I could ask for help, try a different approach, and keep improving.
Another valuable part of the programme was the opportunity to complete a three-month internship at a real company. d-lab helped me secure an internship at The Field Institute, which was started by the same people behind d-lab. This gave me the chance to apply what I’d learnt in a real working environment.
During my internship, I was introduced to innovation, artificial intelligence, market research, consulting, and strategic thinking. The work was more demanding than anything I’d experienced before. I had to adapt to new expectations, learn unfamiliar concepts, and contribute to real projects.
I didn’t always know what I was doing when I first received a new task. The difference was that I now knew how to approach it. I could ask questions, break the task down, work with other people, and take it one step at a time. The internship showed me how much I could learn when I was willing to move outside my comfort zone.
After graduating and completing my internship, I was offered the opportunity to continue working at The Field Institute. The Field Institute, d-lab, and StrideShift Global are part of a broad ecosystem, although each company has its own purpose and area of work.
Today, I contribute to projects involving innovation and artificial intelligence through the Field Institute and Strideshift Global. I also support d-lab as a Coach in Cyborg Habits.
Before d-lab, I would’ve found this responsibility intimidating. Now, I’m able to guide other people through the same uncertainty that I once struggled with myself. I still experience moments when I don’t feel completely prepared, but I no longer allow that feeling to prevent me from starting.
Looking back, d-lab didn’t give me a plan for the rest of my life. It gave me something more useful: a way to find my direction when the path isn’t clear.
I still don’t have every answer, but d-lab taught me that I don’t need every answer before I can begin.