Being a young professional in any field is a uniquely daunting experience, a constant balancing act of learning, adapting, and feeling as if you’re standing at the edge of an ever-expanding abyss of questions.
As a young thinktanker myself, I deeply resonate with this feeling. I’m frequently swept up in a whirlwind of curiosity, with one answer sparking a dozen more questions, each more complex than the last. This overwhelming space is often anxiety-inducing. Yet, my recent experience representing Warwick Think Tank at the OTT conference as part of the Building for Future Initiative in June has been profoundly illuminating, helping me to channel this uncertainty into something purposeful.
I left the conference knowing that the perspective I bring as a young thinker is both essential and celebrated. The challenges that I and other student thinktankers face are far from isolated. The think tank community is a close-knit, supportive ecosystem where collaboration and shared learning are vital to progress. To grow as effective policy influencers, we must lean into collective effort and mutual empowerment.
Here are three crucial lessons from the conference that reshaped how I view my role and our potential as young policy actors.
1. You are the link—the vital bridge between research and policy
One of the most resonant themes of the conference came from Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi, CEO of Africa’s Centre for Economic Transformation, who eloquently framed a think tank’s role as “the bridge between research and policymakers; not reinventing the wheel.”
This struck me deeply. As a student thinktanker anchored to a university campus, I’m immersed in a rich pool of academic research and resources. For a long time, I viewed my role at the Warwick think tank primarily as an individual researcher, honing my own analysis and policy proposals. However, the reality is more profound: a student think tank’s unique advantage lies in being plugged into university networks. We have access to excellent research, and our true power lies in connecting that knowledge to the right audiences—from policymakers and practitioners, to the broader public.
Being relevant in today’s fast-evolving policy landscape demands more than producing high-quality research. It requires us to excel at the dissemination, translation, and amplification of complex ideas in accessible and engaging ways. Our value lies in our ability to package and present insights in ways that resonate with stakeholders, including future leaders within the student community. By mobilising young thinkers as facilitators, we can create a dynamic pipeline that channels robust research into real-world policy impact.
Good research is already abundant within universities and think tanks alike. The challenge, and opportunity, is for us as a student think tank to bridge the gap to transform knowledge into actionable insight.
2. Collaboration is everything—playing to our strengths together
Another key insight from the conference was the importance of embracing collaboration rather than competition. As a student thinktanker, I’ve felt the pressure to measure up to more established think tanks by trying to replicate their approaches or cover the same issues. This, I realised, is neither necessary nor productive.
Instead, the policy ecosystem thrives when think tanks leverage their unique strengths and join forces to broaden their collective influence. We don’t need ten organisations tackling identical questions in isolation; rather, we need complementary expertise working in harmony.
For student think tanks, our greatest asset lies in nurturing resilient, empowered future leaders. By partnering with established think tanks, we can help ensure these emerging voices are part of meaningful policy dialogues. This symbiotic relationship not only supports the broader think tank ecosystem but also secures our place as indispensable contributors to policy development.
3. Bring everyone along—the power of inclusive change
Perhaps the most profound takeaway from the conference was the reminder that no organisation, no matter how venerable, can effect lasting change without bringing everyone along on the journey. Reforming institutions requires more than strategic plans; it demands inspiring people to embrace change. This requires both courage and clarity, as Sara Pantuliano, CEO of ODI Global, emphasised during her keynote.
Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi echoed this sentiment succinctly: “If you want to be first, go alone. If you want to be fast, go together.” As a student think tank, we hold a distinct responsibility and opportunity to engage large communities of emerging thinkers. Inspiring and mobilising this community requires active listening and crystal-clear communication of our vision and mission.
My own think tank is currently navigating a phase of internal reform, a challenging process marked by limited funding and volunteer participation only. It was reassuring to learn that even large, established think tanks wrestle with similar obstacles when trying to move forward. A particularly powerful message from the conference was that impact does not simply follow money. Instead, it flows from the combination of clarity, courage, and an unwavering willingness to adapt and grow.
Moving Forward
As I reflect on my experience at the OTT conference, I am filled with renewed hope and focus. The lessons I’ve outlined are invaluable, but perhaps the conference’s greatest gift was the sense of community it fostered.
This gathering of think tanks from across sectors and countries reminded me that think tank work is not only essential but transformative. It reaffirmed my confidence and deepened my commitment to pursuing a future in think tanks.
Being a young think tanker no longer feels like navigating a lonely, confusing labyrinth. Instead, it is a shared journey of discovery, one where connection, collaboration, and courage light the way. There is much work ahead, but we don’t have to do it alone.