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Episode Description

In this episode, Julia Middleton engages in a candid conversation with Anna Vafiadou about the challenges women often encounter in leadership roles, including self-doubt, prioritising others, fear of mistakes, and reluctance to ask questions. They discuss how societal expectations influence these issues and the significance of addressing them to foster stronger leadership. Anna shares her personal experience of losing her voice during a public speech and her subsequent journey to enhance her communication skills, providing practical insights into building confidence and empowerment.

About the Guests

Anna Vafiadou

Anna Vafiadou is a seasoned professional with a background in media and communications. She has held various roles within media companies, contributing to marketing initiatives such as Jean&Len’s sponsorship of “Germany’s Next Topmodel.” Anna’s experiences have shaped her understanding of the nuances in leadership and the importance of effective communication.

About the Host

Julia Middleton

Julia Middleton is the host of the Women Emerging podcast and a best-selling author of “If that’s leading, I’m in” as well as two previous books: “Leading beyond Authority” and “Cultural Intelligence”. She is deeply committed to helping people from all backgrounds to find their own approach to leading.

In 2020, Julia launched Women Emerging and in 2022 she lead an expedition of 24 women to find ‘an approach to leading that resonates with women’. She now leads expeditions with women all over the world based on 4Es methodology, discovered in the first expedition.

Prior to that, Julia was founder and, for over thirty years, Chief Executive of Common Purpose, which grew to become one of the biggest leadership development organisations in the world.
Julia is also an Ambassador for the Aurora Prize based in Armenia, on the boards of Alfanar Venture Philanthropy in the Arab World and Equality Now, which operates globally, and on the Advisory Councils of Fundacao Dom Cabral in Brazil and Synapse in Pakistan.

Born in London and brought up in New York, Julia was educated at French Lycées and graduated from the London School of Economics. She is married, with five children and lots of grandchildren.