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Episode Description:

This is the final episode in our series on Leading by Faith. Lifelong Alaskan Jackie, born and raised in Kotzebue, shares her unique insights and experiences rooted in rural Alaskan culture. She emphasizes the importance of oral history, reflecting on how her family has inhabited the same land for thousands of years. Jackie explains that this deep connection fosters a mindset that values retention of knowledge over conventional learning methods.

For Jackie, sacredness is intertwined with her ancestors, culture, and the disruptive changes her community faces. She discusses how this knowledge and her grounded sense of calm influence her leadership style, which is closely connected to nature, her heritage, and the sense of community. Listen up to discover how she builds teams, draws wisdom from her ancestors, and generates energy in her work.

About the Guests

Jackie Qatalina Schaeffer

As the Director of Climate Initiatives, Jackie brings over 20 years of experience in communications and business management. She facilitates stakeholder engagement and supports various projects focused on environmental health, climate, and sanitation across Alaska. Jackie served as the Lead Facilitator for the Holistic Approach to Northern Sustainable Communities project and co-authored several regional energy plans in collaboration with the Alaska Energy Authority and local leaders. Her current work includes addressing water security and sanitation for unserved homes in rural Alaska, climate adaptation, community engagement, and integrating Indigenous perspectives to bridge service gaps.

Jackie’s commitment to serving Indigenous populations allows her to merge culture and Indigenous knowledge with her professional endeavours, creating a powerful blend of Western and Indigenous perspectives.

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.