START AN EXPEDITION

Episode Description

In this episode, Julia hosts Armine Afeyan who explores the power of process over outcome in leadership. Armine reminds us that winning and losing are the greatest imposters, thus shifting the focus from results to the journey of leading itself is more important.

She shares insights from her cycling trip from Czechoslovakia to Amsterdam, reflecting on embracing discomfort, managing diverse teams at a young age, and recruiting people with different mindsets. Armine highlights the importance of patience, perseverance and long-term thinking, reminding us that true leadership is about going far, not just fast.

Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on sportsmanship in leadership, and how the daily process of growth shapes us into better leaders for ourselves and others.

About the Guests

Armine Afeyan

Armine Afeyan is the CEO of The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative where she is a business leader and strategist with a passion for team dynamics, resilience and long-term leadership development. She brings a unique perspective on navigating challenges and fostering inclusive teams

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.