START AN EXPEDITION

Episode Description

In this episode, Julia speaks with Uthara Narayanan about leading beyond perfectionism and people pleasing. Through a deeply honest and insightful conversation, Uthara reflects on five objects that shaped her leadership journey, each representing a pivotal lesson from over three decades of experience. With over three decades of experience, Uthara shares how she unlearned the need for external validation and embraced a leadership style rooted in authenticity and conviction. Through personal stories and sharp observations, she reveals how letting go of the pressure to please others has allowed her to lead with greater confidence, impact and ease.

This episode is an invitation to all those who feel trapped by perfectionism to step into leadership with courage and self trust.

About the Guests

Uthara Narayanan

Uthara Narayanan is a social entrepreneur, leadership coach and co founder of Buzz Women, an organisation empowering women through financial literacy and entrepreneurship training. With a background in development and a passion for creating social change, she champions leadership that is bold, inclusive and purpose driven.

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.