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Episode Description:

In this first part of the two-part episode on resilience, Julia speaks with Liz Bloomfield, a mission-driven leader and former British Army officer, about what resilience means. Liz challenges the idea that resilience is simply about enduring hardship and instead explores how self-awareness, recovery, and adaptability shape a more sustainable approach to resilience.

“Resilience isn’t about being unbreakable. It’s about learning how to pause, process, and move forward with greater clarity,” said Liz.

Liz and Julia discuss the importance of mental fitness, understanding personal triggers, and reframing setbacks as opportunities for growth. Liz also shares how leaders who prioritise their own resilience create stronger, more impactful teams.

Listen to this episode to challenge your understanding of resilience and explore how small, intentional choices can help you lead with renewed energy and purpose.

And stay tuned for Part 2, where Liz dives deeper into how resilience plays out in leadership, the role of identity and belonging, and the practical strategies she uses to help changemakers increase their impact without burning out.

About the Guests

Liz Bloomfield

Liz Bloomfield is committed to creating a more just world where everyone thrives. During her 25-year career as a British Army officer serving in Iraq, corporate executive, and humanitarian responder, Liz has worked with mission-driven leaders across the globe. She has experienced first-hand the positive outcomes when leaders invest in building their own resilience and mental fitness and support their teams in doing the same. She helps changemakers reconnect with their purpose, supercharge their energy, and increase their impact.

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.