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Episode Description:

In this first episode of the Cultural Intelligence series, Julia Middleton, Mother of Practical CQ, founder of Women Emerging and the podcast host, explains what Cultural Intelligence (CQ) means, why it is essential for leading today, and the foundational mindsets needed to develop it. CQ is often assumed to be just about geography, but as Julia explains, it goes far beyond that, spanning generations, sectors, beliefs, specialisms, backgrounds, and aspirations.

“The really big, complex problems that we dream of solving have no respect for boundaries. If we insist on staying within them, we have no hope of addressing these challenges. We must develop cultural intelligence to cross them,” said Julia.

Julia unpacks four prerequisites for Cultural Intelligence – A deep interest in people, being genuinely curious about others; willingness to unpick personal biases and habits that hinder CQ; the stamina for an endless journey, knowing CQ is something we build over time; the courage to stand up to cultural intolerance when we see it.

Listen to this episode to learn why Cultural Intelligence is no longer optional while leading in a global world and how you can start building it.

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.