In April of this year, Women Emerging, in partnership with TheMerode and Belgium’s 40 under 40, launched its first city expedition. During any expedition, Women Emerging aims to create a space where women can explore what leading means and looks like for them, guided by the 4Es framework. However, this being a city expedition means that the expedition will have its impact not only for our Explorers, but also the city in which they live and work.
I joined this expedition because I believe women will make the world better when they’ll take more leadership roles. We have to regroup and connect to give each other the necessary strength to believe in ourselves. – Sandrine
As we have approached the mid-point of the expedition for women leading in the dynamic city of Brussels, I thought it would be a great time to reflect on our journey so far. To begin, I would like to name a couple things that make this expedition special––both for us at Women Emerging and the Explorers. Moreover, although we’re only half-way done, as their keen-eyed Community Manager, I can confidently say that our time exploring together is starting to yield fruit.
Leadership growth doesn’t mean changing who you are, but it means learning to express yourself more intentionally as you evolve. – Göksen
22 women, 2 Expedition Leaders, a Community Manager, and a special speaker in the form of Julia Middleton, Founder of Women Emerging, started this expedition together but there is one more character that is constantly on our mind––Brussels. The aim of this expedition is two-fold: to help the women leading in Brussels to discover their approach to leading but also to show the collective power of women leading in the city. When women lead, bridges are built between the very diverse communities of the city itself. As I spoke to the Expedition Leaders and Explorers about what we could do for the city, connecting the city’s fragmented parts emerged as our priority.
Having the city as a common denominator has a lot of upsides and being able to meet each other face-to-face is certainly a big one. TheMerode, the beautiful private members’ club by Brussels’ Palace of Justice, opened its doors to our Explorers and became the place for us to convene. This expedition is our first that we hold in a hybrid manner––Explorers can come to TheMerode or tune in virtually through Zoom. This format works great for our Explores, all of whom with busy schedules. However, having attended both online and in-person, I must attest that the latter is much more enjoyable thanks to the lively presence of these women. Truly, you could feel the community and support––among old friends and new––from our very first meeting.
I discovered a commonality among all of us: we experience the world differently than men and we do not identify with traditional leadership. We needed to redefine leadership in a women– or human-centric way. –– Nora
The 4Es have certainly given our Explorers plenty of food for thought. My favourite reflections include the words “I now realise” and “I learned.” It is wonderful to see these amazing leaders from different sectors, generations, and faiths start to redefine leading for themselves. It would be impossible to summarise in a few sentences the collective thinking that happens during an expedition, but I can say that all Explorers have started to discover their approach to leading through their talks with one another and with the WE Guides, coupled with deep reflection.
Natalie, my Guide, taught me that my own fear of taking space can be transformed into strength: a way to tell the stories of those who are unseen. In talks with my mother, I discovered the difference between dominance and responsibility. –– Justine
As we approach month 5, besides working on their own leading, Explorers will turn their gaze concretely to Brussels to ameliorate the problem we identified in the beginning: fragmentation. Expedition Leader Lynn, borrowing from one of her favourite philosophers, says that Brussels is like an archipelago: we must try to build bridges to connect and strengthen it. To do so, some Explorers will either start or join forces with a project in the city that brings together members of its diverse demographic. Other Explorers will be paired with male leaders in the city to speak to them about what we have explored, give them advice from the perspective of a woman leading in Brussels, and urge them to consider the 4Es framework to lead in a manner that is aligned with their Essence.
It’s a real pleasure to co-lead the Brussels expedition with the wonderful Women Emerging team. Their support and the quality of the material provide a strong, inspiring framework: one that gives us the freedom to shape our own journey while staying clearly aligned. We’re also lucky to be accompanied by Mia, an exceptional community manager whose daily guidance is a true luxury. Throughout this expedition, we feel the power of a whole community of explorers behind us, and Julia’s touchpoints bring a wonderful extra layer of insight and connection. Looking forward to the next half! – Smahane
More than any other emotion, I have felt gratitude during this expedition. Gratitude for our partners at TheMerode and Belgium’s 40 under 40 who have opened their doors to us and helped us gather such a great group of Explorers. However, above all, gratitude that these wonderful women have decided to give us seven of their Friday evenings, over 7 months, that they bring an energy of curiosity and excitement even after a long week, and for their continuous trust and honesty as we navigate the topic of leading, both from individual and collective perspectives. I am excited to see where the next three sessions take us and how our impact will continue to reverberate through Brussels.
I’ve learned that leading is also loving people… A very big takeaway was: sometimes we should choose connection over being right. – Lisette Ma Neza.
About the Author
Mia Haug is a political science graduate from Estonia with a strong background in student politics. She’s also the Operations Manager at Women Emerging. As co-founder and former board member of 020––a student political party at the University of Amsterdam––she led key initiatives aimed at improving student representation and passed policies that addressed key issues affecting the community. Later, as Chair of LEF, a youth-oriented party in the Netherlands, she worked on radical policy ideas like universal basic income, better access to mental health care, and just climate action.
