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Episode Description:

In this episode, Julia speaks with Dr. Mounia Amrani, a senior medical practitioner, about navigating extreme hostility in war zones and humanitarian crises. Mounia shares her journey of working in isolated conflict areas where violence, suffering, and loss are constant companions, and reflects on the emotional toll of operating in these high-pressure environments.

“In hostile environments, the rulebook helps you survive, but humanity is what helps you lead,” said Mounia, highlighting the importance of balancing structure with empathy in crisis situations.

Mounia recounts the lessons she’s learned, from the early days of rigidly following protocols to realizing that true leadership requires authentic connection, even amidst chaos. She discusses how small, human gestures, like listening, asking questions, or even offering a hug can rebuild trust and resilience in the most challenging circumstances.

Listen to this episode to learn how compassion, awareness, and authenticity can transform not just leadership, but the lives of those you seek to help.

About the Guests

Dr. Mounia Amrani

Dr. Mounia Amrani, a medical doctor specialising in pediatrics, holds additional training in international health and tropical medicine from the Tropical Medicine Institute of Antwerp. Currently serving as a Regional Medical Team Leader with MSF Southern Africa, she offers support to operations across Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Mozambique. With over 15 years of experience in the medical humanitarian field, working closely with communities, she is deeply committed to providing access to care for marginalised populations. Originally from Morocco, Algeria, and Belgium, Mounia is now based in Johannesburg. As a mother of twins, she balances her professional life with her personal interests, including gardening and indulging in North African couscous.

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.