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In this episode, Julia speaks with Dr. Gina Della Togna from Panama and Laurie Cummins from Florida, both explorers from the Women Leading in Nature expedition by Women Emerging in partnership with Re:Wild. They reflect on their journey and share how they instantly connected over trauma as part of their Essence, exploring how it shapes the way we lead.

Women Emerging runs group expeditions for up to 24 women who want to find their own approach to leading. They run over 7 months—explorers commit to 5 hours of exploring each month. Each group is formed around a community, geographical or sectoral. Most expeditions are online, though some groups meet at different points.

Gina and Laurie discuss how this unique methodology pushed them beyond traditional leadership concepts, encouraging them to look inward and examine the trauma that influences their behaviors and leading.

They share how acknowledging and understanding their trauma, whether from major life events or smaller, recurring patterns – has helped them build more authentic, boundary-conscious, and compassionate practices for leading. Through vulnerability, clear communication, and personal growth, they’ve learned that leading effectively isn’t about people-pleasing but about offering support while staying true to their own values.

Listen to this episode to step into the expedition with Gina and Laurie and discover how understanding your Essence can help you lead with more honesty and strength.

About the Guests

Gina Della Togna

Dr. Gina Della Togna is a researcher and conservationist who currently serves as Executive Director of the Amphibian Survival Alliance and a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Dr. Della Togna earned her PhD in Biological Sciences, specialising in Molecular and Cell Biology, from the University of Maryland, USA. Her pioneering research focuses on amphibian reproductive biology and the development of assisted reproductive technologies for endangered species facing reproductive challenges. As co-chair of the IUCN SSC ASG ARTs and Biobanking Working Group since 2017 and co-author of the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP), Dr. Della Togna plays a vital role in advancing conservation efforts for amphibian species worldwide. Additionally, she is a member of the IUCN SSC Atelopus Task Force and a member of the Atelopus Survival Initiative, co-chairing the Ex Situ Working Group. Dr. Della Togna is a member of the Advisory Board of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and the Re:wild Fonseca Species Conservation Fund, further demonstrating her commitment to species preservation. Her dedication to amphibian conservation extends to her participation in global, regional, and local initiatives, where she fosters collaborations and spearheads innovative projects to safeguard amphibian populations. Her experience and passion have made her a leading figure in the field of conservation biology, inspiring positive change for the future of amphibians and their ecosystems.

Laurie Cummins

Laurie Cummins, Deputy & Education Director at GRACE, brings 16+ years of conservation leadership to her work protecting critically endangered Grauer’s gorillas in DR Congo. Partnering with local communities, Laurie helps inspire over 70,000 people annually to engage in conservation. Originally from Michigan, her love for nature began in childhood, sparked by a fascination with spiders. Laurie holds a Biology degree from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Stetson University. Guided by empathy and integrity, Laurie believes conservation must be inclusive, with communities at the heart of affecting environmental change.

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.