203. Trusting your gut in Leadership; the Power of Intuition

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Trusting your intuition in leading is often misunderstood as acting quickly or instinctively. But in a world shaped by uncertainty, difference, and complexity, the more valuable skill may be knowing when to pause. In this re-recorded conversation, trust is reframed not as blind openness or instant confidence, but as something built through discernment, consistency, and self-trust. In this episode, Julia speaks with Ebisan about trust — and why it begins not with others, but with learning to trust ourselves. Ebisan reflects on how she approaches relationships with openness, but also with hesitation — not as fear, but as discernment. She talks about trusting the signals we feel in our bodies, and how gut instinct often tells us when something feels right, or when something feels off, long before we can explain it. The conversation explores how trust is built in layers, through consistency, accountability, and paying attention to behaviour over time. Ebisan shares how trust looks different across cultures, generations, and contexts — and why what feels trustworthy in one situation may not translate directly into another.

Ebisan and Julia also speak candidly about disappointment — what happens when trust is broken, why we often feel more disappointed in ourselves than in others, and how ignoring early signals can leave us feeling foolish rather than angry. This episode is a reminder that trusting others starts with self-trust — listening carefully, questioning our instincts when needed, and learning to hold openness and hesitation in balance as we navigate relationships.

About the Guest:

Ebisan Akisanya

Ebisan Akisanya, Chairman, WIMBIZ Board of Trustees, is a seasoned development professional with nearly 30 years of experience driving social impact across corporate and nonprofit sectors. Her passion for inclusive growth is reflected in her active service on several not-for-profit boards, where she contributes to initiatives that address systemic social inequities and uplift vulnerable populations.

She currently serves as coordinator, Corporate Responsibility and National Programs at Chevron Nigeria, where she leads initiatives that drive sustainable impact. Ebisan holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Lagos. Beyond her corporate role, Ebisan is also an active member of the African Philanthropy Forum (APF), a dynamic network of social investors committed to advancing development across the continent.

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.