212. How Grandmotherness Changes the Way We Understand Fairness

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In the second episode of the series on Grandmotherness, Julia speaks with Laila about how this stage of life reshapes the way we understand fairness, curiosity, and difference while leading. Laila begins with the role of stories — how storytelling helps children make sense of the world, and how the questions they ask in return often challenge long-held assumptions. Through these interactions, she reflects on how being questioned has made her more thoughtful, more curious, and more open to rethinking what she thought she knew.

The conversation moves to the importance of recognising that not everyone is the same. Whether it is grandchildren of different ages or people within a team, treating everyone identically can become a weakness. Instead, leading requires noticing differences in needs, capabilities, and perspectives — and responding accordingly.

A powerful shift comes through Laila’s experience with her twin grandsons. She describes how fairness becomes visible in every small interaction in attention, tone, time, and response. What feels balanced to one may feel unequal to another. This constant comparison forces a deeper awareness of how fairness is perceived, not just intended.

Together, they reflect on how easy it is to prioritise efficiency over fairness, especially in fast-moving environments. But grandmotherness, Laila explains, slows this down — making space to listen, to notice, and to engage more thoughtfully with each individual.

This episode is a reminder that fairness is not a fixed rule. It is something we must continuously observe, question, and practise — in the smallest moments of how we show up with others.

About the Guest:

Laila Iskandar

Dr. Laila Iskandar is an Egyptian social impact leader, policy-maker, and educator with over 30 years of experience working at the intersection of government, communities, and sustainable development.

She is the founding partner of CID Consulting and has served as Egypt’s Minister of State for Urban Renewal and Informal Settlements, as well as Minister of State for Environmental Affairs. Her work focuses on urban poverty, education, and building sustainable systems—especially within informal communities.

Known for connecting grassroots realities with policy and large-scale impact, she has also contributed to global initiatives with UNESCO and the United Nations, particularly in literacy and education.

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.