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Episode Description

In this episode of the Women Emerging Expedition Podcast, host Julia Middleton explores the profound insights on leadership through the unique lens of midwifery. Drawing on conversations with five inspiring midwives- Sylvia Hamata, Harriet Nayiga, Olajumoke Adebayo, Luseshelo Simwinga, and Neha Mankani- Julia delves into their extraordinary experiences, both within and beyond the labor room.
“The real meaning of midwife is to be with a woman… You’re just there to ensure there are no complications. You strip yourself of power, listen, and work with the woman, and when you do that, they warm up to you, trust you, and tell you everything.”
Midwives embody leadership by trusting the women they guide, listening actively, and navigating situations with patience and empathy. Sylvia reflects on how empowering women in the delivery room fosters mutual trust and enhances outcomes. Harriet differentiates between empathy and sympathy, highlighting the strength required to provide support. Olajumoke shares how recognizing vulnerability and seeking help in moments of panic is an essential leadership trait. Outside the delivery room, the challenges multiply as midwives face a world where their voices are often dismissed. Luseshelo talks about the empowering influence of true leaders with the stifling nature of bosses who wield authority without collaboration, while Neha emphasizes how self-confidence transforms the quality of her work.
The episode encapsulates vital leadership lessons: the power of listening, the courage to voice opinions, the necessity of balancing vulnerability and strength, and the transformative impact of fostering mutual respect. It is a compelling tribute to the wisdom and resilience of midwives, urging us to rethink leadership.

About the Guests

Sylvia Hamata

Sylvia Hamata is a women’s rights activist, nurse, midwife, and legal practitioner in Namibia with over 10 years of experience in health system governance. A passionate advocate for women’s rights in healthcare, sexual and reproductive health, and midwifery, she is the Vice-Chairperson of the Independent Midwives Association of Namibia (IMANA). Sylvia was selected as a Young Midwife Leader by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) in 2019. She is a member of the Guiding Group for SheDecides, a global movement for women’s and girls’ rights, and contributes to the scientific program of the International Maternal, Newborn Health Conference (IMNHC2023). Additionally, she is part of the Namibia Technical Working Group on infection prevention and control.

Harriet Nayiga

Harriet Nayiga is a midwife and maternal health advocate from Masaka, Uganda. A Bachelor of Science in Midwifery (BScM) student at SONAM Uganda, she has been recognized as Midwife of the Year (2013) and previously worked with Wakisa Ministries, supporting adolescents with crisis pregnancies. Harriet leads health education initiatives on STI, HIV, and hepatitis B testing, driven by her commitment to improving maternal and community health.

Olajumoke Adebayo

Olajumoke Adebayo is a passionate midwife and advocate from Nigeria, dedicated to improving reproductive health and advancing midwifery. As a member of the International Confederation of Midwives’ Young Midwife Leaders program, she works to amplify the voices of midwives globally. Olajumoke is the founder of Reprolife, a social enterprise providing reproductive health information and services to young Nigerians, with a special focus on empowering girls and women. Olajumoke also takes care of better working conditions for midwives and is actively developing a policy framework to strengthen midwifery care in Nigeria. Her work reflects a deep commitment to advocacy, leadership, and transformative healthcare solutions.

Luseshelo Simwinga

Luseshelo Simwinga is a dedicated Nurse-Midwife and educator from Malawi with extensive experience in maternal and newborn health. She holds a Masters’ and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Midwifery from Kamuzu University of Health Sciences. Currently, she serves as a Nurse-Midwife Mentor and Quality Improvement Lead for the Global Action in Nursing project in Blantyre, Malawi. With over a decade of experience, including roles as a bedside midwife and safe motherhood program coordinator with Malawi’s Ministry of Health, Luseshelo is deeply committed to advancing maternal and newborn care. She uses digital storytelling to amplify the voices of women and midwives in her community.

Neha Mankani

Neha Mankani is a Pakistani midwife, public health advocate, and founder of the Mama Baby Fund, supporting maternal and infant healthcare in underserved communities. A Fulbright Scholar with a Master’s in Public Health from Columbia University, she is President of the Karachi chapter of the Pakistan Midwives Association. Neha has led disaster response efforts, including during the 2022 Sindh floods, and advocates for climate-resilient healthcare. Recognized as a 2023 BBC 100 Women honoree, she is a passionate leader advancing midwifery and maternal health in Pakistan.

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.