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Episode Description

In this episode of the Women Emerging Expedition Podcast, host Julia Middleton explores leadership within movements with two inspiring guests, Latanya and Helena. Latanya, CEO of the Global Fund for Women and author of Everyday Feminist, discusses the pivotal moments that spark movements, the urgency and strategy of seizing opportunities, and the importance of balancing ruthlessness toward opposition with care for the movement. She highlights the need for self-care, succession planning, and surrounding oneself with honest allies. Helena Kennedy, a lawyer and advocate, recounts her extraordinary effort to rescue Afghan women judges during the Taliban’s return to power. Her story emphasizes the power of storytelling, the courage to take risks, and the value of lifelong networks. Helena reflects on leadership traits like resilience, hope, and the belief in making things work despite obstacles.
“Ruthless with the opposition, yet deeply loving toward the movement; this balance defines the leaders who spark real change.” This theme shines through the episode as Latanya and Helena reveal what it takes to lead transformative movements. A profound exploration of leadership that inspires hope, action, and change.

Meet the Guests

Latanya Mapp Frett

Latanya Mapp Frett is a globally recognized advocate for gender justice and social impact. As President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women (2019-2023), she led the organization’s strategic transformation to center gender justice movements and champion Black-women-led organizations. Latanya is the author of The Everyday Feminist: The Key to Sustainable Social Impact- Driving Movements We Need Now More than Ever. Helena Kennedy is a leading barrister and an expert in human rights law, civil liberties and constitutional issues. She is a member of the House of Lords and chair of Justice – the British arm of the International Commission of Jurists. She has received honours for her work on human rights from the governments of France and Italy and has been awarded more than thirty honorary doctorates. She is currently acting in cases connected to the recent wave of terrorism – including the conspiracy to bomb Transatlantic Airlines and Operation Crevice.

Helena Kennedy

Helena Kennedy is a leading barrister, human rights advocate, and member of the House of Lords. Renowned for her work on civil liberties and social justice, she has acted in landmark legal cases and chaired inquiries into democracy, education, and miscarriages of justice. A champion for women in law, Helena also founded the Helena Kennedy Foundation to support disadvantaged students and led cultural reform as Chair of the British Council. With honors from France and Italy and over 30 honorary doctorates, her contributions span law, education, and the arts.

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.