START AN EXPEDITION

Episode Description

In this episode of the Women Emerging Podcast, host Julia Middleton explores how different cultures and countries shape women’s positions in society. She is joined by four accomplished guests Anna Afeyan, Alfonsina Peñaloza, Anila DeHart, and Selvie J, who bring diverse perspectives on gender, leadership, and culture.

Anna examines how societal expectations influence women’s roles in different regions. She highlights the systems that create opportunities and challenges and shares insights on navigating these cultural landscapes while promoting gender equity.

Alfonsina focuses on policy and leadership in advancing women’s rights. She outlines strategies that drive change and create opportunities for women in different fields.

Anila, an experienced HR leader, discusses how the corporate world can tackle cultural biases and build inclusive workplaces. She provides insights into how organisations can champion diversity and create equal opportunities.

Selvie shares her perspective on leadership and mentorship across cultures. She emphasises resilience, adaptability, and community in overcoming barriers and redefining success for women.

Julia and her guests examine cultural norms, their impact on leadership, and what is needed to build more inclusive societies. This episode is essential for anyone wanting to understand gender and leadership in a global context.

About the Guests

Anna Afeyan

Anna Afeyan is the Trustee of Afeyan Family Foundation which is a non-profit organization and functions as a leader in organizational strategy and gender equity, focusing on advancing women’s leadership opportunities across different cultural contexts.

Alfonsina Peñaloza

Alfonsina Peñaloza is the Director of Programs at Co-Impact for Global & Latin America. She is an expert in gender and social impact, working to drive policy changes and leadership development for women worldwide.

Anila Dehart

Anila DeHart is the managing Director at Deloitte, currently serving as a Transformational Leader as well. As a senior HR professional, she is dedicated to fostering inclusive workplace cultures and championing diversity initiatives.

Selvie Jusman

Selvie Jusman is currently the Vice President at Morgan Stanley taking care of the Equity Research. She is an experienced leader and mentor with a strong focus on empowering women through leadership development and cross-cultural engagement.

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.