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Episode Description

In this episode, Julia is joined by Rachel Middleton, based in London and mother to a one-year-old son, and Myrna Attala, a mother of two with roots in Lebanon.
Rachel shares how becoming a mother has introduced empathy, resilience, and perspective into her leadership, describing it as a “total transformation.” She discusses the delicate balance of returning to work while embracing the profound changes motherhood brings. Myrna reflects on the emotional growth and adaptability that parenting fosters, highlighting the importance of setting boundaries and appreciating the give-and-take between work and family life.
“Motherhood has changed me more than any experience I’ve ever had. It’s completely transformed how I lead and how I see others,” said Rachel
This episode invites us to examine how lessons from motherhood can inform leadership—and vice versa which in turn reminds us that growth flows both ways.

About the Guests

Rachel Middleton

Rachel Middleton is an accomplished leadership and talent consultant, having extensive experience in executive search, assessment, and transitions across sectors. Currently at Odgers Berndtson, she specializes in Chair, Board, and Senior Executive leadership transitions for not-for-profit organizations in the UK and globally. Previously, she served as Country Manager at Remazing and held key roles at Russell Reynolds Associates, focusing on Board and CEO leadership. Rachel has also excelled in talent strategy and employer branding at Universum and led global leadership development initiatives at Common Purpose. With a background in History and Politics from Newcastle University, her expertise spans leadership, event management, and diversity advocacy. Recognized early for her community impact, she received the prestigious Diana Award for her contributions to HIV/AIDS awareness and youth empowerment.

Myrna Atalla

Myrna Atalla is the Executive Director of Alfanar, the Arab region’s first venture philanthropy organization. Since 2010, she has led the expansion of Alfanar with almost 35 social enterprises like providing strategic social investment, management support, and impact evaluation to social enterprises focused on children’s education, women’s economic empowerment, and youth employment in vulnerable communities. Under her leadership, Alfanar has grown its impact in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and refugee communities, directly improving over 65,000 lives and enabling investees to generate over $5 million USD. Atalla previously worked with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) in Beirut, strengthening civil society and supporting the training of women and youth candidates. She holds a BA in International Relations from Brown University and a dual-degree MPA from Columbia University and the London School of Economics.

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.