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Episode Description

A routine check-up took an unexpected turn and Nina was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome—a life-altering condition that changed not just her daily reality but also her approach to leadership. This episode was an experience in the Women Emerging Podcast where, Julia and Nina explore how adversity can redefine leadership, shifting the focus from individual success to building a team that thrives together. Drawing from her experiences at Warner Bros, Stanford and beyond, Nina shares how resilience, adaptability and grace under pressure have shaped the way she leads today.

Once a leader who focused on her own path, she found that pain, frustration and vulnerability transformed her into someone who empowered others, created space for every voice and led with greater empathy. She discusses the shift from prioritizing personal achievement to building strong, purpose-driven teams that thrive together, especially during times of adversity.

Tune in for a compelling conversation about how vulnerability can redefine leadership and why true success lies in collective growth, not just individual accomplishments.

About the Guests

Nina Pustilnik

Nina Pustilnik is a founder, CEO, and business executive with 20+ years of experience at the intersection of tech, media, and philanthropy. She has positioned companies at the forefront of innovation and impact as a senior executive, entrepreneur, and advisor. Nina graduated from Columbia University, was a Distinguished Careers Institute Fellow at Stanford University, and completed a mini-MBA from Harvard Business School, sponsored by McKinsey. She is a passionate advocate for inclusive leadership and creating strong, purpose-driven teams.

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.