START AN EXPEDITION

Episode Description

In this episode, Julia Middleton explores how leadership can take a more human-centric approach by engaging with two extraordinary Guides from the Expedition. Paula shares insights from her work with women’s cooperatives in South America, emphasising the power of listening, collective vision, and collaboration over rigid value alignment. Sarah discusses the impact of COVID on leadership, highlighting the growing need for empathy, human connection, and adaptability in the workplace.

As Paula reflects, “Innovation is in the encounter, in the meeting of other people that spark ideas.” This sentiment underscores the importance of collaborative leadership that values diverse perspectives and shared goals.

Listen to this episode to learn how to foster collaboration, build empathetic workplaces, and adapt an approach to leading to meet evolving human needs.

About the Guests

Paula Marra

Paula Marra is a seasoned leader in biotechnology, inclusive business, and organizational transformation. A shareholder at Bioceres S.A. and former Director of Talent Management at Grupo Los Grobo, she has driven strategic growth and organizational excellence across multiple sectors. With over 20 years of experience, Paula has also contributed to promoting sustainable and inclusive business practices through roles such as board member at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella’s Inclusive Business Space and Fundación Poder Ciudadano. Her expertise lies in strategic consulting, talent development, and fostering innovation for long-term impact.

Sarah Henry

Sarah Henry is the President of the Global Center for Gender Equality, where she helped build the organization from the ground up. With over 20 years of experience in development, gender equality, and global health, Sarah also serves as a Senior Strategy Advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She is passionate about creating organizations that embody their values. Sarah lives in Seattle with her three children, dog, and two cats.

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.