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Episode Description

In this episode of the podcast, Julia is joined by Rhouba, Erica and Folawe: three women from diverse backgrounds who share the pivotal moments that shaped their leadership journeys. Each woman reflects on how they navigated societal expectations, embraced their true selves, and redefined what it means to lead.
“I didn’t know I was a leader until others started calling me one. That realisation changed everything.” reflects Rhouba
Rhouba discusses her journey from Syria, where she became an advocate for refugees, to the moment she recognised herself as a leader. Erica, a senior leader in global finance, speaks about the pressure of maintaining her own story while navigating career challenges in Beijing. Folawe offers her perspective from Nigeria, emphasising the importance of inclusive and empathetic leadership.
This rich and insightful episode highlights the “aha moments” that transformed these women into the leaders they are today, offering a deep and inspiring look into how these women redefined leading.

About the Guests

Rouba Mhaissen

Rouba Mhaissen is an economist, activist, and development practitioner focused on the MENA region, particularly forced migration and the Syrian refugee crisis. She is the founder and director of the Sawa Foundation and Sawa for Development and Aid, organizations dedicated to working with Syrian refugees through an integrated development approach since 2011. Mhaissen has also worked with Lebanese, Iraqi, and Palestinian refugees and has been actively involved in lobbying for human rights, especially concerning Syrian refugees. Her expertise spans a range of issues, including education, gender, violence, conflict, household economics, forced migration, and activism.

Erica Su

Erica is the EY Global Emerging Markets Leader for Strategy and Transactions, with 20 years of experience in cross-border M&A. She specializes in helping foreign companies expand in China and advising Chinese companies on international investments. Erica’s expertise spans due diligence, M&A negotiation, financing, and post-merger integration. She has worked across industries like manufacturing, automobile, FMCG, and healthcare, focusing on enhancing value, competitiveness, and efficient resource allocation through M&A.

Folawe Omikunle

Folawe Omikunle is the CEO of Teach for Nigeria, where she leads efforts to address education inequity. She graduated with a bachelor’s in international law and diplomacy from Babcock University and a master’s from the Diplomatic Academy of London. Folawe’s passion for education grew while working as a school administrator, particularly after helping an orphaned child. Influenced by Montessori’s belief in every child’s potential, she pursued further education in Montessori education. Folawe’s work with Teach for Nigeria and the Association of Private Educators in Nigeria has focused on improving education for marginalized children and leading systemic change. She was recognized as one of the 100 most influential young Nigerians in 2017.

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.