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Episode Description

In this episode of the podcast, Julia speaks to Sarah, Alia, and Melissa: three dynamic voices exploring the intricate realities of systems thinking. Together, they discuss how systemic change requires rethinking approaches to leading, challenging the structures we inherit, and finding the balance between human-centered leadership and broader systems transformation.
Sarah proposes something unusual – “We’ve spent so much time retrofitting systems that weren’t built for equity. What if we designed them from the start, based on values?” She reflects.
Sarah delves into the intentional design of exclusive systems and how reimagining them can foster justice. Alia shares her journey from engineering to grassroots work, revealing the limitations of top-down solutions in solving deeply human challenges. Melissa emphasises the importance of understanding one’s role within a system, saying, “The quality of intervention is directly tied to the quality of the intervener’s inner life.”
Listen to this episode to uncover how values, leadership, and systemic action intersect, inspiring a new way of thinking about change and making it accessible for everyone.

About the Guests

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.

Alia Whitney-Johnson

Alia Whitney-Johnson is a social entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience working with youth who have endured trauma, sexual abuse, and exploitation. As the Co-Founder and Founding Executive Director of Freedom Forward, Alia developed innovative programs like the HYPE Center and FAM foster care initiative. She has also served as Co-Chair of the Youth Trafficking Committee for the San Francisco Mayor’s Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking. Currently, Alia is focused on her work with Emerge Lanka, an organization she founded in Sri Lanka, supporting survivors of child sexual abuse in their healing and empowerment.

Melissa Kwee

Melissa Kwee is the CEO of the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC). With a background in anthropology and social innovation, she has founded and served on several nonprofit boards focused on youth, women, and community development. Melissa received the Singapore Youth Award in 2007 and the ASEAN Youth Award in 2008 for her leadership. A Harvard graduate, she also holds a Fulbright Scholarship for research in Nepal. Passionate about building a culture of giving, Melissa enjoys learning from others and discovering new stories in the #cityofgood.

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.