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Episode Description

In this episode of the podcast, Julia Middleton speaks with Deepali and Jude Kelly about the urgency of redefining leadership that resonates with women. Deepali shares her journey of navigating inequities, addressing scars from past struggles, and advocating for a leadership revolution rather than incremental evolution.
Jude Kelly discusses the importance of empathy without sentimentality in leadership, emphasizing the need to “perform” leadership and create an energy zone that inspires and drives change. She also touches on the imposter syndrome, acknowledging its role in shaping authentic leadership and the ongoing challenge women face in breaking barriers.
Together, they discuss the collective resilience of women and the need to foster a leadership model that empowers the next generation.
As Deepali says, “We can’t afford another two decades where women face the same barriers. It’s time for a revolution, not just incremental steps.”
Listen to this episode to understand the call for revolutionary leadership and how personal experiences shape resilience, authenticity, and the determination to create a better world for women and girls.

About the Guests

Jude Kelly

Jude Kelly CBE is a renowned creative practitioner, business leader, and global advocate for gender equity. As the founder of The WOW Foundation, she has spearheaded a global movement for women’s rights, reaching 65 million people across six continents. With numerous accolades, including being listed in the BBC’s Most Powerful Women in the Arts and receiving 21 doctorates, Jude has delivered keynote addresses at prestigious events like COP 22 and CHOGM 2022, and will speak at DAVOS in 2024. She has directed over 200 theatre and opera productions, founded key arts institutions, and is a champion for social change, including through her work with SmartPurse to empower women financially.

Deepali Khanna

Deepali Khanna is the head of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Asia Regional Office, where she focuses on advancing global equity and sustainable development. She is deeply involved in international forums, including the G20 and G7, and advocates for policy changes around economic recovery, diversity, and inclusion. Khanna has held influential roles at The MasterCard Foundation and Plan International, and is a regular speaker and writer on sustainability, south-south cooperation, and the development goals across Asia.

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.